Why is Balsa wood classed as a hard wood when it is so easy to break?
Because whether timber is classed as hard or softwood is a botanical distinction and depends on whether the tree was deciduous or evergreen; it does not necessarily reflect on the hardness or durability of the wood. Balsa is a hardwood yet is soft, as is ramin Yew is a softwood, yet it is like iron and extremely hard to work. The piles on which Venice is built are a mixture of oak and pine for example – both equally durable under the circumstances. The real test of durability is whether heartwood or sapwood is used. The former comes only from mature trees, the latter (the more common) from trees that are felled young. This applies to both hard and softwoods.
