Timbers

Question 1

Where do timbers come from?

Answer 1

Timbers come from wood cut down from trees. They are a sustainable source of material as trees can be regrown.

Question 2

What are the properties of softwoods?

Answer 2

-mainly grow in cooler climates
-loose grain
-grow needles
-called conifers or coniferous trees
-evergreen
-fast-growing
-cheaper than hardwoods
-easier to work with
-common building material
-grows tall and straight
-easily cut into planks

Question 3

Give examples of softwood trees.

Answer 3

-Larch
-Pine
-Spruce
-Redwood
-Douglas fir
-Cedar

Question 4

What are the three types of timbers?

Answer 4

Softwoods, hardwoods and manufactured boards.

Question 5

What are the properties of hardwoods?

Answer 5

-tighter grain
-takes a long time to grow
-more expensive than softwoods
-called deciduous trees, some are evergreens
-most evergreens are found in sub/tropical environments such as S. America
-lose their leaves (excl. evergreens)
-usually quite hard
-they are broad leave trees and the seeds are enclosed in the fruit that the tree produces
-generally grow in temperate climates, including the British Isles.

Question 6

Give examples of hardwoods.

Answer 6

-Ash
-Beech
-Mahogany
-Oak
-Balsa
-Teak
-Birch

Question 7

What are the properties of manufactured boards?

Answer 7

-available in many thicknesses
-relatively inexpensive so often used instead of real woods
-often covered with a thin layer of real wood which is called a veneer which improves their appearance and properties
-manufactured boards are timber sheets which are produced by gluing wood layers or fibres together
-often made using waste wood
-have been developed mainly for industrial production as they can be made in very large sheets of consistent quality

Question 8

Give examples of manufactured boards.

Answer 8

-Plywood
-MDF
-Chipboard
-Hardboard
-Blockboard
-Marine plywood
-Aeroply
-Flexible plywood

Question 9

What are the performance characteristics of timber?

Answer 9

-grain pattern
-grain direction
-surface defects
-warpage
-shrinkage
-splitting
-joining
-forming
-steam bending
-laminating
-machining quality
-decay resistance
-moisture resistance
-toxicity

Question 10

What are the stock forms of timber?

Answer 10

-rough sawn
-planed square edge (PSE)
-planed all round (PAR)
-natural timber
-manufactured board
-mouldings
-veneers

Question 11

What are the timber defects?

Answer 11

-splitting
-knots
-decay - dry rot
-woodworm

Question 12

What types of wood joints are there?

Answer 12

-butt joint
-mortise and tenon joint
-dowel joint
-dovetail joint
-housing joint
-half lap joint
-mitre joint
-comb joint

Question 13

What is a butt joint?

Answer 13

A simple joint in which the end of one piece of wood is simply butted up against the end of another piece of wood. This joint is the simplest and most basic way to join two pieces of wood, but it is also the weakest, as it relies solely on glue to hold the pieces together.

Question 14

What is a dowel joint?

Answer 14

A joint in which two pieces of wood are joined together using small, cylindrical wooden pins, known as dowels. To create a dowel joint, holes are drilled in the two pieces of wood to be joined, and the dowels are inserted into these holes. The dowels are then glued in place, creating a strong mechanical connection between the two pieces of wood.

Question 15

What is a mitre joint?

Answer 15

A joint in which two pieces of wood are cut at an angle and joined together at the corners, creating a seamless and decorative connection. Mitre joints are commonly used in picture frames, crown moulding, and other decorative trim applications.

Question 16

What is a comb joint?

Answer 16

A joint in which two pieces of wood are joined together by interlocking fingers or tabs cut into the end of each piece. This joint is used to join pieces of wood of the same thickness, and it is often used to make large panels from smaller pieces of wood.

Question 17

What is a dovetail joint?

Answer 17

A joint in which two pieces of wood are joined together in a interlocking pattern, resembling the shape of a dove’s tail. Dovetail joints are often used in fine woodworking and are prized for their strength and their decorative appeal.

Question 18

What is a mortise and tenon joint?

Answer 18

A joint in which one piece of wood (the tenon) is inserted into a rectangular or circular cut out (the mortise) in another piece of wood. This joint is one of the strongest and most durable ways to join two pieces of wood and is commonly used in furniture making and cabinetry.

Question 19

What is a housing joint?

Answer 19

A joint in which a tongue is cut on one piece of wood and a corresponding groove is cut on another piece, allowing the two pieces to interlock. Tongue and groove joints are commonly used in flooring, panelling, and wainscoting applications, as they provide a strong and stable connection that helps to eliminate gaps and minimize movement between the two pieces of wood.

Question 20

What is a half lap joint?

Answer 20

A joint in which two pieces of wood are overlapped and joined together. This joint is often used in making boxes, chests, and other wooden containers, as well as in making picture frames and other decorative items. There are two main types of lap joints: half-lap joints and cross-lap joints.

