Hardness

The hardness of wood can wreak havoc on the cutting edges in a wood shop. The cutting tools can last for a very long time when we keep the hardness of our woods in mind while applying the trade. I have included a couple diagrams for yall to look at while you explore hardness and the Janka scale. To the left and right are charts that rate the different kinds of woods according to their hardness. Looking at the chart to the left you can judge just how differently these woods will act by being worked. Ranging from 380lbf to 3700lbf. I would suspect that the IPE would dull my blades quickly. How about you?

Hardness is measured in lbf.

The 2 images to the left are the dictionary version of how a picture is worth a thousand words. so basically what’s going on here is that the ball goes into softer woods with less force applied. Greater force is needed to drive the ball into a piece of IPE than is needed to drive it into Basswood.