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Janka Wood Hardness Rating

Overview

The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It involves measuring the force required to embed

Indentation hardness

Indentation hardness tests are used to determine the hardness of a material to deformation. Several such tests exist, wherein the examined material is indented until an impression is formed; these tests can be performed on a macroscopic or microscopic scale....

a steel

Steel

Steel is an alloy consisting mostly of iron, with a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most cost-effective alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten...

ball into wood to half its diameter. This method was chosen so that the result would leave an indention in size. It is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood species to withstand denting and wear. It is also a good indicator of how hard a species is to saw or nail.

The hardness of wood usually varies with the direction of the wood grain

Wood grain

In speaking of wood the term grain is used, in several ways. Perhaps most important is that in woodworking techniques...

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Encyclopedia

The Janka hardness test measures the hardness of wood. It involves measuring the force required to embed

Indentation hardness

a steel

Steel

Wood grain

In speaking of wood the term grain is used, in several ways. Perhaps most important is that in woodworking techniques...

. If testing is done on the surface of a plank, perpendicular to the grain, the test is said to be of "side hardness." Testing the cut surface of a stump would be called a test of "end hardness."

The results are stated in various ways, which can lead to confusion, especially when the name of the actual units employed is often not attached. In the United States, the measurement is in pounds-force

Pound-force

The pound-force or simply pound is a unit of force.- Definitions :The pound-force is approximately equal to the gravitational force exerted on a mass of one avoirdupois pound on the surface of Earth...

(lbf). In Sweden it is in kilograms-force

Kilogram-force

The unit kilogram-force or kilopond is defined as the magnitude of the force exerted on one kilogram of mass by a gravitational field . So one kilogram-force is by definition equal to newtons...

(kgf), and in Australia, either in newtons (N) or kilonewtons (kN). Sometimes the results are treated as units, e.g., "660 Janka".

To convert the United States pound-force (lbf) units to newtons N multiply pound-force by 0.453 592 37 then multiply by 9.80665 (1 standard g in units of m/s²). Janka hardness N = (lbf x 0.453 592 37) x 9.80665 OR multiply by 4.44822161526. To get lbf from N, multiply N by 0.224808943099736.

A common use of Janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring

Wood flooring

Wood flooring is any product manufactured from timber that is designed for use as flooring, either structural or aesthetic. Bamboo flooring is often considered a wood floor, although it is not manufactured from timber, but a grass.- Solid :...