Question 21

What are knock-down fittings?

Answer 21

Knock-down fittings are a type of hardware used in furniture and cabinetry to assemble pieces of wood together without the use of traditional fasteners like nails or screws. Instead, knock-down fittings are designed to interlock and provide a strong, durable joint. These fittings typically consist of metal plates, dowels, or cam locks that are inserted into holes drilled in the wood. The fittings are then tightened to secure the pieces of wood in place. Knock-down fittings are often used in flat-pack furniture and modular cabinetry, as they make it easy to disassemble and reassemble the pieces without damaging them. Knock-down fittings are easy to use and require no special tools, making them a popular choice for DIY furniture and cabinetry projects.

Question 22

What are modesty blocks?

Answer 22

Modesty blocks are small rigid polymer blocks that are used along with screws to join wood together. Typically they may be used in cupboards and storage units. They are simple to use but does not make a particularly strong joint.

Question 23

What are barrel nut and bolts?

Answer 23

A barrel nut is a cylindrical nut that has a threaded interior and a smooth exterior. The bolt is a threaded rod that is inserted through holes drilled in the two pieces of material to be joined, with the barrel nut placed inside one of the holes. When the bolt is tightened, the threads engage with the interior of the barrel nut, pulling the two pieces of material together and providing a strong, secure joint.

Question 24

What are cam-lock connectors?

Answer 24

Cam-lock connectors are a type of fastener used in various applications, including furniture assembly and cabinetry, to quickly and securely join two pieces of material together. A cam-lock connector consists of a cam mechanism, which is typically a cylindrical component with a screw or lever mechanism, and a socket or receptacle that the cam mechanism fits into. The cam mechanism is inserted into the socket and tightened, causing the cam to expand and grip the material being joined. Cam-lock connectors are designed to be easy to use and to provide a strong, secure connection.

Question 25

What are wood screws?

Answer 25

Wood screws are screws with a sharp, tapered point and a threaded shank that is designed to grip wood fibres as the screw is driven in. They are often used in woodworking and carpentry applications to fasten pieces of wood together, such as in cabinetry, furniture, and deck building. Wood screws come in a variety of sizes, head styles, and materials, including steel, brass, and stainless steel, to suit different applications and provide different levels of rust resistance.

Question 26

What are nuts and bolts?

Answer 26

Nuts and bolts are a more traditional type of fastener consisting of a bolt, which is a threaded rod, and a nut that threads onto the end of the bolt to hold the two pieces of material being joined together. Nuts and bolts can be used in a variety of applications, including furniture assembly, cabinetry, and general carpentry, and are known for their strength and durability.

Question 27

What are coach bolts?

Answer 27

Coach bolts, also known as carriage bolts, are bolts with a rounded head and a square neck below the head that is designed to grip into the material being joined to prevent the bolt from turning as a nut is tightened onto the end. Coach bolts are commonly used in woodworking and carpentry applications, particularly where a flush finish is desired, as the rounded head can be countersunk into the wood. Coach bolts come in a variety of sizes and materials, including steel and stainless steel, to suit different requirements and provide different levels of rust resistance.

Question 28

What are the timber wasting processes?

Answer 28

-turning
-routing
-milling

Question 29

What is wood turning?

Answer 29

Wood turning is a woodworking technique that involves shaping wood using a lathe. A lathe is a machine that rotates a piece of wood while a cutting tool is applied to it, allowing the wood to be shaped into various forms. The wood is held in place on the lathe using a chuck or a faceplate, and the cutting tool is typically mounted on a tool rest that is positioned close to the workpiece.

Question 30

What is milling?

Answer 30

Wood milling is the process of shaping and cutting wood using a milling machine. A milling machine is a machine tool that rotates a cutting tool (such as a drill bit or end mill) against a workpiece to remove material and shape the workpiece into a desired form. In wood milling, the cutting tool can be used to create a variety of shapes, such as straight lines, curves, and angled cuts, and to create profiles, such as rounded edges and decorative grooves.

Question 31

What is routing?

Answer 31

Routing is a timber process that involves using a machine tool called a router. A router has a drill bit where the sharp edge is located on the side of the drill bit rather than on the tip. They can only be used with timbers. Routing can be used to create rebates/shoulder joints, profiling with a template, round over and making grooves/ channels. Routers can be either table mounted or hand held.

Question 32

What are the forming processes?

Answer 32

-steam bending
-lamination

Question 33

What is steam bending?

Answer 33

Steam bending is a woodworking technique where wood is exposed to steam to make it pliable. Heat and moisture from steam can soften wood fibres enough so they can be bent and stretched, and when cooled down they will hold their new shape.

Question 34

What is lamination?

Answer 34

Wood laminating is the process of forming multiple sheets of veneer, chips or solid timber using moulds and bonded together by very strong adhesives, to produce rigid, lightweight structures.