Wooden bench legs are some of the most common furniture legs you will find on items ranging from tables to office desks and more. Yet, even though they are so prevalent, quite a few types of woods can be used to make them, each with its benefits and drawbacks in terms of price, durability, strength, and more.
This article will guide you through various types of woods used to make furniture legs and provide some suggestions about which ones work best for wood bench legs.
Oakwood
Oakwood is one of the best among the three most commonly used woods: maple, oak, and cherry wood. It’s solid and sturdy with a friendly, yellowish-brown coloring that only gets better with age. This is hardwood, which means it’s incredibly durable and takes quite a beating before breaking.
Because of its density, oak is easy to work with and can create many different kinds of furniture. Oakwood might be your most fantastic option if you want something that appears classy along with its durability.
Cherry Leg Materials
Cherry leg materials come from various trees found in Europe, Western Asia, and North America. The wood itself is highly valued for its strength, hardness, and resistance to cracking or splintering. The cherry wood, which is used to make furniture legs, is also popular because it is often aesthetically pleasing. These wooden bench legs resemble rich chocolate brownies or classic table logs with a rustic feel depending on how they are finished and stained.
Pinewood
This type of wood is most commonly used for manufacturing wooden bench legs. It is cheap and easy to acquire, so it’s usually used in kitchens and other functional spaces where it won’t receive a lot of wear and tear. However, pine is not solid and can warp easily over time if not cared for properly. Avoid using paint products containing ammonia when working with the pinewood; ammonia may cause some pine species to splinter or crack.
Hard Maple
Apart from its excellent strength, hard maple, also referred to as rock maple or sugar maple, is possibly among the most popular wood species used for building furniture.
It is typically found in cold climates and has a brownish color with white grain streaks and small brown patches on its bark. Woodworkers generally think of hard maple as a low-cost workhorse wood for wooden bench legs. It works efficiently to make furniture and finishes beautifully, but it can be brittle, so take care when working with it.
Walnut Wood
Walnut is not only beautiful but highly durable. As a result, it’s in vogue for large furniture such as benches and tables that need to be sturdy. Walnut is a prevalent wood because it has subtle colors and grain patterns that add character to an otherwise plain piece of furniture. If you have any walnut wood lying around at home, you should consider using some of it to make wood bench legs. The wood will enhance any project and provide both elegance and durability.
The Bottom Line
A common misconception among woodworkers is that all wood used in furniture making is hardwood. However, several softwoods can also be used in making bench legs and other furniture. Softwoods tend to be less expensive than hardwoods. However, they can be as easy to work with if a person understands how to cut, sand, and finish them properly with a bit of knowledge on which wood to use and why it’s easy for the beginners to get started on their next furniture project.
