Timbers - Hardwoods

Question 1

Oak

Answer 1

• They have spirally arranged leaves
• Tend to be very strong hard and heavy with close grain
• Very resistant to insect and fungal infection
• Oak is commonly used for furniture, joinery, flooring, panelling, decking and veners

Question 1

Mahogany

Answer 1

• Straight grained
• Reddish Brown Attractive colour
• One of three tropical hardwood species
• Resistant to water damage and decay so it will not mark

Question 2

Beech

Answer 2

• Moderately heavy and solid
• Good mechanical properties
• Particularly high resistance to compression although less to bending or tension because of short fibres
• Commonly used in making furniture, cabinetry, cooking utensils and sport equipment

Question 3

Birch

Answer 3

• Yellow - white or Reddish - white
• Lighten and darkness considerably with time
• Gentile, wavy, grain and slightly
• Strong, heavy, durable and shock resistant
• Typically used in lumber, veneer plywood and pulpwood which is then used in furniture, cabnets and flooring

Question 4

Balsa

Answer 4

• Lightest and softest timber used commercially
• Has unusually high degree of buoyancy and provides efficent insulation against heat and sound
• Has a good stiffness to weight ratio
• Tends to be used in model making but also some fishing boats

Question 5

Teak

Answer 5

• Has a high degree of natural durability
• Hard and heavy with low stiffness
• Has excellent decay resistance and acid resistant
• Used in indoor and outdoor furniture as well as ship decks

Question 6

Ash

Answer 6

• White with a pink and pearly tinge
• Quite hard and resilliant
• It is very pliable, making it good for making wooden tools
• Often used in the making of musical instruments