6 - Performance characteristics of woods - Stock forms

Question 1

Rough sawn

Answer 1

Comes direct from seasoning, rough surfaces

Not accurate finished sizes, cheapest stock form to buy

Question 2

Planed square edge

Answer 2

Wood has only one accurately planed edge, the rest are rough sawn

Planing removes about 3mm from the original nominal size

Question 3

Planed all round

Answer 3

All sides and edges are planed square, straight and level. Smooth finish, ready to use

About 3mm smaller all round than the original nominal size, most expensive stock form

Question 4

Natural wood

Answer 4

Comes from trees, size can only increase up to the maximum width of the tree.

To produce a wide desktop for example, multiple planks need to be joined together

Should be joined with the end grains going in different directions

Question 5

Manufactured boards

Answer 5

Man-made and produced in large sheets, typically 1220mm x 2440mm

Large surfaces can be produced from one sheet without the need to join different pieces together