Just replaced the rotted and broken wooden handles of a wheelbarrow with
ready-made new ones. In addition, I also replaced two "wedge" shaped wood
pieces which go between the handles and the metal 'tub'. In looking for
suitable lumber to cut these wedges out of, I assumed it should be hardwood
(as opposed to softwood), for strength, durability, etc. I went to the
hardwood craft section at HomeDepot, but could not find any hardwood boards
of the necessary minimum dimensions (i.e. nothing as large as 2x4). But
right in the midst of the hardwood selections, I noticed 4 foot lengths of
fir 2x4 which looked and felt much sturdier than the full length fir 2x4s
sold in the main lumber aisle.. The price was also about 6 times greater
(per lineal foot)!

After probing it a bit with my pocket knife, my reasoned intuition told me
that this hardier softwood was probably what the wheelbarrow handles
themselves were made of and thus what actually was needed afterall. I
brought some home and started work on it. When cutting and drilling, I
quickly realized this wood was much thougher and/or harder to cut through
than ordinary softwood; reminiscent of some previous experience with oak
hardwood. I proceeded to complete the wheelbarrow repairs and the
wheelbarrow works just fine now, thank you very much g. But what's got me
writing about this is my incidental curiosity: Can anybody explain to me
how it can be that this softwood board I bought should be so much sturdier
than the more commonly used, less expensive boards, composed (apparently) of
the very same variety of tree (i.e. Douglas Fir)? Does it have a
designation, name or commonly used adjective one can use to specify it by?.
Is (or was) this more robust grade of softwood lumber ever used for house
framing, like where greater strength/solidity is desired (and lots of money
is not)?

Thanx,

Ken