DIY Builds
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What's the softest wood?

Balsa It's common knowledge, but Balsa is indeed the softest and lightest of all commercial woods. Nothing else even comes close. Useful for insulation, buoyancy, and other special applications.

How can I make 1000 in a week?
How can I make 1000 in a week?

How to Make 1000 a Week Online and Offline Answer Paid Surveys. Companies will pay top dollar to do market research. ... Start a Blog. One of the...

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Do you need planning permission for a non permanent structure?
Do you need planning permission for a non permanent structure?

When You Need Planning Permission. As a rule of thumb, if you plan on using your temporary structure continually for more than 28 days, and/or it...

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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by Eric Meier

The most common test for testing wood hardness is known as the Janka hardness test. The actual number listed in the wood profile is the amount of pounds-force (lb f ) or newtons (N) required to imbed a .444″ (11.28 mm) diameter steel ball into the wood to half the ball’s diameter. While most people would be looking for the hardest wood, just out of curiosity, here’s a list of the ten softest woods on the site. Keep in mind that five out of these ten woods (including the three softest) are considered hardwoods. This just goes to show that the terms hardwood and softwood merely refer to the botanical classification of the trees as either conifers (softwoods) or angiosperms (hardwoods). There’s no guarantee that any given hardwood will actually be hard! Note: A hardwood named Quipo (Cavanillesia platanifolia) is commonly reported as the softest known wood, with an alleged Janka hardness of 22 lb f (98 N). However, the wood is omitted from this list for two main reasons. First, it is virtually unobtainable and not commercially available outside of its natural range in Central/South America. Secondly, the purported hardness seems highly questionable, especially in light of the fact that Quipo seems to be very susceptible to rot, and on one USDA test, it was remarked that “the results for quipo may have been influenced by the presence of considerable decay.” Furthermore, when comparing Quipo with Balsa, it has been shown that the two woods are virtually identical in hardness, with the absolute lowest recorded Janka hardness values, in the range of 20-35 lbf (89-156 N), were actually from Balsa, and not Quipo.

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Are you an aspiring wood nerd?

The poster, Worldwide Woods, Ranked by Hardness, should be required reading for anyone enrolled in the school of wood nerdery. I have amassed over 500 wood species on a single poster, arranged into eight major geographic regions, with each wood sorted and ranked according to its Janka hardness. Each wood has been meticulously documented and photographed, listed with its Janka hardness value (in lbf) and geographic and global hardness rankings. Consider this: the venerable Red Oak (Quercus rubra) sits at only #33 in North America and #278 worldwide for hardness! Aspiring wood nerds be advised: your syllabus may be calling for Worldwide Woods as part of your next assignment!

What are good shed colors?
What are good shed colors?

Neutral Colors Gray, soft green, and light blue, all of which can be found in nature, are great color choices if you want your shed to blend in...

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What can I put on my metal roof to stop sweating?
What can I put on my metal roof to stop sweating?

Traditionally, condensation is managed by insulating the metal roof so that the panel temperature never reaches the dew point. This is often...

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

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What do you call a person who works hard?

diligent. adjective. formal someone who is diligent works very hard and very carefully.

Synonyms

efficient adjective someone who is efficient works well and quickly and is good at organizing their work in the way that gets the best results

productive adjective working hard and producing or achieving a lot

committed adjective loyal to a belief, organization, or group, and willing to work hard for it hard-working adjective a hard-working person puts a lot of effort into their work

conscientious adjective working hard and careful to do things well

diligent adjective formal someone who is diligent works very hard and very carefully

industrious adjective formal always working very hard

assiduous adjective formal hard-working and thorough

tireless adjective showing approval working very hard without stopping

Which is better pole barn or metal building?
Which is better pole barn or metal building?

Higher Value Customizable metal buildings are generally less expensive to build than a wooden pole barn, but that doesn't mean they are of lesser...

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How much storage do I need for a 2 bedroom house?
How much storage do I need for a 2 bedroom house?

A 10'x10' (100 sq. ft.) storage unit is great for a 2 bedroom house. It's ideal for items from two bedrooms (mattresses sets, dressers,...

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Can you put a wood-burning stove in a Barndominium?
Can you put a wood-burning stove in a Barndominium?

Compared to central heating systems, wood-burning stoves cannot efficiently heat a large barndominium. The heat emits from the stove instead of...

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Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »
Do I need Vapour barrier in shed?
Do I need Vapour barrier in shed?

Like an unheated shed, a shed with no insulation doesn't need a vapour barrier. This is because any moisture-build up (even in hot weather) should...

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