Experiments for surface hardening of soft wood were described.The effects of compression of soft wood impregnated with phenol-formaldehyde resin were studied.The results showed that the density of the treated wood samples varied in a gradient from the outer shell to the inner core.The density of the surface was higher than that of the core and the average density.The hardness and abrasive property of the surface,and the anti-shrink efficiency of the treated wood samples,were all improved.