Valuable wood species - the wealth of Russia

Why are the breeds valuable?

As we noted above, the value of the breed is determined by the number of specimens remaining on the planet. And rare tree species have quite a lot in common, namely:

• High strength of wood and, consequently, durability of products made from it;
• Noble appearance;
• Unique pattern, original pattern of annual rings;
• Aesthetically pleasing texture.

Experienced specialists in valuable woods are also amazed by the fact that due to the increased density of the layers, any type of cut will look advantageous. Naturally, the value of the breed affects its price. Firstly, it is not so easy to find a tree that has already become rare, and secondly, it is even more difficult to deliver it and process it in such a way as to use all the wood, and not scatter the remains.

Interestingly, in each country and even in each region, different tree species may be considered valuable. In Africa it will be birch, and in Russia, for example, eucalyptus. By the way, in our country, thanks to its vast territory and diversity of flora, there are more expensive varieties of trees than anywhere else on the planet. In Russia, valuable wood grows in Siberia, Karelia, the Caucasus, and this is not a complete list.

Valuable tree species are an excellent material for a wide variety of design items, furniture elements, parquet, doors and countertops. It is believed that valuable wood at home is a source of positive energy and a luxurious interior decoration. The costs of such material are offset by its unique appearance and very long service life. True, expensive wood is also very capricious; it will have to be looked after regularly. Moreover, each type of wood has its own distinctive qualities and requires special attention. Let's talk about some types of trees below.

How to determine the type of wood

The quality of lumber depends on the type of wood. To determine the breed, you need to know the main characteristics and differences. Each type of wood has external characteristics that make it easy to distinguish. To do this, consider the cross section of the felled tree.

Each type and species has an individual structure that creates unique physical properties. They determine the suitability of wood for various purposes. The most common means of material identification among carpenters is visual. Many experienced specialists, who know the differences and properties of species, determine the quality “by eye” and understand what type of wood lumber is made from.

But often it is impossible to accurately identify the species based on these characteristics, since the tree has amazing variability. Due to many natural conditions, it changes so much that it is impossible to visually determine the type of lumber with an accuracy of one hundred percent.

Reliable information can only be obtained using special tests. To determine accuracy, take a small sample of wood, since larger sizes are more difficult to conduct tests.

The photo shows the wood species

Valuable

Valuable wood is very popular, despite its high cost. This is a practical and beautiful material with unique properties.

Among the variety of valuable species, the following should be highlighted:

• Oak. It makes a beautiful and durable material. Oak wood is very pliable and bends well.
• Ash. Its texture is similar to oak, but its wood is of a lighter shade. If dried incorrectly, it may become slightly deformed.
• Beech is also a hardwood species. The beech is steamed before use. This is a very clean, odorless material. Therefore, wooden toys made of beech are highly valued. It is suitable for making countertops.

Conifers

Conifers have soft wood with the exception of larch. They have higher specific rigidity and strength in compression and static bending.

In coniferous wood (pine, cedar), the cells are mainly of the same type, so the material is more homogeneous in structure. When examined under a microscope, it is clear that old cells are very thick-walled, while those formed this season have thin walls and more resin passages. Therefore, the width of the ring is not so important. The more old rings, the higher the quality.

The formation of rings is greatly influenced by the location where the tree grew. If its growth was moderate, its strength increases. The mechanical properties of coniferous wood are very high, so it is often used as construction and structural wood, after undergoing special processing.

How to determine the quality and 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 grade of softwood lumber according to GOST 26002-83:

Soft

You can recognize soft rocks by their clearly defined light tones. To improve the properties of soft rocks, they are treated with special means. Such material is invaluable in carpentry. Aspen can easily be included here.

Softwood has been used since Roman times to make household and agricultural tools. Traditionally it was stained in water to enhance its strength. Wood carvers love it very much, as it is a very pliable material. It is not suitable for construction.

Solid

Hardwoods are more valuable. With their help, they create reliable structures that require high strength. High natural characteristics prevent warping. The standard of hardness is oak. Solid wood is not afraid of mechanical loads and does not change its shape under their influence.

