The Janka Hardness Scale

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The Janka Hardness Scale is used to measure the force necessary to embed half the diameter of a steel, .444 inch ball into the wood. Woods scoring a high rating on the janka scale are considered harder. Because of this the Janka Scale is a good indication of how resistant each wood species is to denting and wear and a useful way to see how hard the wood will be to saw or nail. The Janka Scale is a tried and tested method used worldwide.

Brazilian Walnut	3684
Ipe	3684
Lapacho	3684
Brazilian Teak	3540
Cumaru	3540
Ebony	3220
Brazilian Redwood	3190
Paraju	3190
Angelim Pedra	3040
Bloodwood	2900
Red Mahogany	2697
Turpentine	2697
Spotted Gum	2473
Brazilian Cherry	2350
Jatoba	2350
Mesquite	2345
Bocote	2200
Cabreuva	2200
Santos Mahogany	2200
Pradoo	2170
Brushbox	2135
Karri	2030
Sydney Blue Gum	2023
Bubinga	1980
Cameron	1940
Tallowwood	1933
Merbau	1925
Amendoim	1912
Jarrah	1910
Purpleheart	1860
Goncalo Alves	1850
Tigerwood	1850
Hickory	1820
Pecan	1820
Satinwood	1820
Afzelia	1810
Doussie	1810
Bangkirai	1798
Rosewood	1780
African Padauk	1725
Blackwood	1720
Kempas	1710
Locust	1700
Highland Beech	1686
Red Pine	1630
Wenge	1630
Tualang	1624
Zebrawood	1575
Timborana	1570
True Pine	1570
Peroba	1557
Kambala	1540
Sapele	1510
Sapelli	1510
Curupixa	1490
Sweet Birch	1470
Hard Maple	1450
Sugar Maple	1450
Coffee Bean	1390
Natural Bamboo*	1380
Australian Cypress	1375
White Oak	1360
Tasmanian Oak	1350
Ribbon Gum	1349
Ash (White)	1320
American Beech	1300
Red Oak (Northern)	1290
Carribean Heart Pine	1280
Yellow Birch	1260
Movingui	1230
Heart Pine	1225
Carbonized Bamboo*	1180
Cocobolo	1136
Brazilian Eucalyptus	1125
Rose Gum	1125
Makore	1100
Boreal	1023
Black Walnut	1010
Teak	1000
Sakura	995
Black Cherry	950
Imbuia	950
Boire	940
Paper Birch	910
Cedar	900
Southern Yellow Pine (Longleaf)	870
Lacewood	840
Leopardwood	840
Parana	780
Sycamore	770
Shedua	710
Southern Yellow Pine (Loblolly)	690
Southern Yellow Pine (Shortleaf)	690
Douglas Fir	660
Larch	590
Chestnut	540
Hemlock	500
White Pine	420
Basswood	410
Eastern White Pine	380

* represents one species.

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