Is Redwood or Dogwood Stronger?

Redwood

One of the primary uses for redwood is as shingle material. The trees are fast-growing and are lightweight. The wood is also used for furniture because it has a rich hue and tone, and for light construction. Redwood is easy to work with but it is not very strong. It is considered a softwood tree and is soft enough not to split when screws or nails are used in it. However, it is durable, which is why it is used for outdoor furniture and decks.

Dogwoods are moderately sized trees that generally don't get more than 30 feet tall. The wood is difficult to carve but has a natural resistance to shock. This means it is often used for golf club heads and chisel handles. The small stature of the tree means it is not normally harvested for building lumber, but it is used for many other applications. At least 90 percent of the dogwood harvested since the late 19th century is used to make shuttles for the textile industry. It is also used to make mallet heads and wedges because the wood doesn't spread or break when hit.

The Janka scale is the method of assessing the hardness of a lumber species. It is measured by the amount of force needed to push a metal ball 11.28 millimeters into the wood. The measurement is stated as pounds per force in the United States, but it is different in other countries. The dogwood has a rating of 2,150. Redwoods vary by second or old growth; old growth is harder at 480, while second growth is rated at 420. The Janka rating for dogwood is much higher and therefore the wood is harder.

Dogwood is significantly harder than redwood but that isn't the only measure of strength. Wood materials also need to be flexible and bendable and able to spring back from forces. In this regard, the redwood is superior to the dogwood. The wood will not crack even when it is drilled or hammered and it has the flexibility necessary to bend and form furniture. Dogwood is resistant to molding and while hard as a rock, it hasn't got the resilience necessary for some types of projects.