Hardwoods vs. Softwoods for Wood Carving: What’s the Difference?
The names make it sound simple.
Hardwood must be hard.
Softwood must be soft.
Unfortunately, trees didn't get that memo.
Basswood is a hardwood, yet it's one of the easiest and most popular woods for hand carving.
Some softwoods can be noticeably harder than basswood.
So when choosing wood for carving, don't let the words hardwood and softwood tell you everything you think you need to know.
What Is a Hardwood?
Hardwoods come from broadleaf flowering trees.
Examples include:
-
Basswood
-
Butternut
-
Walnut
-
Cherry
-
Maple
-
Oak
Most hardwoods lose their leaves each year, although there are exceptions.
For a carver, the important thing to remember is:
Hardwood does not automatically mean hard to carve.
Basswood is the perfect example.
It's technically a hardwood, but its relatively soft, even-textured wood is especially well suited to hand carving.
What Is a Softwood?
Softwoods generally come from coniferous trees—trees such as pine, spruce, fir, and cedar.
They typically have needles or scale-like leaves and produce cones.
Again, the name doesn't tell you exactly how the wood will feel under your knife.
Some softwoods are quite soft and pleasant to work.
Others can be surprisingly firm.
What Matters More Than the Name?
For carving, I care much more about the actual wood than whether someone has labeled it hardwood or softwood.
Things that matter include:
-
Density
-
Grain direction
-
Grain size
-
Knots
-
Resin
-
Moisture content
-
How easily the fibers split
-
How well the wood holds detail
Those characteristics are what your carving knife actually encounters.
Why Basswood Confuses People
Basswood is probably the best example of why these names can be misleading.
It's a hardwood.
But it's relatively soft, light, and easy to work.
That's why carvers have used it for generations for:
-
Figures
-
Caricatures
-
Relief carving
-
Ornaments
-
Detailed knife carving
Calling it a hardwood tells you something about the tree.
It doesn't tell you that you're going to have to fight it with a knife.
Are Softwoods Good for Carving?
Some certainly are.
White pine, for example, is relatively soft and works easily with tools.
But softwoods can present their own challenges.
The difference between earlywood and latewood growth can sometimes make the knife move through alternating softer and harder areas.
Knots can also be hard and unpredictable.
Some species contain more resin.
So while a softwood may be easy to cut overall, it may not give you the same consistent feel as a good piece of basswood.
Are Hardwoods Better for Detail?
Some harder woods can hold very crisp detail.
Cherry, walnut, and maple can produce beautiful carvings.
But you'll usually need a sharper knife and more controlled cuts because the wood offers more resistance.
That doesn't necessarily make them better.
It simply makes them different.
For a painted caricature, I may prefer basswood.
For a carving where I want the natural color and grain to be part of the finished piece, I might choose something else.
The project should help choose the wood.
Butternut: Somewhere in Between
Butternut is another hardwood carvers often enjoy.
It's softer than black walnut and relatively easy to work, while showing more visible grain than basswood. The Forest Products Laboratory describes butternut as moderately soft and easy to machine.
That makes it a nice choice when you want a carving wood that's cooperative but still has some visible character.
Which Is Better for Beginners?
I wouldn't tell a beginner:
Start with a softwood.
I'd tell them:
Start with basswood.
The reason isn't its botanical classification.
It's because basswood is:
-
Relatively soft
-
Fine textured
-
Predictable
-
Easy to cut
-
Good at holding detail
That's much more useful information than whether the tree had needles or leaves.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is basswood a hardwood or softwood?
Basswood is a hardwood, even though the wood itself is relatively soft and easy to carve.
Are hardwoods harder to carve than softwoods?
Not necessarily. Hardwood and softwood are botanical classifications and don't directly describe the hardness of the wood.
Are softwoods good for wood carving?
Some are. Pine and cedar, for example, can be carved successfully, although grain, knots, and resin may make them behave differently from basswood.
What is the easiest wood for carving?
Basswood is one of the most commonly recommended woods for hand carving because it is soft, fine textured, and relatively predictable.
Do harder woods hold better detail?
They can hold very crisp detail, but good detail also depends on grain structure, blade sharpness, and carving technique.
Continue Reading
Continue exploring Sharpening & Knife Care in The Deepwoods Handbook:
