Timber-based Materials

Question 1

Give some examples of hardwoods

Answer 1

• Mahogany
• Teak
• Oak
• Ash
• Beech

Question 2

Describe hardwoods

Answer 2

• They come from deciduous trees.
• They usually grow in warmer, more humid climates.
• They grow slowly.
• They are more difficult to sustain than softwoods.
• They are more expensive than a softwoods.
• They are mainly grown in South America and Asia.

Question 3

Hardwoods are not necessarily hard, give an example of this

Answer 3

Balsa wood is a hardwood but it is incredibly soft and light.

Question 4

Describe softwoods

Answer 4

• They come from evergreen trees.
• They usually grow in colder climates.
• They are normally coniferous.
• They grow thin, needle-like leaves.
• They grow relatively quickly.
• They are easier to sustain them hardwoods.
• They are less expensive than hardwoods.
• They grow mainly in Scandinavia and northern Europe.

Question 5

Describe western red cedar

Answer 5

• It is easy to work with, lightweight, durable against the weather and quite expensive.
• It is used for outdoor timber cladding and wall panelling.

Question 6

Describe Scots pine

Answer 6

• It is straight-grained, stronger than western red cedar, inexpensive, knotty, easy to find.
• It is used for outdoor constructional use and general purpose.

Question 7

Describe Parana pine

Answer 7

• It is strong, durable, more expensive than other softwoods, smooth to touch, hard.
• It is used for interior joinery, furniture, staircases.

Question 8

Describe spruce

Answer 8

• It is not a very durable, it has small knots, it is relatively strong, it resists splitting.
• It is used for interior furniture and kitchens.

Question 9

Describe mahogany

Answer 9

• It is durable, it has good strength to weight ratio, it is fairly malleable.
• It is used for indoor furniture, interior shop fittings, toys.

Question 10

Describe ash

Answer 10

• It is very tough, it has elastic properties, it is relatively malleable, it finishes well.
• It is used for tool handles, sports equipment, indoor furniture.

Question 11

Describe beech

Answer 11

• It is hard and tough, quite strong, close-grained, malleable, it finishes well.
• It is used for hardwood flooring, children’s toys, functional furniture.

Question 12

Describe oak

Answer 12

• It is very strong, heavy, durable, hard and tough, expensive.
• It is used for expensive furniture, exterior window frames.

Question 13

Describe teak

Answer 13

• It is hard, strong, durable (due to natural oils), expensive.
• It is used for boat building, quality outdoor furniture.

Question 14

Give some examples of softwoods

Answer 14

• Spruce
• Parana Pine
• Western red cedar
• Scots pine.

Question 15

What are manufactured boards made of?

Answer 15

Waste sections of felled trees – the parts which are of little use as planks. The wood is reduced to pulp, particles or thin strips and bonded together using special adhesives all resins.

Question 16

Describe manufactured boards

Answer 16

• They come in sheet form (usually 1.2 x 2.4).
• They are extremely stable and of uniform thickness.
• They are less expensive than the laminating planks of timber.
• They can be covered with veneers.
• They are available in a variety of thicknesses.

Question 17

Describe plywood

Answer 17

It is a strong but relatively cheap material that can be used indoors and outdoors. It is formed from an odd number of large sheets which are bonded to each other under high-pressure, with an adhesive between each layer. The veneers are arranged so that the grain patterns run in opposite directions, which makes the sheet strong and able to resist large bending forces.

Question 18

Describe chipboard

Answer 18

Chip board is one of the most inexpensive sheet materials. It is used for flat pack furniture and kitchen worktops. Chipboard is made from the waist the particles of other timber preparation processes. The fragments of wastewood are bonded together under pressure with a resin or adhesive. Chipboard is not very strong and is difficult to work with because it has no grain. Chipboard is almost always covered with a wooden veneer to make it appear to be a solid wood, or by melamine laminate.

Question 19

Name five stock forms of wood

Answer 19

• Plank
• Dowel
• Strips
• Boards
• Rough sawn

Question 20

Name three hand tools used when working with the woods

Answer 20

• Coping saw
• Tendon saw
• Claw hammer

Question 21

Name three power tools used when working with the woods

Answer 21

• Pillar drill
• Scroll saw
• Wood lathe

Question 22

What is a router used for?

Answer 22

It is used to mass produce identical products.

Question 23

What is a circular saw used for?

Answer 23

It is used to cut planks and sheets sheet material into different sizes.

Question 24

What is a planer/thicknesser used for?

Answer 24

When timber needs to be made smooth, a planer is used. This machine has two rotary blades which trim off thin layers of timber. Once the timber is made square, it is put through the thicknesser which makes the opposite sides parallel to each other and cuts the wood to a specified fitness.

Question 25

Name four finishing techniques used on timber

Answer 25

• Paint
• Wax
• Stain
• Varnish

Question 26

Describe paint as a finish for timber

Answer 26

• Indoor and outdoor use.
• Wood is sealed with a primer first.
• Coats the surface of timber.
• Cost-effective.

Question 27

Describe stain as a finish for timber

Answer 27

• Enhances the grain.
• Penetrates the surface of timber.
• Variety of colours are available.

Question 28

Describe varnish as a finish for timber

Answer 28

• Tough surface develops.
• Resistant to heat and water.
• Can be coloured.