Balsa is the lightest type of wood in the United States. It is however stronger than many lighter kinds of wood and played a major role in building airplanes in the early days. Today balsa still makes model airplanes and it also finds use in many areas of boat building. Light wood comes from many different wood species but you can most commonly find them from walnut, cherry, and pine. As a woodworker, lightwood may pose a challenge to you in terms of creativity. You can use some of the lightest types of wood in various locations as we have described above. Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, and is reported by the IUCN as being a species of least concern. To make the 45º angle cuts, I used a table saw sled made specially for this type of cuts and you can see how I made it right here.

Grain/Texture:Boxwood has a very fine, even texture with a natural luster. The grain tends to be straight or slightly irregular.Among lightweight woods, walnut is a bit of a wildcard entry on this list. It is one of the expensive options in the wood among hardwoods, but it is surprisingly light. So, we felt compelled to include walnut wood in this list of the lightest types of wood. Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, boxwood has been reported as a sensitizer. Usually most common reactions simply include eye, skin, and respiratory irritation. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Woodworkers will always be comfortable using lightweight wood that is easy to work with. There is a general misconception because lightwood is softer, it is not as strong as heavier wood. There are many light kinds of wood that are sufficiently strong as well. Mahogany and pinewood are prime examples of light woods that are strong. Why do we need light wood? Color/Appearance: Color tends to be a light cream to yellow, which tends to darken slightly with prolonged exposure to light. Sapwood not distinct from heartwood.

Pine is good for making smaller boxes. There are different types of pinewood available, yellow pine being the most widely used in the United States. Pine cuts easily and takes fasteners like nails and screws well. Alder is another hardwood worth mentioning here. It is among the softest of hardwoods and perhaps with a slightly higher tensile strength than pine. Parenchyma : generally not visible, even with magnification, though sometimes diffuse-in-aggregates parenchyma is present Douglas fir is a much sought-after wood in the construction business, particularly for framing. It is a softwood that has a smooth texture but it has adequate strength for making boxes out of it.

If you live in an area that is affected, Gem Box® and Strongbox® inkberry hollies can be great boxwood alternatives. Both are native evergreens that grow similarly in size, shape, and texture, and provide better resistance to disease and winter damage.

Lightest Types of Wood

Maple is moderately light and does not have as long a life as several hardwoods. But it serves a vital role in the construction industry. Maple also makes good musical instruments and indoor furniture. Due to its limited resistance to moisture, insects, and rot, maple is more of an indoors type of wood. Ash Cherry is one of the lighter woods but is also easily among one of the best-looking woods used for various purposes in the United States. The best and highest quality furniture is made from cherry wood. Pricing/Availability: Usually only available in small quantities and sizes, boxwood tends to be very expensive.

Another useful application for Douglas fir is for making lightweight bed frames. It also makes other structural reinforcements like struts for shelving. Fir Plywood Another common requirement for lightweight wood is for making shelves where any other type of wood could prove to be too heavy. Lightest Types of Wood It plays a major role in making furniture which needs to be moved around a lot. Walnut has a dark, chocolaty color to the extent of looking purple and it makes good wall paneling and flooring in addition to furniture. Boxwood blight is a fungal disease that affects the leaves and branches of boxwood plants. First reported in the United States in 2011, it has now been detected in 27 states and continues to spread. What are the signs of boxwood blight? Boxwood leaf miners, scale insects, lesion nematodes, caterpillars and mites can be a problem; treat with organic neem oil or insecticidal spray. They can also be susceptible to powdery mildew, Pythium root rot, canker and leaf spots. Boxwood blight is a serious problem in many states. See below for more information and planting alternatives. Deer resistance:Choose from brass, chrome, copper, rust, plywood, oak, walnut as well painted and powder coated finishes. Workability: Boxwood tends to be somewhat difficult to work in flat dimensions, though it is superbly suited for turning and carving, where it can hold very fine details. Tearout can occur on pieces with irregular grain during planing and other machining operations. Boxwood has a slight blunting effect on cutters. You can use light wood in different areas of your home. You can also vary the styles from rustic to classic or modernistic, according to the way you use the wood. When trimming boxwood, don’t overdo it. While a nice, compact bush may look healthy on the outside, that dense outer foliage (caused from over pruning) can keep air and light from getting to the inner part of the plant. Thin the outer growth annually so that air and light can get in, and prune away any dead or diseased branches from the center of the plant. Shearing can be done with hand pruners, hedge clippers or electric trimmers. Winter care: