Hardwood Wood Janka Hardness Scale

The industry standard for hardness the hardness of a wood is rated on an industry wide standard known as the janka test.

Hardwood wood janka hardness scale.

A common use of janka hardness ratings is to determine whether a species is suitable for use as flooring. The janka test was developed as a variation of the brinell hardness test. To give some quantification to the issue of wood species hardness the lumber industry created the janka hardness scale a standard now widely accepted as the best means of ranking a wood s hardness. These ratings were calculated using the janka hardness test which measures the force needed to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in a piece of wood.

Janka hardness scale for wood flooring species. The janka hardness scale determines the hardness of a particular type of wood over another. The janka hardness scale starts at 0 and goes through 4000 with 4000 being an extremely hard wood so hard it is difficult to saw. There may be variations of more or less than 20 on the scale since this is a scientific test.

Forest service list the relative hardness for numerous wood species used in flooring. When choosing floors for your home keep in mind the janka hardness scale as it will tell you generally how. This test is one of the best measures of the ability of a wood specie to withstand denting and wear. The janka hardness test from the austrian born emigrant gabriel janka 1864 1932 measures the resistance of a sample of wood to denting and wear.

It measures the force required to embed an 11 28 millimetres 0 444 in diameter steel ball halfway into a sample of wood. The janka hardness test was conducted by measuring the amount of force necessary to embed a 444 inch steel ball into side of the wood up to one half of its diameter to determine its hardness rating which is then recorded on the janka hardness scale. The scale used in the table is pounds force. The janka test is a measure of the hardness of wood.

The best wood for hardwood flooring typically falls above 1000 on the scale. The janka hardness test is a measurement of the force necessary to embed a 444 inch steel ball to half its diameter in wood expressed in pounds force lbf. The test measures the force required to push a steel ball with a diameter of 11 28 millimeters 0 444 inches into the wood to a depth of half the ball s diameter. The janka scale is used to determine the relative hardness of particular domestic or exotic wood species.

It is also a good indicator of how hard a. Woods with a higher rating are harder than woods with a lower rating. The scale was invented in 1906 by gabriel janka an austrian wood researcher and standardized in 1927 by the american society for testing and materials depending on the room where the flooring will be installed a certain level of hardness may make it a more desirable choice. The janka test measures the amount of force required to embed a 0 444 steel ball into the wood to half of its diameter.

The janka test measures the amount of force needed to drive a 0 444 inch steel ball into wood to a depth equal to half its diameter.