Pinewood vs Oakwood?

Question

I found an antique desk and it is solid wood but I am not sure what it is made out of..pine or oak, most of the antique oak desks were made of oak back in the day, but can someone help me distinguish the difference between the 2 woods?

Answer 1

This is a picture of red oak:
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=1968

This is a picture of pine:
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=698

Oak is a hardwood and pine is a soft wood, if it is a real antique and doesn't have a series of raised bumps that make it unusable as a desk it probably isn't pine, except for possible secondary woods. In wood working it is traditional to use less expensive woods where the looks don't matter.

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

If the wood is open grain, it may be Oak, Chestnut, Ash, or Walnut, depending upon the color.

Pine has an closed grain and though it might be somewhat gold in color, it is very soft and you can determine if it is pine by pushing your fingernail into a place no one can see.

Though red oak is a popular wood for furniture, especially from the late 1800s through to the 30s, but then because of the climbing expense of getting quarter cut oak, the only type that would be used in fine furniture, they went to using cheaper woods, like Basswood, painting a buff coat on it and then screen printing an Oak grain pattern onto it.

There are several types of oak that were used, but red oak and white oak are the most popular.

Answer 4

Undertaker Vs Cena Vs Shelton benjman(title)

Answer 5

oak will be harder, darker and heavier. the oak woodgrain will be of more character.