Timber Manufacture

Question 1

What are soft boards made out from?

Answer 1

Coniferous trees

Question 2

What are coniferous trees and what are their properties?

Answer 2

Trees that stay green all year round. They:

• Grow at a faster rate
• Tend to have needles instead of leaves

Question 3

What are hard boards made from?

Answer 3

Deciduous trees

Question 4

What are deciduous trees and what are their properties?

Answer 4

Trees that lose their green during winter. They:

• Grow at a much slower rate
• Tend to have leaves instead of needles

Question 5

What are examples of softwoods and their properties?

Answer 5

• Pine: used in household furniture

- Cedar: used in outdoor furniture

Question 6

What are examples of hardwoods and their properties?

Answer 6

Beech: hard wearing and strong
Oakwood: tough and durable, used in garden furniture
Mahogany: durable and easy to work with, used in pianos and furniture
Teak: strong, durable and resistant to moisture, used in boats

Question 7

What is MDF?

Answer 7

A high quality manufactured board made from highly compressed wood fibres. It is smooth and stable, easy to cut through and is used in high quality furniture.

Question 8

What is plywood?

Answer 8

A manufactured board with thin layers of wood glued together, making it very flat and strong. It is used in toys, interior doors and the bottom of drawers.