Is Pine a Heavy Wood?

[MissTaken]

Hi. I picked up a beautiful dresser at a resale shop and I'm using it as a console/sideboard/whatever in the living room, and I'd like to try to find other furniture in the same wood family. The problem: I don't know what kind of wood it is. It looks like pine, with small knots, but it's darker (probably stained) and extremely heavy. So there's my question. Is pine heavy? Don't know why, but I always thought it was a light wood. Not balsa or something like that, but lighter than particle board, at least.

When taking out the drawers, I noticed that it says the manufacturer is High Country, but they seem to make the knotty pine, cabin-looking furniture. This definitely doesn't look like anything of theirs I saw on the web. Any ideas? Thanks for any help.

 

[begreen]

Misstaken, I think you've wandered into the wrong forum.

 

[hilly]

Misstaken, I think you've wandered into the wrong forum.

...unless you want to burn it.

 

[MissTaken]

Misstaken, I think you've wandered into the wrong forum.

...unless you want to burn it.

Ha! Sorry, people. The front page said that you guys in here could answer any question, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Thanks.

 

[Gooserider]

If you posted a picture we MIGHT have been able to help you better, but as is you aren't giving us much to go on.

Pine is relatively light compared to hardwoods like oak, but I'm not sure how noticeable the difference is. Pine is also not that great for use in furniture making since it tends to be soft and prone to denting and other damage...

Is it possible that this peice is something that was sold as "unfinished" furniture, and had some customer applied finish added? If so it could be real hard to figure out. What might be worth doing is to take a drawer or other small part to a good furniture store, or possibly a paint store and see if they can help identify the wood and stain used to finish it.

Gooserider

 

[karl]

It might be poplar. It's kinda like pine only better for furniture. Of course neither one of them are heavy woods. It it's oak anybody can look at it and see the wide grain. The knots are usually a dead give away for pine. Oh, and partical board is usually kinda heavy. It's full of glue. Put a picture of it up, but 'm betting it's pine. You can't find hardwood furniture without paying an arm and a leg for it anymore. I have a antique cherry bedroom set and I was shocked to find out that to buy it now would set back five figures.

 

[keyman512us]

Misstaken, I think you've wandered into the wrong forum.

...unless you want to burn it.

Ha! Sorry, people. The front page said that you guys in here could answer any question, so I thought I'd give it a shot. Thanks.

...While we are at it the correct spelling is "mistaken". ROFLMAO

 

[EatenByLimestone]

Post a good pic. I bet we can identify it.

If not, Woodnet is a good woodworking board. You will definately get an answer there.

Matt

 

[Hogwildz]

Might be hemlock

 

[mayhem]

Might not be wood at all...could be a particle-board kind of construction with a laminate finish. That stuff is pretty heavy.

 

[Henz]

its not pine..my guess it is maple

 

[webbie]

Certain pines can be quite heavy - heartwood from Southern Yellow Pine, for example. This makes great flooring and is also used for furniture - it is very tightly grained.

We have some "This End Up" SYP furniture that we can hardly lift!

 

[restorer]

Picture, Please? A god overall picture and a close-up of the top and a drawer face. A lot can be determined by the style. Some of the woods mentioned above are used in furniture for secondary wood, but no the primary wood. All wood can be made dark brown, so the color is not as important as you might think. If it's newer and is very heavy it could be particle board with even a photo finish. It looks good until it's damaged and then the truth comes out.

 

[Fiamma]

If it burns like wood and floats like a Duck it must be a witch.............................burn Her !!

 

[Havlat24]

Pine has a distinct difference in appearance when going from sapwood to heartwood. Seeing as the furniture is stained it may be hard to see....also the knots in pine are dark and pitchy, and they have some give to them when you push on them. Also pine has a dimpled apperance under light. Also if its pine, the wood is generally pretty soft...can you put a mark in a non visibile area with your finger nail?