Furniture building can be an incredibly fun and rewarding experience. However, some new to building furniture may be confused when deciding whether to use oak or pine wood to bring their dream project to life. Certainly, oak and pine both offer their unique advantages, but which is better for furniture building?
When it comes to oak vs. pine for furniture, oak is better. The reason why is because oak is a hardwood, and pine is a softwood. Hardwoods are stronger, typically nicer looking, and much more resistant to wear and tear. This means your furniture will have much more longevity with oak than with pine.
This article will examine what makes a quality wood and the differences between oak and pine wood to determine which is best for furniture building. This will involve taking a close look at the characteristics of both oak and pine, their pros and cons, and the most common applications for each. By the end of this article, you will doubt which one is better for fulfilling your furniture building needs.
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How to Judge Wood Critically
When comparing different types of wood with one another, few important factors must be considered to accurately conclude which one will be preferable for our particular need. These factors include material density, the look or appearance—and the resistance to warping, swelling, and rotting.
When planning a project and preparing a list of materials, it is always important to perform a cost-benefit analysis. Always weigh the quality against the quantity to determine how your money will be best invested. If you are going for a small scale project, splurge on quality wood and try to make the best product possible; if you plan something a little bit larger, such as a bunk bed, you may be better off settling for a slightly more affordable material.
The Characteristics of Oak Wood
The first thing that should be noted about oak is that oak is known as a “hardwood.” Hardwoods are dense, durable, and not as prone to erosion.
From an aesthetic perspective, oak wood is extremely appealing. When finished properly, oak provides a classic rustic look to your furniture and leaves nice, sharp, flush edges and corners.
The third point to mention here is that seeing as oak is a hardwood, it is much less susceptible to water and moisture damage, which commonly leads to warping, twisting, molding, and decay. This makes it ideal for any situation where exposure to the elements will be involved, such as constructing decks, and fences, if one can afford it.
Considering these characteristics, it becomes plain to see why oak furniture is desirable and sells for a much greater price.
Common Uses of Oak
Oak is most commonly used in situations where longevity and integrity are central to a particular project.
Some of these uses typically include:
- Musical instruments, such as pianos, guitars, and violins
- Boatbuilding
- Furniture Construction
- Flooring
- Heavy-duty shelving
Oak is a very desirable material amongst antique furniture collectors because it is rightfully believed that oak will retain its value and condition better and for much longer than other types of wood. When it comes to antique appraisal, condition arguably factors most heavily into the furnishing’s worth. Because it is more resistant to scratching, cracking, and rotting, oakwood furniture has the potential to remain pristine for centuries.
Cons of Oak
While oak offers woodworkers many enticing advantages that other woods do not, there are a few drawbacks that should consider before settling on which wood is best for your project.
The most noteworthy con of oak is the price. Oak trees take significantly longer to mature than pine trees and are therefore more limited in supply. This factors heavily into their pricing differential. Thus, many builders may decide that their money would better be spent on paints and varnishes instead of opting for more affordable material.
If you are building something relatively small—such as a bench, a chair, or a bed frame—the benefits you will get from oak are well worth the cost.
Another potential disadvantage of oak is that its rigidity can often make it difficult to fit and contour. It tends to be much less flexible, making it hard to work within certain instances.
The Characteristics of Pine Wood
Unlike oak, which is categorized as hardwood, pine is classified as a softwood. This means it is a little bit more pliable and versatile. Pine is also cheaper, making it a great option for large scale jobs where a surplus of materials will be required.
While pine may not be as strong as an oak in an absolute sense, it is nevertheless capable of bearing incredible amounts of weight if properly constructed and is by no means a weak material.
Due to its softness, pine is also great for personalizing and styling. It can be easily sanded down and routed to create some very decorative and unique designs.
Although pine is very soft, it can crack easily when screws are driven into it—especially when the wood is dry. To lessen this happening, it is important to always pre-drill pilot holes before driving screws into the wood.
While pine wood does take a back seat to oak regarding furniture building, one would be wise not to underestimate it. Pine, when in the right hands, can be used to create some magnificent pieces of furniture.
Common Uses of Pine
Due to the ease of working with it and the low price, many construction jobs utilize pine as a first resort. Some of the new uses for pinewood include:
- Residential framing
- Building large decks and fences
- Roofing construction
- Decorative fixturing, such as wall borders and door frames
- Cabinetry and cupboards
Cons of Pine
As briefly touched on earlier, pine’s number one downfall is its vulnerability to the sustainment of damage due to exposure to water or moisture. Over time, moisture can penetrate the pine wood’s porous surface and cause it to swell up, warp, twist, crack, and eventually form mold. However, to combat this, pine may be sealed with special wood finishes that prevent moisture from getting inside and destroying it.
Pine may, over time, wear down and become dull. The corners may be rubbed blunt, and the ends can begin to lose their shape and definition.
If you have pine wood furnishings that you feel would benefit from being a sealer, Thompson’s Waterseal Wood Stain & Sealer comes highly recommended. This sealer penetrates deep into wood’s surface to protect and ensure the life of your furniture while at the same time providing a beautiful finished look.
- Prevents Water Damage
- Advanced Polymers Provide Fade Resistant Color
- Coating Resists UV Damage
Last update on 2023-06-10 at 22:36 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Another con of pine is that it does not tend to look quite as elegant as oak wood in most cases. If visual appeal is important to your project, pine will not likely be the right choice for you.
Conclusion
The main purpose was to differentiate between oak and pine wood to determine which one is preferable for building furniture intelligibly. The answer is not black and white, as both oak and pine offer unique benefits that the other does not and come with their respective drawbacks.
Ultimately though, for furniture building, oak is greater than pine. Oak is stronger, more visually appealing, and will enjoy a longer life due to its superior moisture resistance.
Oak is considerably more expensive than pine. If you are building your furniture, you will likely prefer quality to quantity. And the quality you will get from oak is nothing short of remarkable.