Wood species vary in many ways, but a key factor in finishing wood is the hardness of the wood. The Janka Hardness Values and Hardness Grades for some common Wood Species This scale has become the industry standard for determining whether a given wood is suitable for flooring material. Soft: Cypress, alder, hemlock, white pine, basswood and poplar (commonly used for paint-grade cabinets but medium density fiberboard - MDF - is a much better choice since it is much harder, about 1200 on the Janka scale -similar to oak - versus 540 for poplar) Janka hardness testing. White Limba also goes by the name Korina, which was named by Gibson back in the 1950's to stop other instrument makers from learning their secret. And while this example lists just some of the most popular hardwood species, there are hundreds of varieties, representing the North American hardwood population. Basswood Basics. JANKA WOOD HARDNESS RATINGS . Hickory / Pecan, Satinwood 1820 Afzelia / Doussie / Australian Wormy Chestnut 1810 Bangkirai 1798 Rosewood 1780 African Padauk 1725 Blackwood 1720 Merbau 1712 Kempas 1710 Black Locust 1700 Highland Beech … The wood species are several, and we will talk about the most resistant, we will use the Janka scale to make known the hardness of the wood. The Janka Hardness scale is reliable but should’t be the sole barometer for your floor selection. Wood Hardness Chart Species (Alphabetical) Hardness Species (by Hardness) Hardness Afromosia 1560 Basswood 410 Amberwood 2200 Butternut 490 Amendoim 1360 Chestnut, Domestic 540 The Janka Scale can even reveal subtle hardness differences between woods that appear to be quite similar. Floors on the lower end of the scale include poplar cottonwood and ceiba, which have ratings of 300 and 240, respectively. Kilonewtons: Foot Pounds-force: afromosia Pericopsis elata 7.1 1560 albarco Cariniana spp. This is an industry-standard scale, standardized by the American Society for Testing and Materials, that we use to measure the hardness of different types of wood flooring. Woods with a higher rating are … The test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 millimeters (0.444 inches) into the wood to a depth of half the ball’s diameter (the diameter was chosen to produce a circle with an area of 100 square millimeters). Aromatic Cedar & Yellow Pine both qualify as medium density wood species on the Janka scale. Janka Hardness Scale. The Janka hardness test measures the force required to embed a .444-inch steel ball to half its diameter into the respective wood. Region: Africa Janka/Hardness: 670 lbf (2,990 N) Weight: 35 lbs/ft3 (555 kg/m3) We will start with the hardest. For the standard poplar or yellow poplar tree, the lumber’s average hardness is typically 540 lb-ft. By contrast, the Eastern white pine is rated at 380 lbf, which is significantly lower or softer. This method leaves a hemispherical indentation with an area of 200 mm2. 4.5 1020 alder, red Alnus rubra 2.6 590 alder, white Alnus rhombifolia andiroba Carapa guianensis 5.0 1130 angelin Andira inermis … Meyer’s hardness test determined the fundamental measure of violence depending on … The Janka Hardness Chart lists woods by their rating. The US typically will use lbf. The Janka scale actually rates the trees by measuring hardness. A common use of Janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring. The Janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0.444″ steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter. The Janka test measures the amount of force needed to drive a 0.444-inch steel ball into wood to a depth equal to half its diameter. The Janka scale rates for density, which is a key factor in durability. Larger force - harder wood. That’s why understanding the Janka rating is critical when shopping for hardwood flooring, and we’re going to explain what a Janka rating is and tell you how some popular species stack up on the scale. It assesses a wood’s resistance to wear and denting by measuring the force required to embed a BB-sized steel ball halfway into a sample. However, there are plenty exceptions to that. The Janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species. The hardest wood is the species of the Brazilian: Cumuru (3540), Walnut (3680), cherry (2350), chestnut (3417) and koa (2160) according to the Janka scale. Brazilian family. The test is designed to measure the resilience of the tree species by applied force. Certainly one of the favourites for bodies and necks here at Ormsby Guitars. The Janka hardness test (from the Austrian-born emigrant Gabriel Janka, 1864–1932) measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. Woods with a higher rating are … janka scale pdf. The Janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0.444" steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter. Very popular, although supply is sporadic. 