WoodCentral Forums

Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge

Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

Posts

Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

#1

Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

Don Stephan

Are there lighter weight woods that are also harder, to be able to resist dents? Or wood that weighs less by definition going to be easier to dent?

The project I have in mind essentially will make stacking wooden blocks about 3" x 2" x 1", and of course the stacks often fall down. For comparative purposes I would like to make one set with a heavier wood, perhaps purpleheart if it is available, and one set with a lighter, lighter colored wood so it will be easy to tell them apart. Maple would be an obvious color difference, but I'll have to look in my wood technology books for the weight difference. Poplar would be an alernative to maple, but I believe poplar dents more easily than maple.

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

#2

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

We sold thousands of bdft of maple to industrial customers to build jigs, carts, bumpers, etc where a tough, dent resistant wood was required to hold up to industrial abuse.

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

#3

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

johnv

I made blocks for my grandchildren from Maple and Walnut, finished with Mahone's oil. Shapes were squares, rectangles, triangles, trapezoids all can be arranged to fit together in larger sizes(think quilts), great learning toys. They have survived with no noticeable dents into the next generation. even served as teething toys for a couple of infants.maybe not "light weight" but for the size very appropriate. Basic size was 2x2x1.

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

#4

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

Don Stephan

For this project I am needing two different woods with noticeably different weights, different colors would be a plus. I know maple would work well and pine is noticeably lighter, but likely will dent too much. Black walnut is not an option due to cost.

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

#5

Re: Lighter Weight Dent Resistant Wood?

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

noticeably different weights, noticeable by who? In a block that small it will take a discerning subject to notice a difference between walnut and poplar, for example. What are you trying to accomplish? Differences can be due to color (most noticeable), texture (oak vs maple) or density.

👍 This page answered my questions

Your vote helps other woodworkers quickly find the answers and techniques that actually work in the shop.