the hardest trees?

066logger

im wondering when ppl talk about all the foreign tree spieces that are hard what is actually the definition of hard? i mean if i had cut sycamore all my life and then started cutting oak then yea i would think it was pretty hard, but if i had cut oak all my life then i would kno that hedge, osage orange whatever you want to call it is about the hardest thing around here. has their been any scientific tests done on this?

Eric Frei

This thread has some info in it where a debate broke out about tree hardness.

There's more than one way to measure it though you need to make sure that the tests are comparing apples to apples as to the way they test, size of the piece, moisture content etc.

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Cut4fun

Shag bark hickory and Locust has been some hard stuff for me in the past.

Nothing a good chain couldnt handle. Just seemed like some hard stuff.

Cut4fun

Of The World's Top 125 Known Hardest Woods, Most Sink.

Common/Trade Name******Botanical/Scientific Name******Janka Hardness In Pounds Of Force {lbf}

The Hardest Wood In The World Or On Earth Is
1 - Baraúna - Quebracho - Soto {Schinopsis brasiliensis/glabra} 4800 - Specific Gravity 1.27
4800 Pounds Force {lbf} - 2177 Kilograms Force {kgf} - 21.35 Kilonewtons {kN} - 21350 Newtons {N}

2 - Belah {Casuarina cristata} 4500 - Specific Gravity 1.15
2 - Lignum Vitae - Tree Of Life {Guaiacum officinale} 4500 - Specific Gravity 1.35
2 - Waddy Wood {Acacia peuce} 4500 - Specific Gravity 1.43
3 - Mgurure {Combretum schumanii} 4430 - Specific Gravity 1.23
4 - Lignum Vitae - Holywood {Guaiacum sanctum} 4400 - Specific Gravity 1.35 - Hardest Wood In United States
4 - Red Bauhinia {Lysiphyllum carronii} 4400 - Specific Gravity 1.39
5 - Curupay - Kurupay {Anadenanthera colubrina} 4390 - Specific Gravity 1.05
6 - Tubi - Blackwood Solomon - Ebony Queen {Xanthostemon melanoxylon} 4370 - Specific Gravity 1.24
7 - Knob Thorn {Acacia nigrescens} 4290 - Specific Gravity 1.21
8 - Gidgee {Acacia cambagei} 4270 - Specific Gravity 1.25
9 - Tiga {Tristania decorticata} 4260 - Specific Gravity 1.35
10 - Cocuswood {Brya ebenus} 4250 - Specific Gravity 1.35
Snakewood Australian {Acacia xiphophylla} 4150
Wattle Lakewood {Acacia enervia} 4150
Brown Spearwood {Acacia rhodoxylon} 4100
Gimlet {Eucalyptus salubris} 4090
Blackwood African {Dalbergia melanoxylon} 4050
Wattle Australian Ironwood {Acacia excelsa} 4050
Jutahy {Dialium guianense} 4000
Lignum Vitae Argentine {Bulnesia sarmientoi} 4000 Note: Not related to #1 or #3 Lignum Vitae
Verawood {Bulnesia arborea} 4000 Note: Related to but different from above
Blackbutt Dundas {Eucalyptus dundasii} 3960
Miraúba {Mouriri callocarpa} 3960
Ebony Brown {Libidibia paraguariensis} 3900
Curupay - Mahogany Andean {Piptadenia macrocarpa} 3840
Morrel Red {Eucalyptus longicornis} 3840
Cooktown Ironwood {Erythrophleum chlorostachys} 3820
Coolibah {Eucalyptus microtheca} 3820
Mulga {Acacia aneura} 3820
20 - Snakewood {Piratinera guianensis} 3800
Urucurana {Sloanea nitida} 3720
Olivewood Brazilian {Ferreirea spectabilis} 3700
Ebony Brazilian {Swartzia tomentosa} 3690
Ipe {Tabebula serratifolia} 3680
Maria Preta {Zizyphus itacaiunensis} 3680
Leadwood {Krugiodendron ferreum} 3660
Momoqui {Caesalpinia pluviosa} 3660
Katalox {Swartzia cubensis} 3620
Cumarurana {Taralea opposisitolia} 3590
Sapote {Licania sparsipilis} 3570
Wawra {Combretum imberbe} 3570
Orosi {Dipteryx panamensis} 3540
Shihuahuaco {Dipteryx micranta} 3540
Teak Brazilian {Dipteryx odorata} 3540
30 - Jarána {Holopyxidium jarana} 3500
30 - Redwood - Boongul {Eucalyptus transcontinetalis} 3500
Desert Oak Australian {Acacia coriacea} 3480
Gum Salmon {Eucalyptus salmonophloia} 3480
Uxirana {Vantanea parviflora} 3470
Cachaporra Do Gentio {Terminalia argentea} 3460
Macucu Branco {Licania oblongifolia} 3460