Wood Flooring Species	Janka Hardness (pounds-force)
Lignum vitae Lignum vitae Lignum vitae is a trade wood, also called guayacan or in Europe known as pockenholz, from trees of the genus Guaiacum. This wood was once very important for applications requiring a material with its extraordinary combination of strength, toughness and density.The wood is obtained chiefly from...	4500
Brazilian Ebony	3692
Ipê Tabebuia Tabebuia is a neotropical genus of about 100 species in the tribe Tecomeae of the family Bignoniaceae. The species range from northern Mexico and the Antilles south to northern Argentina and central Venezuela, including the Caribbean islands of Hispaniola and Cuba... / "Brazilian Walnut" / Lapacho Lapacho Lapacho or Taheebo is a herbal tea made from the inner bark of Pink Ipê, Tabebuia impetiginosa. It is also sold under more ambiguous and possibly misleading names like "Ipes", "Ipê", "Pau d'arco", "Ipe Roxo", or "Trumpet Bush"....	3684
African Pearlwood / Moabi	3680
Bolivian Cherry	3650
Lapacho Lapacho Lapacho or Taheebo is a herbal tea made from the inner bark of Pink Ipê, Tabebuia impetiginosa. It is also sold under more ambiguous and possibly misleading names like "Ipes", "Ipê", "Pau d'arco", "Ipe Roxo", or "Trumpet Bush"....	3640
Cumaru Cumaru Cumaru is a city located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Located at 132 km away from Recife, capital of the state of Pernambuco. Has an estimated population of 13.812 inhabitants.-Geography:* State - Pernambuco... / "Brazilian Teak" sometimes: "Brazilian Chestnut," "Tiete Chestnut," "South American Chestnut," "Southern Chestnut"	3540
Ebony Ebony Ebony is a general name for very dense black wood. In the strict sense it is yielded by several species in the genus Diospyros, but other heavy, black woods are sometimes also called ebony...	3220
Brazilian Redwood / Paraju	3190
Yvyraro Pterogyne nitens Pterogyne nitens is a species of legume in the Fabaceae family. It is also known as Amendoim Bravo, Cocal, Guiraró, Madeira Nova, Palo Coca, or Tipa Colorado. It is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, and Paraguay. It is threatened by habitat loss.-Source:* Prado, D. 1998. . Downloaded on...	3040
Bloodwood Bloodwood Bloodwood has several meanings. It is the name of a wood, dark red, from South America. It is also a common name for several unrelated groups of trees, such as for instance:* several trees from the genus Pterocarpus....	2900
Red Mahogany Eucalyptus resinifera Eucalyptus resinifera, known as the Red Mahogany, is a common eucalyptus tree of eastern Australia. Its range of distribution is from Jervis Bay north to Queensland in dry sclerophyll or wet sclerophyll forest habitats, prefering soils of a medium to high fertility.- Description :E... , Turpentine Turpentine Turpentine is a fluid obtained by the distillation of resin obtained from trees, mainly pine trees. It is composed of terpenes, mainly the monoterpenes alpha-pinene and beta-pinene...	2697
"Southern Chestnut"	2670
Spotted Gum Corymbia maculata Corymbia maculata , commonly known as Spotted Gum, is an endemic Australian tree.-Description:Spotted Gum is a medium to tall tree with a straight trunk, growing up to 70 metres in height. It has smooth bark which is white, grey or pink; often with characteristic patches...	2473
Brazilian Cherry / Jatoba Jatobá Jatobá or Guapinol , is a tree common to the Caribbean, Central, and South America. It is a hardwood that is used for furniture, flooring and decorative purposes....	2350
Mesquite Mesquite Mesquite is a leguminous plant of the Prosopis genus found in Northern Mexico and the United States from the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas up to southwestern Kansas and from southeastern California and southwestern Utah to the southern limits of the Sonoran desert...	2345
"Golden Teak"	2330
Santos Mahogany, Bocote Bocote Cordia alliodora is a tropical flowering tree in the genus Cordia, family Boraginaceae. It can reach 35 m in height. It is commonly known as Spanish elm, Ecuador laurel, or salmwood... , Cabreuva Cabreúva Cabreúva is a municipality in the state of São Paulo in Brazil. The population in 2003 is 36,106, the density is about 138/km² the area is 261 km² The elevation is 640 m...	2200
Pradoo Pterocarpus macrocarpus Pterocarpus macrocarpus is a species of Pterocarpus native to southeastern Asia in northeastern India, Burma, Laos, Thailand, and Vietnam....	2170
Brazilian Koa	2160
Sucupira sometimes "Brazilian Chestnut," "Tiete Chestnut," "Brazilian Walnut"	2140
Brushbox Lophostemon confertus The Brush Box, Lophostemon confertus, is a familiar tree to many people living along the east coast of Australia. Quite frequently, it has been planted as a street tree, a role it may not be well suited for as it grows to 30 metres in height and quite often suffers lopping due to obstructing...	2135
Karri Karri Karri is a eucalypt which is native to the wetter regions of south west of Western Australia.-Description:...	2030
Sydney Blue Gum	2023
Bubinga	1980