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.This number is given for wood that has been dried to … Our chart is based on the Janka Hardness Scale which is the industry standard for gauging the ability of various wood species to resist denting and tolerate normal wear. Pronounced “yanka”, the Janka Scale was created by an Austrian-born wood researcher named Gabriel Janka. The Janka Scale, of course. For the sake of comparison at the bottom of the scale, white pine ranks 380. The scale was invented in 1906 by Gabriel Janka, an Austrian wood researcher, and standardized in 1927 by the American Society for Testing and Materials ().Depending on the room where the flooring will be installed, a certain level of hardness may make it a more desirable choice. By contrast, red oak comes in at a powerful 1290 lb-ft on the Janka scale. The Janka Hardness test measures the force needed to embed a .444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in a piece of wood. It also indicates the effort required to either nail or saw the particular wood species. Because hardness is an important factor, and hardness varies for each species, the Janka Scale of Hardness is an excellent tool to help identify appropriate choices. Janka Hardness Scale. White and yellow poplar are hardwoods, but they are among the softest of the hardwoods. The Janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species. A common measurement for wood hardness is the Janka scale. The Janka scale begins at Zero being the softest option of wood, and ends at 4000 being the highest on the scale. The Janka Hardness Test. Similar to a laminate AC rating, the hardwood floor hardness determines the durability of the species. Brazilian walnut at the top of the scale ranks 3,684. The Janka scale measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear and is typically expressed in lbf (pounds-force) or N (Newtons). For wood hardness is a measure of resistance to dent and wear. They rank fairly low, with a hardness of 540 pound-feet (lb-ft). The Janka Hardness Scale determines the hardness of a particular type of wood over another. Basswood has a Janka hardness rating of 410, which is near the soft end of the hardness scale. The Janka Hardness Scale is an industry standard for measuring how durable various wood species are — and more and more consumers are looking to it to make their buying decisions. Keep in mind this hardness test is done only on flat grain or plank style constructions, and the results may vary slightly if you are choosing edge or end grain construction. Janka hardness. A very popular choice in wood flooring is Northern Red Oak, so popular that it has become the benchmark in measuring and comparing the hardness of wood flooring. The Brinell test is very useful for construction materials. Because hardness is an important factor, and hardness varies for each species, the Janka Scale of Hardness is an excellent tool to help identify appropriate choices. Janka Events, although mainly used for hardwood species, are often used to measure the density of bamboo floors. Janka test; at 12% moisture content. This is more complex than what it may seem. The Janka Scale can even reveal subtle hardness differences between woods that appear to be quite similar. To give some quantification to the issue of wood species hardness, the lumber industry created the Janka hardness scale—a standard now widely accepted as the best means of ranking a wood's hardness. A measure of the hardness of wood, produced by a variation on the Brinell hardness test. The Janka test measures the force (N, lb f) required to embed an 11.28 mm steel ball into the wood half the ball's diameter. The Janka Scale: What It Is and Why It’s Important. On the Janka scale -- a scale that rates all wood for density -- red oak ranks 1,290, while poplar is only 540. Red oak is denser than poplar. It measures the force required to embed a 11.28 mm (0.444 in) diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. It measures the force required to embed an 11.28 millimetres (0.444 in) diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. Janka Hardness Scale ( Below downloaded from wikipedia ) Janka hardness test The Janka hardness test measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear. And while this example lists just some of the most popular hardwood species, there are hundreds of varieties, representing the North American hardwood population. The Janka rating scale was created to rank the various degrees of hardness throughout the different species of hardwoods. The Janka test measures the necessary force to embed a .44″ diameter steel ball halfway into a piece of wood. While most hardwoods and softwoods will withstand normal wear and tear, all wood is susceptible to denting and other potential damage — regardless of how high or low their Janka ratings are. The difference in density means red oak is also heavier than poplar. When asking questions about woods, it is crucial to bear in mind that a ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Janka rating is only an indication about the wood species. Going Beyond the Janka Hardness Scale. The first thing we need to talk about is the Janka Hardness Scale. Ratings appear ranked from lowest to highest on the Janka Hardness Scale. The hardness of wood is measured with the Janka Hardness test. Red Oak, which has a Janka rating of 1260, is the industry benchmark for … Janka, short for the Janka Scale or Janka Hardness Rating, is a way of communicating how hard a wood is. The scale being used is the Janka scale, developed by Gabriel Janka. Janka wood hardness scale - The Janka rating is a measure of the amount of force it takes to push a .444" diameter steel ball half way into a piece of wood. Generally speaking, softwoods tend to be softer than their hardwood counterparts. Though it's good to know a trees hardness, using the Janka table to help you buy your hardwood flooring may not make sense; just because a wood is hard doesn't make it a good flooring option. 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