Timbers Flashcards
Give some examples of Softwoods.
-Pine
-Cedar
-Yew
-Redwood
-Baltic Whitewood
Give some examples of Hardwoods.
-Oak
-Mahogany
-Ash
-Beech
-Walnut
-Teak
-Balsa
Give some examples of Composites.
-Blockboard
-Hardboard
-Chipboard
-MDF
-Plywood
What is a Composite?
Composite boards are man-made pieces of wood which is designed to have better quality.
What are the advantages of a Composite?
-Stronger
-Cheaper
-Environmentally friendlier
-Smoother
-Durable
What are the downsides of a Composite?
-often undesirable to many people
-Aesthetically unpleasing
-requires older pieces of wood to make
What are the advantages of Softwood?
-Cheap
-Fast Growing (20-30yrs)
-Lightweight
-Medium durability
-Aesthetically pleasing
-Easy to form
What are the disadvantages of Softwood?
-Weaker
-less resistant to scratches
-Filled with knots
-inconsistent imperfections results in less durability
What are Softwoods used in?
-Card
-Inner construction (Door frames/Window sills)
-House frames
-Paper Pulp
What are the advantages of Hardwoods?
-Extremely durable
-Scratch Resistant
-Smooth
-Easy to Polish
-Long-Lasting
What are the disadvantages of Hardwoods?
-Expensive
-Rarer
-Slow growing (100yrs)
-Heavier
What are Hardwoods used in?
-Furniture
-Outdoor decks
-Boats
-Flooring
-Fencing
-Tools
-Musical instruments
-Firewood/Charcoal
What are Softwoods?
Softwood comes from coniferous trees with needle-like leaves that normally stay on during the winter - larch is an exception as it loses its needle-like leaves during the winter. Softwoods naturally grow in colder regions such as Alpine climates.
What are Hardwoods?
Hardwood comes from deciduous trees with broad leaves. Hardwood trees take a long time to grow, around 60 years (sometimes up to 100), The majority of hardwoods grow in tropical regions, such as Amazonian climates, while others grow in temperate climates such as Europe.
What are knots?
A knot in timber marks where a branch once grew out on the tree.
What is Elasticity?
The ability of a material to stretch and return to its original shape. Timbers are generally not very elastic, although some are a little more than others (e.g. yew is used for bows).
What is Tensile Strength?
The ability of a material to withstand being pulled by a certain amount of force. Timbers have higher tensile strength than compressive strength.
Compressive Strength?
The ability of a material to withstand being crushed by a certain amount of force. The denser the timber, the greater the compressive strength, eg oak has a higher compressive strength than balsa.
What is deforestation?
The cutting down of trees and forests to allows different land use.
What are the problems related to deforestation?
-Increase in temperature and pollution level (Climate Change)
-Desertification and soil erosion
-Increase in the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
-Decrease in groundwater level
-Loss of food and habitat of animals
-Soil erosion
What is soil erosion?
gradual process that occurs when the impact of water or wind detaches and removes soil particles, causing the soil to deteriorate.
What are the 6 R’s?
Reduce-Can the amount of timber used be reduced?
Reuse-Can the timber be reused for another purpose?
Recycle-Can the timber be disposed of correctly so that it can be recycled to produce another material (e.g. MDF)?
Rethink - Can the way a product is made be redesigned so that less timber is used?
Refuse - Refusing to use hardwood .
Repair - When a product is broken, can it be repaired?
Why should someone not add knots?
Knots often fall out from planks as they shrink, leaving a hole.