Morrel Black {Eucalyptus melanoxylon} 3460
Umzimbeet {Millettia grandis} 3450
Cabreúva Parda {Myrocarpus frondosus} 3440
Box Bimble {Eucalyptus populnea} 3390
Box Grey {Eucalyptus microcarpa} 3370
Box Red {Eucalyptus intertexta} 3370
Mallet Brown {Eucalyptus astringens} 3370
Wandoo {Eucalyptus wandoo} 3370
Angelim Rajado {Marmaroxylon racemosum} 3350
Azobe {Lophira alata} 3350
Blackwood Burmese {Dalbergia cultrata} 3350
Rosewood Kingwood {Dalbergia cearensis} 3340
40 - Caraiperana {Licania gracilipes} 3330
Casca Preciosa {Aniba canelilla} 3310
Endra Endra {Humbertia madagascariensis} 3310
Bitis {Madhuca utilis} 3280
Buddah {Eremophila mitchellii} 3280
Pau Santo {Zollernia paraensis} 3280
Muirapixuna {Cassia scleroxylon} 3270
Abiu Pitomba {Pouteria egregia} 3260
Box Australian Grey Bastard {Eucalyptus hemiphloia} 3240
Angelim Vermelho {Dinizia excelsa} 3220
Boxwood Hickory Australian {Planchonella euphlebia} 3220
Ebony Ceylon {Diospyros ebenum} 3220
Ebony Macassar {Diospyrus celebica} 3220
Muirapiranga {Brosimum acutifolium} 3220
Rosadinho {Pouteria anomala} 3220
Casuarina {Casuarina equisetifolia} 3200
Mahogany Mountain {Cercocarpus ledifolius} 3200
Beefwood {Manilkara bidentata} 3190
Rata Southern {Metrosideros lucida} 3180
50 - Rosewood East Indian {Dalbergia latifolia} 3170
Apamate {Tabebuia impetiginosa} 3150
Cuchi {Astronium urundeuva} 3150
Gum Grey {Eucalyptus propinqua} 3150
Ironbark Grey {Eucalyptus paniculata} 3150
Ironbark Red Broadleaved {Eucalyptus fibrosa} 3150
Ironbark Red Narrowleaved {Eucalyptus crebra} 3150
Myall Weeping {Acacia pendula} 3150
Rata Northern {Metrosideros robusta} 3150
Sheoak Rose {Casuarina torulosa} 3150
Leopard Tree {Caesalpinia ferrea} 3140
Anoerá Ferro {Acioa lehmbachii} 3120
Cuerno De Ternero {Bucida macrostachya} 3120
South African Black Ironwood {Olea laurifolia} 3120
Sapucaia {Lecythis pisonis} 3100
Nieshout {Ptaeroxylon obliquum} 3080
Sonoran Desert Ironwood {Olneya tesota} 3080
Barrote {Tetragastris panamensis} 3050
Angelim Pedra {Hymenolobium petraeum} 3040
Betharaba {Tabebuia avellanedae} 3040
Belian {Eusideroxylon zwageri} 3020
Abiurana {Couepia robusta} 3000
Angico {Parapiptadenia rigida} 3000
Chin Chan {Dalbergia oliveri} 3000
Rosewood Madagascar - Rosewood French {Dalbergia greveana} 3000
Tamarind {Tamarindus indica} 3000
60 - Teak Rhodesian {Baikiaea plurijuga} 2990
Cuiarana {Buchenavia grandis} 2980
Muhimbi {Cynometra alexandri} 2970
Tuturubá {Pouteria oblanceolata} 2970
Aromata {Clathrotropis brachypetala} 2960
Rosewood Cocobolo {Dalbergia retusa} 2960
Uxi {Endopleura uchi} 2950
65 - Banga Wanga {Amblygonocarpus andongensis} 2940
65 - Boxwood {Buxus sempervirens} 2940
65 - Cape Plane {Ochna arborea} 2940
65 - Hazondronono {Carissa cryptophlebia} 2940
65 - Mangrove Asiatic {Rhizophora apiculata} 2940
65 - Mopane {Colophospermum mopane} 2940
65 - Mulberry East African {Morus lactea} 2940
65 - Pracuúba Da Terra Firme {Trichilia lecointei} 2940
65 - Tambootie {Spirostachys africana} 2940

066logger

yea thats mainly all i cut lol. shagbark for all the bbq places that have smokers, and thorny locust because i can convince farmers to let me cut them off their land lol. i have found an 066 with a 20 inch bar and a good sharp full chisel chain work great. i cut a thorny locust up for a friend a couple months ago that was 4 foot thick for atleast 40 feet. it was a long afternoon..... especially since he told me that it wasnt a very big tree so i offered to do it for free .

Eric Frei

Cut4fun,

You need to quote your source.

So blokes like me can interrogate it.

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Cut4fun

Here you go, enjoy looking at the beautiful wood products. He also has a list of the softest trees etc.

Wood Gifts: Desk Accessories, Jewelry Boxes, Humidors, Pen, Single Handgun Cases

Eric Frei

I need the link to the previous post, not a gift store.

