While the answer below is accurate regarding strength there are several important factors the answer does not take into account. 1. The character of the wood and the part of the tree used. read more
Instability or lack of strength can also become more of an issue for figured wood if the moisture content is changed by the environment. While a piece of straight grained walnut is slightly stronger than a piece of comparable mahogany you need to compare apples to apples to determine strength. Milling and drying. read more
Some species of wood are naturally stronger than others. Chairmakers, for example, typically use maple, birch, and hickory for legs, rungs, and spindles. These parts are fairly slender, and weaker woods won’t hold up. A good indicator of a wood’s strength is its density — the weight for a given volume. read more