But houses are not usually built from oak, since it is very expensive wood. If there are abnormal color changes, it indicates a painful condition. As a result of the disease, the wood loses its strength.

Deciduous

The structure of hardwood is more complex. When considering it, it is customary to divide the material into two classes: ring-porous and diffuse-porous. In some cases, the differences are too small to see without a magnifying glass. The most common are linden, birch and alder.

Deciduous trees have a large core diameter. It is usually much darker than the sapwood. But sometimes, due to growing conditions, there is almost no difference in color, which leads to confusion. Deciduous wood has patterns of varying expressiveness. These could be rings or stripes. Detailed standards for tolerance of defects in deciduous wood are specified in GOST 7897-62.

Exotic woods

The popularity of exotic hardwoods is due to their aesthetic properties. They have a beautiful texture and rich saturated colors. Their strength characteristics and unique properties are of great importance.

Of particular commercial value are:

• Wenge. Grows in Africa in tropical jungles. Furniture, parquet, and veneer for decorative door coverings are made from solid Wenge. They create overlays for guitar necks and knife handles. Wenge-finished floors are surprisingly durable.
• Ebony. Trees with black wood grow in Africa, Indochina and Hindustan. The wood is very heavy. A square meter of Ebony parquet costs approximately 50 thousand US dollars. Wood has unique properties; it absorbs sound waves, which allows it to contribute to reducing noise in buildings.
• Iron tree. Grows in Asian countries. This hard and very durable wood is used to make machine parts. That's why they call it iron. These species include Boxwood, Casuarina, Parrotia persica, Quebracho and others. Quebracho means "break the axe" in Spanish. In our country, an iron tree also grows - Schmidt birch. It has a strength one and a half times greater than cast iron.

It is extremely difficult to buy materials from exotic rocks. Due to their small numbers, they are under state protection.

In construction, thanks to the competent selection of forest products, any building will be of high quality and durability. Therefore, preference should be given only to high-quality wood.

Abashi

A tropical wood variety that comes to us from the forests of West Africa. Cream shade, soft structure, low thermal conductivity, but high moisture resistance and almost complete absence of knots - all this has made the material from deciduous wood under the exotic name “Triplochiton hard-resin” very desirable and in demand all over the world. The almost perfectly smooth surface of its wood is due to the fact that in abashi the crown is located only at the very top; almost the entire tree trunk is smooth. This material is well suited for processing, tinting, screwing in fasteners, and gluing with other parts. The workpieces do not break or crack while working with them. Very often, abashi is used in the construction of steam rooms in baths, in aircraft and shipbuilding, as well as for the production of furniture and musical instruments.

Valuable wood species - the wealth of Russia

Among the many species of trees growing in Russia, there are those whose wood is deservedly considered elite. She earned this title due to the excellent appearance and quality of products made from it, the complexity of their creation and the corresponding price. Valuable wood is used as a material for furniture, doors, parquet floors and other expensive interior items and trinkets. Such things are not always convenient in everyday life and require care, but they make an impression and, with appropriate care, will please the eye for a long time. For example, high-quality oak parquet will cost much more than linoleum or laminate, and caring for it is not easy, but it looks completely different.

Here are some of the valuable wood species found in Russia:

1. Karelian birch
2. Aralia high
3. Cherry
4. Manchurian walnut
5. Oak
6. Crimean mahogany
7. Ash
8. Maple
9. White acacia

Some of them, such as oak, maple or ash, are widespread, others, for example, Karelian birch or Manchurian walnut, are found only in certain parts of Russia.

Karelian birch

You won’t surprise anyone with birch in Russia, but Karelian birch is a special thing. These strangely curved trees are unique in some way, which has long ensured their worldwide fame.

As is easy to understand, the Karelian birch grows on the territory of Karelia and is rightfully its symbol.

