Mesquite wood’s distinctive beauty is highly prized for a wide range of woodworking projects, from rustic furniture to decorative accents that brighten your home. But is Mesquite a hardwood or softwood that can withstand harsh elements?
In this article, our expert woodworkers will evaluate the characteristics of Mesquite and help you decide if it’s the ideal choice for your project.
What is Mesquite Wood’s Classification?
Mesquite is a dense, durable, and beautiful hardwood ideal for various woodworking projects. It has a warm color, and distinct grain patterns provide superior aesthetic appeal.
Mesquite is more durable than most common hardwoods, making it suitable for high-traffic areas or outdoor furniture. It’s a top pick for professionals in the woodworking industry, who often use it for flooring, furniture, and cabinetry.
Although, working with mesquite can be challenging due to its density and high level of natural oils. But proper preparation and finishing can help you achieve a stunning, long-lasting piece that will stand the test of time.
Mesquite Wood’s Hardness
Mesquite is widely known for its remarkable hardness and the toughest deciduous trees that grow in North America. It is stronger, more durable, and denser than other hardwoods.
It has a Janka hardness score of 10,410 N (2,340 lbf). This hardness rating is relatively higher than most common hardwoods, giving Mesquite a significant advantage for many woodworking projects.
The higher the Janka score, the harder and more durable the wood is. By comparing Mesquite’s Janka score with those of other hardwoods, you can get an idea of where it stands on the spectrum of wood hardness.
Below is how Mesquite’s Janka score fares with other hardwoods:
| Type of Wood | Hardness Value |
| Brazilian Walnut | 16,390 N (3,684 lbf) |
| Turpentine, Red Mahogany | 12,000 N (2,697 lbf) |
| Jatoba, Brazilian Cherry | 10,500 N (2,350 lbf) |
| Mesquite | 10,410 N (2,340 lbf) |
| Teak (Golden) | 0,400 N (2,330 lbf) |
| Pecan, Satinwood, Hickory | 8,100 N (1,820 lbf) |
| Apple wood | 7,700 N (1,730 lbf) |
| Sugar Maple, Hard Maple | 6,400 N (1,450 lbf) |
| Honey Locust | 7,030 N (1,580 lbf) |
| White Ash | 5,900 N (1,320 lbf) |
| White Oak | 6,000 N (1,360 lbf) |
| American Beech | 5,800 N (1,300 lbf) |
| Northern Red Oak | 5,700 N (1,290 lbf) |
| Baltic birch, Yellow Birch | 5,600 N (1,260 lbf) |
| Teak | 5,140 N (1,155 lbf) |
| North American and Black Walnut | 4,500 N (1,010 lbf) |
| Cherry | 4,430 N (995 lbf) |
| Imbuia, Black Cherry | 4,200 N (950 lbf) |
| Red Maple | 4,200 N (950 lbf) |
| Yellow Pine | 3,870 N (870 lbf) |
| Douglas Fir | 3,158 N (710 lbf) |
| Willow | 2,530 N (570 lbf) |
| Silver Maple | 3,100 N (700 lbf) |
| Cottonwood | 1,913 N (430 lbf) |
| Redwood | 1,868 N (420 lbf) |
| Sugar Pine | 1,690 N (380 lbf) |
| White Pine | 1,690 N (380 lbf) |
| White Cedar | 1,423 N (320 lbf) |
| Aspen | 1,557 N (350 lbf) |
Characteristics of Mesquite Wood
Mesquite wood has a unique appearance that sets it apart from other hardwoods. It has distinctive color variations typically range from light yellow to dark brown and often feature prominent growth rings and irregular grain patterns.
It may also have knots, bark inclusions, or other natural imperfections that give it a rustic or organic look. These unique features can be accentuated to create stunning pieces that showcase the natural beauty of the wood.
Mesquite wood can be made into furniture with a unique look that adds character and charm to your home. However, aside from its superior hardness, it also has greater density and high resistance to weather variations, making it ideal for many applications.
Below are Mesquite’s main features:
- Wood Color: Reddish brown that darkens over time
- Hardness: 10,410 N (2,340 lbf)
- Density: 820 kg/m3
- Type of wood: Hardwood
- Common uses: Furniture, Decks, Flooring, Fencing
Pros & Cons Of Mesquite Wood
Pros
- Superior density and hardness
- High durability
- High versatility and workability
- Decay-resistant
- Weather-resistant
- Accepts all types of finishes
- Unique color and grain pattern
Cons
- Limited availability
- More expensive than other hardwoods
Where to Use Mesquite Wood
Mesquite is known for its high versatility, making it suitable for a wide range of woodworking projects. While its high density can pose a challenge, you can transform mesquite wood into stunning, durable wood pieces with the right tools and techniques.
