| The
Time Project Lesson 5: Table of Hardwoods |
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| Hardwoods Chooser Chart |
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| Common Name | Advantages | Uses | Disadvantages | Colour |
| Beech | Hard, tough and very strong. The close grain withstands wear and shocks. | A very hard wood used for furniture, floors, veneers and wooden toys. | Not suitable for outside work because it is not durable to moisture changes. It is difficult to work an does warp. | White or pinkish. |
| European Oak | Very strong and durable. It is both hard and strong. Easier to use than beech. | Boat building, garden furniture, quality furniture and gate posts. | It is heavy and expensive. It is prone to splitting and because of it's tannic acid content it can corrode iron and steel fittings. | Light to dark brown. |
| Elm | Elastic, tough, durable, does not split easily, medium weight, good for use under water. | Turnery, garden furniture when correctly treated. some furniture. | It will warp unless well seasoned. | Light reddish brown. |
| Teak | It is naturally durable to moisture because of it's oil content. It does not corrode iron and steel fittings. it is hard and strong.veneers. | Ships decks, garden furniture, | It is difficult to glue because of the oil content. It blunts tools very quickly. | Golden brown. |
| African Mahogany |
Available in wide and long boards. easy to work, fairly strong. | Shop fittings, furniture, veneers | Warps, Hardness varies. | Pink to reddish brown. |
| Meranti | It is cheaper than mahogany. | It is a mahogany substitute. furniture, interior joinery. Can be used outside if correctly preserved. | Does not polish as well as mahogany. | Dark red or yellow. |
| African Walnut | Attractive appearance. Available in larger sizes. | High class furniture. Sometimes used as teak substitute in furniture. | It can be difficult to plane and finish. | Bronze yellowish-brown with irregular dark lines. |
| Afrormosia | Works well, durable. | Sills, gates, doors, stairs, floors. | Stains in contact with iron and moisture. | Yellow to dark brown. |