Karelian birch wood is distinguished by its enviable strength, but this is not its uniqueness. The wood of this strange tree is covered with bizarre, unlike anything else patterns. It is still unknown what caused them to appear, but their beauty has long been noted and used to create amazing wooden products. Whatever caused these patterns, a random mutation, an unusual disease or radiation exposure, they became famous throughout the world.

The scarcity and uniqueness of Karelian birch trees is the reason that their wood is used mainly to create small household items, for example, boxes or cigarette cases. There is also furniture made from Karelian birch, but it is very, very expensive. However, the price is justified - such furniture is unique and extremely impressive.

Aralia high

This huge shrub, capable of stretching more than ten meters in just ten years, lives up to its name. On the territory of Russia, Aralia is a real rarity; its homeland is Asian countries such as Japan and China. However, along with the Kuril Islands, Russia also inherited the tall aralia growing there.

High Aralia is used in a variety of areas of life. Its pleasant appearance allows it to play the role of an ornamental plant. The saturation of wood, especially the roots, with useful substances, became the reason for the appearance of a tonic tincture, which causes stimulation of the central nervous system and is therefore used in many different situations. Here are the consequences of tremors, low blood pressure, and the consequences of meningitis... As for its role in the timber industry, high aralia wood looks quite unusual and is often used for the manufacture of small products. What hinders its use for other purposes is that it is quite soft and requires particularly long drying.

Cherry

Cherry fruits are familiar to everyone, but many have probably at least once seen furniture made from the wood of this tree. It has an unusually beautiful color, which can vary from intense red and red-brown to pinkish with a gray or brown tint if we are talking about mature wood.

This tree is not at all rare. In Russia, cherries grow mainly in the south, Europe or the USA, and they won’t surprise anyone either. Cherry wood is softer than oak wood, polishes very well and is easy to work with. This, as well as the beauty of color and texture, has made cherry wood a worthy raw material for furniture, musical instruments and decorative items.

Manchurian walnut

On the territory of Russia, several varieties of walnut grow that have valuable wood, but the Manchurian walnut is the least common and therefore stands out especially. As you might guess, in Russia this tree grows mainly in the Far East, and only in deciduous forests. Since exclusively deciduous forests are rare in Russia, the distribution of the Manchurian walnut turned out to be limited. Otherwise, this tree can hardly be called capricious.

In addition to its rarity, Manchurian walnut wood has an unusual, but pleasant and memorable appearance. The wood is generally light in color, but the heartwood is bright brown and very noticeable. Thanks to this, Manchurian walnut is a valuable raw material for various decorative products. It is practically not used as a material for furniture, although there is plywood based on Manchurian walnut.

Oak

Everyone has heard about oak parquet, oak furniture and how valued such furnishings are. However, in nature there are almost five hundred different species of this tree, and of course, not all of them are equally valuable.

The main advantage of oak is its extraordinary strength and moisture resistance. It is practically not afraid of either fungus or decay. All this has long provided him with a corresponding reputation. Oak wood has been used for centuries where reliability and durability were required. In addition, when properly processed, it can be very beautiful, and old oak products acquire a particularly noble dark shade over the years.

The most valuable type of oak wood is the so-called bog oak. If the trunk has been under water for several years, the wood darkens almost to black and is stronger than ordinary oak wood that has not been exposed to such exposure. Noticing this, people eventually began to deliberately use pickling and staining to improve the quality of oak wood. The only drawback of oak is the need for long-term drying of the wood, since artificially accelerating the process can cause cracks to appear.

Crimean mahogany

This is a heat-loving tree that is most comfortable in southern countries. However, there are places in Russia where it grows quietly. This, as is easy to understand, is Crimea, as well as Sochi and Krasnodar. The main value of mahogany wood is the absence of any voids or defects in general. This, coupled with its rarity, makes it quite valuable.

Mahogany wood is good for making heavy furniture and for musical instruments, such as drums or guitars. Another relatively recent area of ​​its application is expensive speaker systems.

Ash

In total, about ten species of ash are found in Russia. This familiar tree is a source of wonderful wood, which is distinguished by its reliability, toughness, elasticity and visual appeal. In addition, ash wood has an unusually flexible disposition - it is easily subjected to all types of processing and finishing and can easily withstand drying.

