Timbers Properties

Question 1

What are the Properties of Oak
-Hardwood-

Answer 1

Physical Properties:
- Golden Brown Colour
- Attractive Grain System

Performance Properties:
- Hard, Tough and Weather Resistant
- Contains Tannic Acid - Corrodes Steel Fixings

Question 2

What are the Properties of Mahogany
-Hardwood-

Answer 2

Physical Properties:
- Interlocking Grain
- Rich Red Colour

Performance Properties:
- Hard, Tough - Extremely difficult to work

Question 3

What are the Properties of Beech
-Hardwood-

Answer 3

Physical Properties:
- Close Grain
- White (Steamed) and Pink (Unsteamed)

Performance Properties:
- Hard and Tough
- Splinter Resistant

Question 4

What are the Properties of Jelutong
-Hardwood-

Answer 4

Physical Properties:
- Fine Texture
- Straight grain
- White or straw coloured

Performance Properties:
- Easy to cut
- Can be brittle

Question 5

What are the Properties of Balsa
-Hardwood-

Answer 5

Physical Properties:
- Off white - pinkish in colour
- Straight grain

Performance Properties:
- Low density
- Lightweight
- Buoyancy

Question 6

What are the Properties of Pine/Redwood
-Softwood-

Answer 6

Physical Properties:
- Straight grain
- Heavily Knotted (Can be resin based)
- Pale- Red colour - Depending on location and age

Performance Properties:
- Easy to work with
- Heavy splintering
- High Strength

Question 7

What are the Properties of Cedar
-Softwood-

Answer 7

Physical Properties:
- Close Grain
- Yellow in colour - typically

Performance Properties:
- Low density - good sound absorber
- Acidic - can corrode ferrous metals

Question 8

What are the Properties of Larch
-Softwood-

Answer 8

Physical Properties:
- Attractive Grain
- White - Fades to Silver with exposure

Performance Properties:
- Hard and Tough

Question 9

What are the Properties of Plywood
-Manufactured-

Answer 9

• High Strength Compared to solid wood
• Excellent Flexibility
• Highly Resistant to Impact
• Quite Resistant to Moisture
• Relatively Fire Resistant
• Insulating Property
• Resistant to Chemicals

Question 10

What are the Properties of MDF
-Manufactured-

Answer 10

• Consistent density
• Consistent Smoothness
• Flexibility (Highly versatile)
• Susceptibility to Water Damage
• Lack of knots or grain patterns

Question 11

What are the Properties of Chipboard
-Manufactured-

Answer 11

• Not water resistant
• Slightly lower cost than Plywood
• Wood chips usually held together by Urea Formaldehyde
• Splinter resistant