Below are some of the popular uses of Mesquite wood:
- Outdoor and indoor furniture
- Flooring
- Decking
- Fencing
- Cabinets
- Doors
- Paneling
- Knife handles
- Carving decorative items
Mesquite Wood’s Strength: Is it a Strong Wood?
Mesquite wood is popular due to its remarkable strength compared to other hardwoods. Different types of Mesquite wood are widely used for many woodworking projects. But their strengths vary depending on various factors, such as the following:
Compressive Strength
This refers to the ability of the wood to withstand the pressure applied perpendicular to its grain. Below are the compressive strengths of the three types of Mesquite wood that are widely used:
- African Mesquite: 10,650 lbf/in2
- Black Mesquite: 8,490 lbf/in2
- Honey Mesquite: 7,000 - 10,000 lbf/in2
Mesquite wood has a high compressive strength, making it ideal for use in applications where the wood will be subjected to heavy loads.
Bending Strength
This refers to the ability of the wood to withstand bending or flexing without breaking. Below are the bending strengths of the three types of Mesquite wood that are widely used:
- African Mesquite: 18,930 lbf/in2
- Black Mesquite: 11,210 lbf/in2
- Honey Mesquite: 7,500 - 10,000 lbf/in2
Mesquite wood has exceptional bending strength, which makes it ideal for use in furniture, flooring, and other applications where the wood will be subjected to stress.
Stiffness
This refers to the ability of the wood to resist deformation under load. Below is the stiffness of Mesquite wood:
- African Mesquite: 2,019,000 lbf/in2
- Black Mesquite: 1,117,0000 lbf/in2
- Honey Mesquite: 1,200,000 - 1,600,000 lbf/in2
Mesquite wood has a high stiffness, making it less likely to bend or warp under stress.
Hardness
This refers to the wood’s ability to resist indentation or scratching. Essentially, it indicates how much force is required to leave a mark or dent on the surface of the wood. Below is the hardness of Mesquite wood:
- African Mesquite: 2,940 lbf
- Black Mesquite: 1,940 lbf
- Honey Mesquite: 2,340 lbf
Mesquite wood is one of the hardest hardwoods, making it ideal for use in applications where durability is essential.
Density
This refers to the weight of the wood per unit volume. High-density hardwoods tend to be more durable, stronger, and more resistant to wear and damage. They also have a tighter, more uniform grain structure, which makes them less prone to warping or splitting.
Below is the density of Mesquite wood:
- African Mesquite: 59 lbs/ft3
- Black Mesquite: 52 lbs/ft3
- Honey Mesquite: 51 lbs/ft3
Mesquite wood is a high-density hardwood, contributing to its strength and durability.
Is Mesquite Wood Hard to Split?
Mesquite wood [1] is hard to cut or split due to its hardness, tight fiber structure, and high density. These characteristics make Mesquite resistant to deformation and require more force and the use of sharp tools to split effectively.
Mesquite vs Oak: Which is Harder?
Mesquite is significantly harder than both White Oak and Red Oak. Generally, Oak is less dense, weaker, and softer than Mesquite wood. Below is the comparison of Janka’s rating of Oak and Mesquite wood.
| Type of Wood | Hardness Value |
| Mesquite | 2,340 lbf |
| White Oak | 1,360 lbf |
| Red Oak | 1,290 lbf |
Mesquite vs Hickory: Which is Harder?
Mesquite is considerably harder, denser, stronger, and more durable than Hickory. Therefore, Mesquite can be a better choice for your projects requiring durability and longevity than Hickory. Below is the comparison of Janka’s rating of Hickory and Mesquite wood.
| Type of Wood | Hardness Value |
| Mesquite | 2,340 lbf |
| Hickory | 1,820 lbf |
Conclusion
Understanding whether Mesquite is a hardwood or softwood is essential when considering it for your project. Mesquite is one of the toughest and strongest hardwoods.
It has exceptional hardness, strength, and density compared to other hardwoods. This makes Mesquite wood an ideal choice for indoor and outdoor applications, as it can withstand extreme weather and last for many years.
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