Visually, ash wood resembles oak wood, although it does not have such strength. It has been used for the same long time and for the same purposes. This feature of ash wood, such as flexibility, makes it especially valuable when it comes to bent or carved products.

Maple

This tree with beautiful leaves, which children often play with, also has extremely durable wood, superior even to oak. Maple wood is very light, almost white, sometimes there is a pinkish or yellow tint. Another advantage is its beautiful texture. Unfortunately, maple wood does not tolerate drying very well, so this process must be carried out with extreme caution.

The light color of maple wood helps to play with contrast, combining maple elements with darker wood elements, such as oak. Of course, dirt is more noticeable on a light surface, but maple wood products are worth the time spent caring for them.

White acacia

This tree is not very common in Russia, but it has remarkable technical and aesthetic characteristics. It surpasses even oak, famous for its reliability and resistance to rot.

Stock wood has a beautiful yellow color and does not process well when dry, so processing is usually done while the wood is wet. Elastic, easily polished wood darkens over the years, which emphasizes the beauty of the texture.

Unfortunately, for all its advantages, acacia requires extremely careful drying, and its specific texture, like that of mahogany, requires especially careful and skillful processing. However, the advantages outweigh these disadvantages, and acacia successfully becomes a material for furniture, parquet, and many other products.

Juniper

It is also a faith that was sung in medieval literature. This light coniferous species is distinguished by its high wear resistance, durability, pleasant smell and pinkish-white tint of wood. It is aesthetic appeal that is considered one of the main advantages of juniper. Due to the fact that the tree itself is small, it is difficult to use in industry. However, in turning, making children's toys, dishes, barrels, in medicine and perfumery, juniper is highly valued.

Siberian cedar

Siberian cedar pine is a light wood with a density of 420 kg per cubic meter. It can be recognized by its unusual pattern: the yellow-pink core smoothly connects with light yellow fibers. They can be found not only in Siberia, but also in Mongolia and northern China, but this does not make the breed less valuable: cedar pine can live up to eight centuries, and there are not many such old-timers left in the world.

One of the key qualities of a thoroughbred Siberian is amazing durability. Cedar products can be passed down from generation to generation. The material lends itself well to processing and painting, is not afraid of pests and has a very pleasant, even healing, smell. The use of Siberian cedar is more than widespread: it is actively used for exterior and interior decoration, in construction, as well as in the manufacture of veneer, pencils, ladles, bath thermometers, clocks and dousing devices.

Physical and mechanical indicators

What makes wood expensive? Of course, there are many factors, including durability, unique tone, original texture, exclusive pattern, unique texture. Also, the density and hardness of the material are primarily taken into account.

Wood with low density (up to 510 kg/m3) is found in walnut, chestnut, alder, willow, poplar, cedar, fir, pine and spruce.

Untreated wood

Average (in the range of 550-740 kg/m3) occurs in ash, apple, rowan, plane tree, maple, elm, elm, oak, pear, elm, beech, birch, yew and larch.

Increased density (from 750 kg/m3) is observed in dogwood, pistachio, saxaul, boxwood, hornbeam, Karelian birch, and white acacia.

Canadian cedar

Red cedar grows not only in Canada, but also in the USA, but the name “Canadian” is already firmly attached to it. Its wood is very soft and docile, it will not crack during drilling and can be processed well, without leaving a single knot. This breed is valued for the following advantages: low fiber compression coefficient, as a result, the ability to keep its shape despite changes in temperature and humidity, high soundproofing qualities, and good thermal insulation. That’s why Canadian cedar is so popular for finishing walls, floors and ceilings – both the material and the residents of a house decorated with it feel great in living spaces. Without a doubt, Canadian cedar is an ideal material for the home: reliable, durable, beautiful, and resistant. It was not without reason that it was appreciated in ancient times: some archaeological finds are made of red cedar.

