Materials Flashcards
Define wood
Wood is a porous and fibrous structural tissue found in the stems and roots of trees and other woody plants
What are the wood subcategories
Hard woods
Soft woods
Manufactured boards
What are the advantages of using wood
- Strong and reasonably lightweight
- Versatile, can be put to many uses
- Easy to work with
- A sustainable resource if managed properly
What are the disadvantages of using wood?
- Many degrade and rot if wet
- Flammable
- Logging and manufacture can deplete forests
- Wood can swell and shrink
What are hardwoods
Hardwoods come from deciduous or broad-leafed trees. They are generally slow growing which tends to make them harder and more expensive. Please note though that not all hardwoods are hard, Balsa which is very soft and is often used for model planes is in fact a hardwood. Hardwoods are sold by the cubic metre then this is sawn to the size the customer requires. Some timber is machined into many sections called mouldings for example, dowel, beading, etc.
Name 5 types of hardwood
Beech
Oak
Mahogany
Teak
Balsa
Describe beech (hardwood)
A straight-grained hardwood with a fine texture. Light in colour. Very hard so is ideal to be used where it is being bashed around and used often. Beech is also very easy to work with.
Describe Oak
A very strong wood which is light in colour. Open grain. Hard to work with. When treated it looks very classy and elegant. A hardwood.
Describe Mahogany
An easy to work wood which is reddish brown in colour. This wood is very expensive. A hardwood.
Describe Teak
A very durable oily wood which is golden brown in colour. Highly resistant to moisture and outdoor weather. A hardwood
Describe Balsa
is a pale white to gray. It has a distinct velvety feel. It has exceptional strength to weight properties. It is the lightest and softest wood on the market. A hardwood.
Describe the uses of beech
Used for furniture, toys, tool handles. Can be steam bent.
Describe the uses of oak
Used for high class furniture, boats, beams used in buildings, veneers.
Describe the uses of mahogany
Used for expensive indoor furniture, shop fittings, bars, veneers.
Describe the uses of teak
Used for outdoor furniture, boat building, laboratory furniture and equipment.
Describe the uses of balsa
Used for light work such as model making and model airplane construction
Describe Softwoods
Softwoods come from coniferous trees which have needles instead of leaves. Softwoods grow faster than hardwoods and so are cheaper they are also easier to work with as they are softer than hardwoods. These are supplied in standard sections sawn and planned smooth. Softwood sizes are confusing because they are smaller once they are planned.
Name 4 types of softwoods
Scots pine
Spruce
Yellow Cedar
European redwood
Describe Scots pine
A straight-grained softwood but knotty. Light in colour. Fairly strong but easy to work with. Cheap and readily available. A softwood.
Describe spruce
Creamy-white softwood with small hard knots. Not very durable. A softwood.
Describe yellow cedar
A pale yellow-coloured softwood with a fine even texture. Light in weight but stiff and stable.
Describe European redwood
Quite strong, Lots of knots, durable when preserved. cheap. A softwood
Describe the uses of Scots pine
Used for DIY and cheap quality furniture. Mainly used for constructional work and simple joinery.
Describe the uses of spruce
Used for general indoor work, whitewood furniture used in bedrooms and kitchens
Describe the uses of yellow cedar
Used for furniture, boat building, veneers, and model making.
Describe the uses of European Redwood
Used for general woodwork, cupboards, shelves, roofs.
What are manufactured boards?
Manufactured boards are timber sheets which are produced by gluing wood layers or wood fibres together. Manufactured boards often make use of waste wood materials. Manufactured boards have been developed mainly for industrial production as they can be made in very large sheets of consistent quality. Boards are available in many thicknesses.
Name 5 types of manufactured boards
MDF
plywood
Chipboard
Blockboard
Hardboard
Describe MDF
Smooth, even surface. Easily machined and painted or stained. Also available in water and fire resistant forms. A manufactured board.
Describe Plywood
A very strong board which is constructed of layers of veneer or piles which are glued at 90 degrees to each other. Interior and exterior grades are available. A manufactured board.
Describe chipboard
Made from chips of wood glued together. Usually veneered or covered in plastic laminate. A manufactured board
Describe blockboard
Similar to plywood but the central layer is made from strips of timber. Good for shelves and worktops. A manufactured board.
Describe hardboard
A very cheap particle board which sometimes has a laminated plastic surface. A manufactured board.
Describe the uses of MDF
Used mainly for furniture and interior panelling due to its easy machining qualities. Often veneered or painted.
Describe the uses of plywood
Used for strong structural panelling board used in building construction. Furniture making. Some grades used for boat building and exterior work
Describe the uses of chipboard
Used for kitchen and bedroom furniture usually veneered or covered with a plastic laminated. Shelving and general DIY work.
Describe the uses of blockboard
Used where heavier structures are needed. Common for shelving and worktops.
Describe the uses of hardboard
Used for furniture backs, covering curved structures, door panels.
What are metals?
Metals are made by mining ore from within the earth. Metal is then extracted out of the rocks in an extremely large scale industrial process.
What are the 3 main types of metals
There are three main types of metals ferrous metals, non ferrous metals and alloys