Cameron Cameron -People:* Cameron * Cameron * The Scottish Clan Cameron* Cam'ron, the stage name of hip hop artist Cameron Giles-Fictional characters:* Dr. Allison Cameron , in the television series House* Dr...	1940
Tallowwood Tallowwood Tallowwood is a native Eucalypt species common in New South Wales and Queensland, Australia. It grows in forests near the coast on moderate to fertile soils in a protected, sunny position. Tallowwood is drought and frost tender....	1933
Merbau	1925
Amendoim	1912
Jarrah Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata is one of the most common species of Eucalyptus tree in southwest of Western Australia. The tree and the wood are usually referred to by the Aboriginal name Jarrah...	1910
Purpleheart Purpleheart Purpleheart is a genus of 23 species of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical regions of Central and South America, where they occur in tropical rainforests....	1860
Goncalo Alves Goncalo alves Goncalo alves is a hardwood . It is sometimes referred to as zebrawood or tigerwood — names that underscore the wood’s often dramatic, contrasting color scheme, that some compare to rosewood.... / Tigerwood Tigerwood Tigerwood may refer to several species of trees:Coula edulisGoncalo alvesThe similarly named Tiger Woods is a famous golfer....	1850
Hickory Hickory Trees in the genus Carya are commonly known as Hickory. The genus includes 17–19 species of deciduous trees with pinnately compound leaves and large nuts... / Pecan Pecan The pecan is a species of hickory, native to south-central North America, in Mexico from Coahuila south to Jalisco and Veracruz, in the United States from southern Iowa, Illinois and Indiana east to western Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and western Tennessee, south through Georgia,... , Satinwood Satinwood Satinwood can mean the following:A name for a wood that can be polished to a high gloss, in particular two woods, from the flowering plant family Rutaceae:*Chloroxylon swietenia, Ceylon satinwood or East Indian satinwood...	1820
Afzelia Afzelia Afzelia is a genus in the subfamily Caesalpinioideae of the family Fabaceae . The thirteen species all are trees, native to tropical Africa or Asia.- Uses :... / Doussie	1810
Bangkirai Shorea Shorea is a genus of about 196 species of mainly rainforest trees in the family Dipterocarpaceae. The genus is named after Sir John Shore, the Governor-General of the British East India Company, 1793-1798. They are native to southeast Asia, from Northern India to Malaysia, Indonesia and the...	1798
Rosewood Rosewood Rosewood refers to any of a number of richly hued timbers, often brownish with darker veining but found in many different hues. All rosewoods are strong and heavy, taking an excellent polish, being suitable for guitars, turnery , handles, furniture, luxury flooring, etc.In general, supplies are...	1780
African Padauk	1725
Blackwood Blackwood Blackwood is a Scottish surname, and may also refer to:In botany:* African Blackwood, tree native to seasonally dry regions of Africa* Australian Blackwood, Acacia species native in eastern Australia...	1720
Merbau	1712
Kempas Kempas Kempas is a suburb of Johor Bahru, Johor. The Kempas Medical Centre is located in Kempas. It is situated within the parliamentary constituency of Pulai....	1710
Black Locust	1700
Highland Beech	1686
Wenge Wengé Wenge is a tropical timber, very dark in color, with a very distinctive figure, with a strong partridge pattern. The wood is heavy and hard, suitable for flooring and staircases, but due to its very bold appearance, it has gone in and out of fashion... , Red Pine Red Pine The Red Pine is a pine native to northeastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to southeast Manitoba, and south to northern Illinois and Pennsylvania, with a small outlying population in the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia...	1630
Tualang	1624
Zebrawood Zebrawood thumb\|300px\|ZebrawoodThe name zebrawood is used for wood with a figure that reminds of the striping of a zebra, with dark stripes on a light background...	1575
True Pine, Timborana	1570
Peroba	1557
Kambala Kambala Kambala or Kamblā is a rural sport, prominent in districts of Udupi and Mangalore in Karnataka and also Kasargod district in Kerala altenatively known as tulu Nadu. Kambala is basically a traditional buffalo race in muddy waters, held from December till March.-Format :Kambala is traditionally a...	1540
Sapele Sapele Sapele, Sapelli or Aboudikro is a large tree, up to 45 m high , native to tropical Africa. The leaves are deciduous in the dry season, alternately arranged, pinnate, with 5-9 pairs of leaflets, each leaflet about 10 cm long... / Sapelli Sapelli Sapelli may refer to:Sapele, an African treeJorge Sapelli, former Vice President of Uruguay*Camila Canabal Sapelli, Venezuelan TV-hostess...	1510
Curupixa	1490
Sweet Birch Sweet Birch Betula lenta is a species of birch native to eastern North America, from southern Maine west to southernmost Ontario and southern Michigan, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia.-Characteristics and habitat:It is a medium-sized deciduous tree...	1470