Oak

The hardest, most reliable, wear-resistant and dense - 760 kg per cubic meter. There are legends about the durability of products made from this breed. Even in Latin the name of oak is translated as “beautiful tree.” Its porous structure looks very noble, but at the same time it can resist rotting and parasites. Over time, oak wood darkens, which looks even more aesthetically pleasing. Considering all the advantages, one should not be surprised that this breed is very capricious: oak furniture requires special attention and care, it will not agree to just stand and become covered in dust at home. The happy owner of oak products must treat their surface with special products at least once a month, for which the oak will be ready to serve the owner for decades.

Oak was in demand several centuries ago. In the Peter the Great era, for example, poaching the felling of this tree was punishable by death. Times have changed, but oak has become even more widely used: in interior decoration, building construction, furniture, doors, underwater structures and flooring. Garden furniture made from this wood and oak bathhouses are especially popular now. And, of course, such interior elements as an oak dining table, chairs and a secretary remain timeless classics.

Wenge

Another valuable rock, this time tropical, even denser, heavier and harder. The wood obtained from the Wenge tree is also excellent at resisting small pests and fungi. The most valuable thing in the tree is the dark core - the densest part of wenge. The rest of the wood is known for its noble shades - from golden brown to almost black. But working with this material is not easy: the minerals and oils contained in the pores of the wenge trunk make work difficult, so experts recommend limiting yourself to waxing.

When drying, such wood may become cracked. But wenge perfectly withstands even strong blows. That is why the material made from it is used for the most difficult tasks in the house: the design of stairs, furniture, sports equipment. Wenge is often used for the production of flooring, as this material combines well with other species, such as ash, maple and olive. From such “duets” they assemble artistic parquet of the highest quality - very expensive, beautiful and reliable.

Color of precious wood

It is recognizable and allows you to make an unmistakable choice in advance based on color:

• oak - grayish-beige;
• bog oak - close to black;
• beech - pinkish-delicate;
• Karelian birch - yellow-red;
• rosewood - slightly reddish;
• ash - light yellow;
• walnut - brownish-gray;
• maple - white and pink;
• acacia - yellowish;
• cherry - soft red.

The color range of valuable wood species
This plays into the hands of building designers and cabinet makers and furniture makers, helping to create an accurate design of a future object or piece.

But besides the recognizable color palette, each tree has many other highlights. Oak wood is noble, beech wood is classic, walnut wood is exquisite, cherry wood is decorative, ash wood is textured, maple wood is flexible, etc. So there is plenty to choose from: nature generously shares its unique beauties!

Mahogany

One of the most valuable wood species. The red material of various shades is distinguished by its unusual pattern - from rays and wavy stripes. Expensive furniture, percussion musical instruments, and finishing materials are made from mahogany. Recently, they have become very popular in decorating ship cabins. The breed is distinguished by its noble appearance and obedience: mahogany is easy to saw, process, polish and sand. It is believed that musical instruments made from mahogany sound clear and deep.

These are not all tree species recognized as valuable.
The list is actually very extensive: sequoia, yew, sandalwood, rosewood - these trees grow on different continents and are used for different purposes. But they have one thing in common: the popularity of unusual wood makes them increasingly rare. To the listNext articlePrevious article

What kind of wood is considered valuable?

In essence, this includes those trees that are least common in a particular region. Somewhere it will be a maple, somewhere it will be an apple tree, and somewhere it will be the ubiquitous acacia. But there is a classic gradation, according to which valuable trees include:

• nut;
• ash;
• alder;
• oak;
• maple;
• cherry;
• pear;
• beech, etc.

Samples of valuable wood species
However, this list is far from complete, since there are many expensive species. These include limewood, kempas, teak, rosewood, mahogany, tatayuba, sequoia, doxia, esquero, Karelian birch, laurel, abache, eucalyptus, meranti, yew, ebony and mahogany, as well as many others.

They make magnificent interior items, furniture, panels, doors, parquet, finishing materials, designer decorations and even works of art. All this fills the house with novelty, positive energy, gives comfort and brings true peace.