Chapter 1 - Woods Flashcards
Hardwood
Timbers that are deciduous and slow growing Eg. beech, ash, oak, teak
Softwood
Timbers that are evergreen and quick growing. Eg. Scots Pine, Spruce, Douglas Fir
Deciduous
A general term used to describe trees that lose their leaves in autumn
Evergreen
A general term to describe trees that do not lose their leaves in autumn
Grain
The visual effect of the flow of tracheids (cells)
Tracheids
The cells of woods
Lignin
The natural resins that hold the cells together in timbers
Knots
The natural defects found in timber - the start of branches from the trunk
Conversion
Sawing the logs to provide useable wood forms
Slab sawn
A form of conversion where the trunk of the tree is cut into slabs ? more prone to warping
Quarter sawn
A form of conversion that can prevent warping and can be used to enhance the grain
Splits
The separation of timber fibres along the grain due to drying
Shrinkage
All timbers shrink due to moisture lost in seasoning
Moisture content
The amount of (water) in the timber. Usually shown as a percentage of volume
Twisting
Form of warping that is due to a combination of a method of conversion (sawing of the trunk of the tree) and uneven seasoning.
Rot
The breaking down of the lignin resins in woods that hold the tracheids (cells) together
Death-watch beetle
Insect responsible for the destruction of mainly hardwoods, eg. oak-frame buildings; churches and barns can be affected by the death-watch beetle
Kiln drying
A form of seasoning that uses steam in a controlled way to reduce the content of moisture in timber
Decay
The deterioration of woods (e.g. dry and wet rot)
Aesthetics
The features in a product that make it visually appealing e.g. colour, texture, shaping, styling features
Veneer
A thin section sheet of timber (usually hardwood) that is glued to a cheaper base material e.g. chipboard or block board
Wood products
Timber based products made from the by-products of timber
