Strongest Wood Type: Janka Wood Density Test

What is the strongest wood type you offer?
It seems like a simple enough question, right? Well at Osborne Wood Products, we set out to find the answer to this question. Here is what we found:

                Janka Hardness Test

The most common method for measuring the hardness of wood is called the Janka Hardness Test. This test measures the force needed to embed a 0.444 inch steel ball halfway into a piece of wood. The US measurement for the Janka Hardness Test is in pounds of force. The higher the number designated to the wood the “harder” the wood is considered to be.  While this is a common test, the results from test to test may vary.  We have to keep in mind that every tree grows differently depending on its location, environment, and circumstances.

So what about the wood types we offer at Osborne Wood Products?
You’ve seen the selection of wood types we offer. Here’s how they rank!

Of all of the common wood types used at Osborne Wood Products the hardest wood type is Hickory. Hickory has a Janka Hardness of 1820 pounds-force. This shows that the Hickory may withstand denting and wear better than any of the other wood types offered (better than those with a lower Janka Rating).

The next hardest of the woods commonly used is the Sapele. The Sapele has a Janka Hardness of 1510 pounds-force

But what about the rest?
There’s more than just Hickory and Sapele. See where other wood types ranked!

Take a look at this chart for a visual on the hardness scale:
(Click on the chart below for an expanded version)

Listing the woods offered as Osborne from hardest to softest according to their Janka Hardness Score, the wood types fall in the following order:

Hickory, Sapele, Hard Maple, Tiger Maple, White Oak, Beech, Red Oak, Red Birch, Heart Pine, Lyptus, Black Walnut, Cherry, Soft Maple, Rubberwood, Mahogany, Douglas Fir, Spanish Cedar, Alder, Knotty Alder, Cypress, Knotty Pine, and Western Red Cedar.