What kind of wood should i use?
Question:I'm making a stool and, for reasons I can't be bothered to go into, lightness is quite high up on my list of priorities.
Strength is not essential, but I don't want anything too flimsy as I wish to upholster it and it will need to grip upholstery tacks.
What sort of wood should I use?
Answers:
It sounds as if Pine would be your best wood for your project!Its very light naturally and stains easy polyurethane it for protection against nicks and scratches. It's also easy to work with (it's a soft wood) , I've built a home entertainment center using pine because of the above reasons and its also very light as in the weight. It's the lightest and sturdiest wood for these type of projects
pine
Pine is your best bet.
any sort of hardwood or something that would be strong enough to hold the human weight
pine wood
How about Poplar? It's pretty, it's light,yet it is a hard wood but not so hard you can't get a pin ,or tack into it. Bye
Pine is probably a good option. Inexpensive, abundant, fairly light, it'll hold tacks. If you're picky about appearance, you can hunt a bit and get higher grade wood that'll take finish quite nicely.
Poplar or pine are a good choice. Poplar is the lightest and most affordable, yet sturdy enough to use for a stool.
pine,.,.,., but remember there are different types, red yellow eastern western southern douglas etc etc etc.
I would use pine... or any hard wood would be fine.
With all due respect to you and others...PLYWOOD,,, most especially since it will be upholstered. Round seat? Square seat? Pine might suggest you'd have to double up on even 1 x 12 stock, make it flush on it's surface and strenghten the bonded edges, or LAMINATE multiple layers of that stock.
Doubled 3/4 PLY would work,,, OR in knowing the dimensions/shape attach... after lining out the shape,,, on the bottom, 1 x 2 pine, then cut to size/shape, allowing approx. 1.5 inches for tacking, and stapling underneath.
Assuming for example, a 16 inch round seat, even doubled ply won't be top heavy. Just an aside...Laminated woods have been in use for thousands of years. The strength exists in that each layer is laminated perpendicular to the preceeding layer.
Steven Wolf
balsa! jk :D Cherry or maple. Pine too i guess...
Cherry is the prettiest though...
Poplar, Maple and Birch are all relativley light woods. Poplar is the least likely to deflect or bend. Poplar would be my choice. If the stool will not be subject to heavy weight Bass wood is anotner good choice.
Obeche is the wood you require. cream coloured very light ( used by caravan trade because of that) but strong enough for joinery ie. your Stool. Down side it smells like Cat **** when you cut and plane it, but varnished up it looks good and does not smell..
i would use pine
As you don't want to get involved with heavy woods like teak, I reckon birch, beech or sycamore would all be good. Pine might tend to split when you are putting your tacks in, especially if you have to put them in near the seat edges.
Cedar is pretty good..
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