Hardwood Report Gard

I LTHOUGH many hardwood

A sales hinge on the wood's varying appearances, different hardwoods are physically best suited for different projects. And dealers stocking a selection of hardwoods should be able to tell customers which wood best serves their particular use.

The accompanying Report Card grades l0 of the top domestic hardwoods, permitting easy location of a wood strong in a desired category.

The chart's strength category pertains to the wood's compressive strength endwise. Stiffness is critical in determining the strength of a long

Story at a Glance

How to sell the hardwood with the right properties for the right job . . .chart highlights the best and worst qualities of 10 popular domestic hardwoods.

column. Hardness values measure scuff resistance and the ability to withstand nicks and scars.

Good grades in shock resistance refer to the ability to endure heavier suddenly-applied loads, while high marks in bending are necessary for traverse bending.

A good rating in shrinkage denotes a small volumetric loss in the wood during seasoning. Durability tracks the natural ability to resist decay when in contact with the ground or in indoor situations of high moisture condensation.

The other categories rate how well each hardwood works on machines, resists splitting from nails and screws, holds fasteners, and glues.