Hard Maple Hard maple Hard maple is the wood yielded by Acer saccharum in its wider sense . It is a favorite for floors, bowling alleys and furniture. The weight per cubic meter is roughly 740kg.... / Sugar Maple Sugar Maple Acer saccharum is a species of maple native to the hardwood forests of northeastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario, and south to Georgia and Texas....	1450
Caribbean Walnut	1390
Coffee Bean Coffee bean A coffee bean is the seed of the coffee plant . The fruits, coffee cherries or coffee berries, most commonly contain two stones with their flat sides together. Coffee beans consist mostly of endosperm that contains 0.8 - 2.5 % caffeine, which is one of the main reasons the plants are cultivated...	1390
Natural Bamboo Bamboo The bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Some are giant bamboos, the largest members of the grass family. Bamboos are the fastest growing woody plants in the world... (represents one species)	1380
Australian Cypress Callitris Callitris is a genus of coniferous trees in the Cupressaceae . There are 15 species in the genus, of which 13 are native to Australia and the other two native to New Caledonia. Traditionally the most widely used common name is cypress-pine, a name shared by the closely related genus Actinostrobus...	1375
White Oak White Oak White Oak may refer to:* White oaks, trees in the section Quercus of the Quercus genus* Quercus alba, a species commonly known as the White OakPlaces in the United States:* White Oak, Georgia* White Oak, Kentucky* White Oak, Maryland...	1360
Tasmanian Oak Tasmanian Oak Tasmanian Oak refers to the hardwood produced by three trees: Eucalyptus regnans, Eucalyptus obliqua or Eucalyptus delegatensis, when it is sourced from the Australian state of Tasmania....	1350
Ribbon Gum	1349
Ash Ash -Products of fire, incineration or combustion:* The solid remains of a fire* Incinerator bottom ash, a form of ash produced in incineration facilities* Volcanic ash, material ejected from the top of a volcano... (White)	1320
American Beech American Beech The Fagus grandifolia also known as American Beech is a species of beech native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia west to southern Ontario in southeastern Canada, west to Wisconsin and south to eastern Texas and northern Florida in the United States. Trees in the southern half of the range...	1300
Red Oak Red Oak Red Oak may refer to:BotanyThe Red Oak tree Place namesIn the United States:Red Oak, GeorgiaRed Oak, IowaRed Oak, North CarolinaRed Oak, OklahomaRed Oak, Texas*Red Oaks Mill, New York... (Northern)	1290
Caribbean Heart Pine	1280
Yellow Birch Yellow Birch Betula alleghaniensis , is a species of birch native to eastern North America, from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and southern Québec west to Minnesota, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia.... , Iroko Kambala	1260
Movingui	1230
Heart Pine	1225
"Brazilian Mesquite" / Carapa Guianensis	1220
Larch Larch Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. They are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the far north, and high on mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada.They are...	1200
Carbonized Bamboo Bamboo The bamboos are a group of woody perennial evergreen plants in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Some are giant bamboos, the largest members of the grass family. Bamboos are the fastest growing woody plants in the world... (represents one species)	1180
Teak Teak Teak , is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation...	1155
Cocobolo Cocobolo Cocobolo is a tropical hardwood from Central America.Only the heartwood is used: this is typically orange or reddish-brown in color, often with a figuring of darker irregular traces weaving through the wood. By contrast, the sapwood is a creamy yellow, with a sharp boundary with the heartwood...	1136
Brazilian Eucalyptus / Rose Gum Eucalyptus grandis Eucalyptus grandis, Flooded gum, Rose gum, is a tall tree with smooth bark, rough at the base fibrous or flaky, grey to grey-brown. At maturity, it is often 40 metres tall, though the largest specimens can exceed 80 metres tall....	1125
Makore	1100
Peruvian Walnut	1080
Boreal Boreal Boreal may refer toBoreal ecosystemBoreal climate, the climate found in a region of boreal forests, and designated Dfc, Dwc or Dsc in the Köppen climate classification scheme.Boreal Forest of Canada*Boreal owl...	1023
Black Walnut Black Walnut The Eastern Black walnut is a species of flowering tree in the hickory family, Juglandaceae, that is native to eastern North America. It grows mostly in riparian zones, from southern Ontario, west to southeast South Dakota, south to Georgia, northern Florida and southwest to central Texas... /North American Walnut	1010
Teak Teak Teak , is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the mint family, Lamiaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation...	1000
Sakura Sakura A cherry blossom is the name for the flower of cherry trees known as Sakura in Japanese. In English, the word "sakura" is equivalent to the Japanese flowering cherry...	995
