What type of wood is good for all purpose woodwork?

Question

I want to go to Lowe's or Home Depot and buy some lumber for my newly bought power tools. I plan on making random things whenever I feel like it and I'm looking for a general all purpose type of wood. I know there are specific woods for specific projects but there has to be something that's okay for everything. I want to build chests, little bookcases, rice paper lamps, stools, dvd cases, or whatever else I can think of. I'd also like to keep it in the cheap to moderate price range nothing expensive I just want to stock up. Thanks.

Answer 1

Personally, I like white pine best. I have made a lot of hobby projects, and found white pine easy to work with, takes stain nicely, and paints well, too. And it is the least expensive wood to experiment on while you are learning to use your new tools.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Different woods have different purposes. It's a complex thing because there are different characteristics with each. Some are soft, some hard. Some stain well, some are only good if painted. Some have pronounced grain, some not. As far as furniture or cabinet grade wood, Lowe's only sells Oak, Poplar, and (sometimes) Maple. If you plan on painting your projects, buy Poplar. If you'd like to stain your projects, buy Maple. You could buy Oak too but I don't like it's pronounced grain. I tend not to like pine for furniture because it is too soft which allows it to be damaged easily from bumps and dings, etc. I would say Maple is your best bet for the projects you listed you want to do. It's a light-colored hardwood which usually doesn't have overpowering grain patterns. If Lowe's doesn't have any Maple, try the Home Depot. I know some of their locations carry it cause I buy it there fairly frequently. I'm a cabinet/furniture maker.

Answer 4

If you are really just starting out, or plan on painting the piece I suggest pine. Definitely cheaper, even if you opt for the #1 select (suggested if the piece is to be stained). If you're skills are good and you expect the piece to turn out well, red oak is nice. A sort of middle ground is poplar - stains nicer than pine, and not as hard as oak. A lot of furniture is made of poplar, and its what I choose fairly often.

Also, stocking up is not always the best idea. Do you know where you'll store it. Depending on where you live, sheds and basements can be humid and damp, and the wood can warp if it sits too long.

Answer 5

It's too bad we can't post pictures on this site anyways if you are into baseball there is a project that consists of a laimated pine shaped like a baseball glove with a protruding piece to hold the ball and another to hold the bat. you can also incorporate leather lace to simulate an actual glove. So basically look at a real glove flattened out five fingered, lace thru drilled holes near top of fingers. you can also go one step more after you have varathaned the wood and decopage (spelling?) a card to it

Answer 6

Pine. Not a bad Idea to stock up on some wood. However I would suggest you buy your wood for each project. For all the projects you have on your list you would need a lumber yard in your back yard. Think of a project and then buy the wood.

Answer 7

Depending on what you want to make and if you plan to paint or stain. Yellow pine is good for a lot of different projects, but it's been my experience that it's hard to get a stain to turn out the color I want.

Answer 8

type wood good purpose woodwork

Answer 9

the best advice i can give is dont go to the home depot or lows the wood is old and dried out and will crack and warp.go to a lumber yard and get poplar

Answer 10

White pine, cheapest on the market,
will except stain, or paint, easy to work with,