Timbers- Unit 5B Flashcards
Hardwood
Denser structure, grain closer, takes longer to grow, more durable and less prone to rotting.
Softwood
From a Coniferous tree, grain is further apart and more porous.
Ash
Flexible, tough and shock resistant. Commonly used in sports equipment and tool handles. HARDWOOD.
Beech
Fine finish, tough and durable. Used in children’s toys and models. HARDWOOD.
Mahogany
Easily worked, durable and finishes well. Used in high end furniture. HARDWOOD
Oak
Tough, hard and durable. Used in flooring and furniture. HARDWOOD.
Balsa
Lightweight and can snap. Used in prototyping and aircraft modelling. HARDWOOD.
Larch
Durable, tough and good water resistance. Used in exterior cladding and flooring. SOFTWOOD.
Pine
Lightweight, easy to work, can split and be resinous near knots. Used in interior construction, cheaper furniture and decking. SOFTWOOD.
Spruce
Easy to work and variable results when staining. Used in construction, furniture and musical instruments. SOFTWOOD.
Manufactured Boards
Usually sheets of processed natural timber waste products or veneers combined with adhesives.
Medium density fibreboard (MDF)
Rigid and stable, very absorbent so not good in high humidity or damp areas. Used in flat pack furniture, toys and kitchen units.
Plywood
Alternating layers of natural grain veneers. Very stable in all directions. Used in furniture, shelving, toys and construction.
Chipboard
Good comprehensive strength, not water resistant unless treated, prone to chipping. Used in flooring, low-end furniture, kitchen units and worktops.
What does PAR stand for?
Planed all round.
Rough sawn timber
Rough sawn timber has not been planed and is rough to the touch. It is often used in exterior tasks where the finish is not that important.
Planed all round timber
Planed all round timber has a much smoother finish because it has been mechanically planed down on all sides. It is used for furniture and interior features such as doors and windows.
Seasoning: Air drying
Air dried timber is stacked so that air can circulate around the planks and evaporation can take place.
Seasoning: Kiln-drying
A faster process but more expensive. Less prone to faults and the heat can kill bacteria to protect the timber.
What are veneers?
A thin slice of natural wood that is bonded to the surface of a cheaper sheet material.
Rotational veneer production
Involves rotating a whole tree trunk on an industrial machine.
Manufactured Board advantages
- Available in large sheets,
- No defects like in natural wood,
- Makes use of low grade recycled wood.
Manufactured Board disadvantages
- Adhesives used to bond the boards can contain hazardous particles,
- Many traditional wood joints cannot be used effectively with manufactured board,
- Many boards are prone to moisture if not treated.
FSC
The forest stewardship council: dedicated to promoting responsible management of the world’s forests.
PEFC
The endorsement of forest certification: promotes sustainable forest management through independent third party certification.
Dowel rods
Circular sections of timber that come in many different diameters.
Wood moulding
Architrave is seen around door frames. Ornate skirting boards are in older style houses.
Nails and pins
Threadless versions of screws that are generally used for permanently fixing wood together. They are usually skewed at an angle (the dovetail method) as it gains some mechanical advantage.
Panel pin
Has a thin diameter with a discrete small head, pin punch used to set below the surface.
Tack
Sharp, short, wide head, used to attach material such as upholstery or carpets to wood.
Lost nail head
A thicker version of a panel pin, used where the head should not be visible. A pin punch is used to set down.
Knock-down fittings
Often used for self assembly furniture and kitchen carcasses. They are temporary and easily dismantled for transportation and storage.
Butt hinge
Standard hinge for doors and windows.
Butterfly hinge
Decorative version of the butt hinge.
Piano hinge
Long butt style hinge, cut to required length.
Coping saw
For cutting thinner pieces of timber and they can cope with curves.
Surform
For fast removal of material, cheese grater like blade, is sharp but brittle.
Chisel
Different versions used with a mallet to remove wood to form rebates and recesses.
Rasp
Like a file with very rough teeth for fast removal of materials.
Smoothing plane
Removes very thin layers of wood, smooths and flattens along the grain.
The wood turning process
Wood lathes are used to turn bowls and spindles. A special set of chisels are used to shape the wood when turning.
Quality control
Checking that products are being produced correctly in the essential stage. Ensures that dimensional accuracy is consistent and that the product is safe to use.
Tolerance
The amount of error that is allowed for a given task.
Wood preservative
Painted on to wood to protect from fungal or insect attack and rotting/decay.
Varnish
Protects from moisture and can be coloured with stain.
Oil
Similar effect to varnish but soaks into timber and needs reapplying frequently.
Paint
Needs primer and undercoat on bare wood and there is a wide range of colours available.
Stain
Permanently colours wood but does not protect it.
Wax
Rubbed into the wood to enhance the natural grain.
