Hardwoods Flashcards
Give examples of Hardwoods?
- Oak
- Mahogany
- Beech
- Balsa
- Jelutong
- Birch
- Ash
What hardwoods are found in European forests?
- Oak
- Beech
- Birch
- Ash
What hardwoods are found in the Amazonian rainforests?
Mahogany
What hardwoods are found in Central and South American forests?
Balsa
What hardwoods are found in Asian forests?
Jelutong
What are the properties of Oak?
- Hard
- Tough
- Strong
- Durable
What are the aesthetics of Oak?
- Attractive light, open grain containing few knots
- Can be finished to a high standard
What are the common uses of Oak?
- Buildings and houses
- High-quality furniture
- Wine and Whisky barrels
What are the disadvantages of Oak?
- Expensive
- Harder to work with than some woods
- Corrodes iron and steel
What are the properties of Mahogany?
- Strong
- Durable
What are the aesthetics of Mahogany?
- Deep reddish colour
- Few knots
- Attractive finish
What are the common uses of Mahogany?
- High-quality furniture
- Jewelry boxes
- Window frames
What are the disadvantages of Mahogany
- Expensive
- Oils in Mahogany can give people skin rashes and even cause breathing problems
What are the properties of Beech?
- Hard
- Strong
- Does not crack or splinter easily
What are the aesthetics of Beech?
- Closed grain
- Light brown colour with distinctive flecks of Brown
- Very few knots
What are the common uses of Beech?
- Furniture
- Children’s Toys
What are the disadvantages of Beech?
- Expensive
- Need to be protected from weathering/moisture
- Not suitable for exterior use
What are the properties of Balsa?
- Very lightweight
- Soft and easy to cut
What are the aesthetics of Balsa?
- Very few knots
- Pale in colour
What are the common uses of Balsa?
- Model making
- Rafts
What are the disadvantages of Balsa?
- Much too soft and weak for most products
- Not very durable
- Not very resistant to weathering
What are the properties of Jelutong?
-Easy to cut and shape
What are the aesthetics of Jelutong?
- Close grained
- pale colour
- Very few knots
What are the common uses of Jelutong?
Model making
What are the disadvantages of Jelutong?
- Soft
- Not very strong, so not structurally strong
What are the properties of Birch?
-Easy to work with
What are the aesthetics of Birch?
- Straight grained
- Some knots
- Attractive ‘clean’, light-coloured grain
What are the common uses of Birch?
- Veneers
- Interior doors
- Furniture
What are the disadvantages of Birch?
-Low resistance to rot, weathering and insect attacks
What are the properties of Ash?
- Strong
- Tough
- Durable
- Flexible
What are the aesthetics of Ash?
- Finishes well
- Few knots
- Open, attractive, light-coloured grain
What are the common uses of Ash?
- Handles for tools
- Sports equipments
- Ladders
What are the disadvantages of Ash?
-Low resistance to rot and insect attacks