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Cut4fun

That is the link Click on the link in his store and it is all there at bottom.

Here look..............LOL

{Mail Orders} {Contact, Inquiries & Feedback} {Website Map} {Handcrafted Wooden Gift Creations Menu Main} {Custom Made Wooden Pieces, Boxes, Cases Etc Order Information & Inquiries} {Custom Made Wooden Handgun, Pistol, Firearm Boxes & Cases Order Information & Inquiries} {Custom Made Wooden Moulding Trim Baseboard, Window, Door Order Information & Inquiries} {Custom Cut Wood Lumber Pieces To Special Dimensions Order Information & Inquiries} {Custom & Special Made Wood Pieces, People Have Had Created} {Privacy Policy & Security Statements} {Frequently Asked Questions} {Ordering From Website Information} {Information About Sales, Payment, Shipping, Handling & Warranty} {Shipping & Handling Charges For Orders Outside Of USA} {Business Information} {Artist Biography/Profile & Accomplishments} {Shop, Studio} {Shop {Studio} Location Maps} {Wood Box Construction & Wood Finish Techniques} {J. W.'s Innovative Woodworker Column} {Woodworking Artist Johnny {J W} Morlan Personal Quotes} {Links To Articles Main Page} {Links Main Page} {Subscribe J W Morlan's Free New Creations Notification E-Mail Newsletter} {Five Star Reviews Magazine's Review/Write Up Of J W Morlan's Unique Wood Gifts} {Past Clients/Customers, Client/Customer Comments & General Comments} {Information About Trading Links With J W Morlan's Unique Wood Gifts} {Latest Lumber, Wood & Timber Industry News} {Latest Woodworking News} {Live World Map Of Last 1000 Trackable Visitors Morlan Wood Gifts} {Janka Hardness Scale/Chart Alphabetically By Common/Trade Name A - K} {Janka Hardness Scale/Chart Alphabetically By Common/Trade Name L - Z} {Janka Hardness Scale/Chart Alphabetically By Botanical/Scientific Name A - G} {Janka Hardness Scale/Chart Alphabetically By Botanical/Scientific Name H - Z} {Janka Hardness Scale/Chart Numerically From Softest To Hardest 40 - 1400} {Janka Hardness Scale/Chart Numerically From Softest To Hardest 1401 - 4800}

newguy18

i find live oak if lets stand dead for 5+ years is very taxing to cut,very dry,hard,pain in the ass to spike into,even a brand new chain won't cut it very efficiently.

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066logger

yea i kno what you mean. some of it seems to get hard and some of it seems to turn into mush. but try cutting some petrified hedge sometime. crazy hard, hardest thing i have ever tried to cut.

Eric Frei

Dang, you are right.

That's because it's a shockingly poorly build awful website. It runs frames and has the same URL for any page you view, what a loser who-ever built that! In fact Sherrill had a similar crap website until they realised how bad it was and rebuilt it.

I retract my and forward it onto the web designer of that disgusting site.

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Cut4fun

I knew it was there and you didnt scroll a half a mile south to find it. I was Enjoy

superfire

I my neck of the wood pile i have winner for hard. Dead standing chinese elm is like concrete. Even standing live chinese elm is a to cut. Fell one behind my BIL shop and it was a exsperience to say the least.

southbound

Here is a good link

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dodgetkboy78

Man, you guys are extreme, the hardest thing around here, is White Birch at 30 below zero.............

james barton

have you ever heard of iron wood ? its really hard .

james barton

i have a very large white oak tree that has one limb off it and its probally 2 feet across, the main trunk is still standing . sinse i use wood for heat i'am wondering how i can get it all out the gulley that its in and theres no where to run . hate to leave it there to rot away buy still thinking how to get it out .its ranks pretty high on my list of the biggest trees on my 26 acres
. any suggestions ?

james barton

how is it comprared to a dutch elm ?

Forest Keeper

When it comes to cutting trees on Cape Cod, I'd say Black Locust is the hardest thing we come across. Especially the old dead ones.

KevinE

We must have different Chinese Elms here? I've cut them down in residential backyards, most of the work being done with my polesaw. They always seem to get planted in too small a space. I went into one yard where there were 2 of them as shade trees in a space of about 65-70 m2, with a Golden Elm in between them. That was never going to work lol! The live ones I've cut were as soft as butter.

superfire

darn close in density. Now to get that oak out a winch and some tackle can recover the beast, I am talking high lead fire wood cutting

superfire

Sometime pondo can be darn hard to cut.

066logger

i still havent seen osage orange or hedge listed on any of the charts. anybody have any idea how it compares to the others?

Cut4fun

Here is a chart and yes you will have to scroll down for O O, but it gives you something to compare to other trees.

Janka hardness

066logger

thanks alot. thats really cool. it looks like hedge is arould number 3 or 4 in the american woods with a 9 but geez theirs some foreign species at like 14 . thats crazy. it looks like persimion is no 1 in america as hardest with a 10? wow i dont think i have ever cut any persimion before. hafto go find one lol.