Trees are divided into two major categories: conifers and broadleaf trees. Conifers are straight-grained, softer in texture, easy to work with, and have minimal warping. Most broadleaf trees are denser in texture, harder in wood, more difficult to work with, prone to cupping and warping, and have beautiful grain patterns, making them suitable for indoor decoration.
Classification by species
I. Conifers
Explanation: The leaves are long and thin, resembling needles, and are mostly evergreen trees. The wood is generally softer, some containing resin, so it is also called softwood. Examples include red pine, larch, spruce, fir, cypress, and cedar, all of which belong to this category.
(Main uses: construction projects, wooden packaging, bridges, furniture, shipbuilding, telegraph poles, timbers for mines, railway sleepers, piles, poles, models for machinery, etc.)
II. Broadleaf Trees
Explanation: The leaves are broad and have a net-like vein pattern. Most are deciduous trees, and the wood is harder, so it is called hardwood. Examples include camphorwood, water-birch, hornbeam, teak, and oak, all of which belong to this category. There are also a few that are slightly softer, such as birch, basswood, and poplar, all of which belong to this category.
(Main uses: construction projects, wooden packaging, machinery manufacturing, shipbuilding, vehicles, bridges, railway sleepers, furniture, timbers for mines, and plywood, etc.)
Classification by quality
I. Logs
Explanation: This refers to wood that has been stripped of its bark, roots, and branches, but has not been processed into specified wood types according to a certain size.
(Main uses: scaffolding for construction projects, construction materials, and decoration for furniture and interior design.)
II. Lumber
Explanation: This refers to wood that has been stripped of its bark, roots, and branches, and has been processed into specified diameter and length wood pieces. Main Uses:
1. Raw sawn timber: used for construction projects (such as rafters, braces, joists, etc.), piles, telegraph poles, and pitwood, etc.
2. Processed sawn timber: used for plywood, shipbuilding, vehicles, mechanical models, and general processing lumber, etc.
3. Lumber and planking
Explanation: This refers to wood that has already been sawn and processed into lumber. Any plank that is three times or more than three times the width is called planking, while one that is less than three times the width is called lumber.
(Main uses: construction projects, bridges, wooden packaging, furniture, decoration, etc.)
4. Sleeper
Explanation: This refers to sawn timber that has been processed according to the dimensions of sleepers.
Main uses: railway engineering.