Hardwood is derived from popular timber species like rosewood, teak, mathi, honne, nandi, neem, Acacia etc., which are commonly used in construction work. They are very hard, durable and can take load. There are also a group of semi-hardwoods like mango, hebbavu, rubber wood, eucalyptus etc., which can’t take load but can still be used for many common purposes after wood treatment and seasoning. There are softwoods like buruge, silver oak, poplar etc., which are used only for specified purposes like match sticks, tooth picks etc. Of late they are bring used in making plywood and block boards in large scale.

India has adopted a policy of importing wood liberally from other countries to tide over the shortages in the market. A lot of round logs are imported and supplied to saw mills under a variety of names. Generally, they are soft and less durable under tropical conditions compared to Indian timbers and hence priced lower (except Burma teak which is notbeing exported now). Their hardness and properties are also highly variable. It is advisable to use imported timber under expert advice. In order to overcome the low-price problem, many companies within as well as outside India have started manufacturing ready to use products from conifers and other softwoods after treatment. Most ready-made products like door frames, door shutters, cabinets, furniture etc., is made from semi-hard or softwood timber.

Round logs may have certain defects like buttress (irregular outline at the bottom), heart rot (soft spongy tissue at the centre of the log), shake (circular or semi-circular cracks in the log), deep vertical cracks from surface, twisted grains, large knots, fire scars, weathered sides, borer/worm holes, gall formations (localized swellings) etc. Such defects diminish the out turn from the round logs. Cut sizes may have defects like whitewood, bow shaped bends, warping, cupping, splitting, twisting etc., which will reduce the usefulness of the cutsizes.

Secondary timber is what is produced from secondary forest, especially the plantations. The trees are harvested at a much younger age and therefore the timber and wood derived is relatively less hard and durable. However, their quality and durability can be enhanced by treating the wood and seasoning the cut sizes appropriately and using them in places where the load factor is less.

Tropical countries like India have a large number of timber species. The properties of timber vary from species to species, locations where they are grown, age of the tree and treatment/seasoning of cut sizes. Similarly, there is a large diversity in the imported timbers because India imports wood from several countries across the world. Properties and uses of wood requires expert knowledge. Hence, it is suggested that buyers should take assistance of reliable carpenters or wood experts or go to a government owned depot like that of KSFIC, discuss your requirements, seek their advice and buy your needs. That saves you from future losses.

Semi-hard wood and secondary wood require treatment with certain chemicals to make them resistant to wood borers and fungal inspection and extend the life of wood. This done by immersing the wood in certain chemicals or pumping the chemicals under pressure into the wood. Wood seasoning on the other hand, involves drying wood by removing excess moisture from cut sizes and stabilizing their dimensions such that they are free from expansion/shrinkage, common defects etc., after they have been put to use. This is a long process and is done generally in large kilns which are heat/vacuum treated for certain number of days. It can also done naturally by loosely stacking cut sizes that permits free air movement.