Black Cherry Black Cherry Prunus serotina, commonly called Black Cherry, Wild Black Cherry, Rum Cherry, or Mountain Black Cherry, is a woody plant species belonging to the genus Prunus... , Imbuia Imbuia Imbuia may refer toPhoebe porosa, a species of tree belonging to the Laurel familyImbuia, a Brazilian city in the state of Santa Catarina...	950
Boire Boire Boire may stand for :* French word for the verb to drink,* Alain Boire , a Quebec politician* Nashua Municipal Airport, also known as Boire Field* first album of singer Miossec,...	940
Paper Birch Paper Birch Betula papyrifera is a species of birch native to northern North America.-Description:...	910
Cedar Cedar Cedar is a genus of coniferous trees in the plant family Pinaceae. They are most closely related to the Firs , and share a very similar cone structure...	900
Southern Yellow Pine Southern Yellow Pine Southern Yellow Pine doesn't refer to any one species of tree, but rather a group of species which are classified as yellow pine , and are native to the American South. There are several varieties, such as longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, loblolly pine, and slash pine... (Longleaf)	870
Lacewood Lacewood Lacewood is a common name for lumber made from the wood of trees of species Cardwellia sublimis.The term may also refer to the wood of the American Sycamore, which has a similar appearance when quartersawn.-References:**... , Leopardwood Flindersia Flindersia is a genus of 14 species of tree in the family Rutaceae. They are native to the Moluccas, New Guinea, Australia and New Caledonia.They are cultivated and planted for both timber and as a street tree...	840
African Mahogany African Mahogany African Mahogany is the common name for at least two types of trees:* genus Khaya of the family Meliaceae* genus Afzelia of the family Fabaceae...	830
Mahogany Mahogany The name mahogany is used when referring to numerous varieties of dark-coloured hardwood, it is an American Indian word originally used for the wood of the species Swietenia mahagoni, known as West Indian or Cuban mahogany. Mahogany it was next equally applied to the wood of Swietenia macrophylla,... , Honduran Mahogany Swietenia humilis Swietenia humilis is a species of plant in the Meliaceae family. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Panama.-Source:* World Conservation Monitoring Centre 1998. . Downloaded on 23 August 2007....	800
Parana Paraná Paraná or Parana may refer to:Paraná River, a river that flows through Brazil, Paraguay, and ArgentinaParaná Basin, a sedimentary basin in Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Uruguay...	780
Sycamore Sycamore Sycamore is a name which is applied at various times and places to three very different types of trees, but with somewhat similar leaf forms....	770
Shedua Guibourtia ehie Guibourtia ehie is a species of Guibourtia in the family Fabaceae, native to tropical west Africa in Cameroon, Gabon, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Nigeria. It prefers closed rain forests and transitional forests, often in small groups...	710
Southern Yellow Pine Southern Yellow Pine Southern Yellow Pine doesn't refer to any one species of tree, but rather a group of species which are classified as yellow pine , and are native to the American South. There are several varieties, such as longleaf pine, shortleaf pine, loblolly pine, and slash pine... (Loblolly Loblolly Pine Loblolly Pine is one of several pines native to the American South, being particularly dominant in the eastern half of North Carolina... and Shortleaf)	690
Douglas Fir	660
Alder (Red)	590
Larch Larch Larches are conifers in the genus Larix, in the family Pinaceae. They are native to much of the cooler temperate northern hemisphere, on lowlands in the far north, and high on mountains further south. Larches are among the dominant plants in the immense boreal forests of Russia and Canada.They are...	590
Chestnut Chestnut Chestnut is a genus of eight or nine species of deciduous trees and shrubs in the beech family Fagaceae, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The name also refers to the edible nuts they produce.-Species:The Chestnut belongs to the same Fagaceae family as the Oak and Beech...	540
Hemlock Hemlock The word hemlock may refer to:Hemlock, several poisonous plants in the Apiaceae family :Hemlock , two species, one formerly used as a method of execution*Water Hemlock...	500
White Pine White Pine -Trees:* Trees in the pine subgenus Pinus subgenus Strobus** Eastern White Pine , one of these species, native to northeastern North America...	420
Basswood	410
Eastern White Pine Eastern White Pine Eastern white pine is a large pine native to eastern North America, occurring from Newfoundland west to Minnesota and southeastern Manitoba, and south along the Appalachian Mountains to the extreme north of Georgia. It is occasionally known as simply White Pine, Northern White Pine, or Soft Pine...	380
Balsa	100

Janka Wood Hardness Rating

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