It is somewhat interesting to note that the most abundant material available for woodworking is the one that sees rather limited applications in actual projects. Visit your local lumberyard, hardware store, or home center and you will notice nearly 90 percent of the lumber being sold will be those from softwood or coniferous trees. Lumber from cedars, spruces, pines, and firs are among the least expensive and most readily available lumber pieces in the Northern Hemisphere which makes them ideal for the manufacture of paper and fiberboard. However, their availability rather than their usefulness seems to be their greatest asset as far as wood projects are concerned.
Some woodworking experts believe softwood is not the best material for most projects though they concede it is still favored by many due to it being more plentiful than other lumber varieties. It is for this reason that softwood is employed most often in utilitarian projects wherein function matters above all else, including aesthetic appeal. You will therefore see softwood used in doghouses, workshop furniture, and other projects that may not be pretty to look at yet still serve an important role in the home. Although the material may still be used in practical and visually attractive living room and bedroom furniture, keep in mind that the finished product may not be as durable as you want it to be.
Softwoods, however, have some redeeming qualities even if they’re not as strong as other materials. Cedar is a natural insect repellent which makes it ideal for closet linings. Pine is regarded as easy to work with so it might be wise for beginning woodworkers to use this softwood for their initial projects. It is highly recommended for them to keep their projects on a small scale in order for them to learn as many applications of pine as possible. It’s more prudent to make as many small projects out of a few pieces of pine lumber instead of using it all up just to make one bed.
Woodworking is a craft wherein there is plenty of room for customization, but reliance on softwood could somehow limit your options. It is indeed cheaper and more abundant than any other lumber you are likely to find, but you will only get the most out of it if you have a fair idea of where it can be used effectively. Unfortunately, when compared to where hardwood may be used, there aren’t too many available choices.
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