Unit 15 Natural and Manufactured Timbers

Question 1

What are the 2 main types of natural timber

Answer 1

Softwoods

Hardwoods

Question 2

What are manufactured timbers?

Answer 2

Timbers made from wood chips, veneers, or fibres glued and pressed together

Question 3

What trees do softwoods come from?

Answer 3

Coniferous trees - evergreen usually has needles and cones

Question 4

What trees do hardwoods come from?

Answer 4

Deciduous trees - usually broad leaved tree drops leaves in winter

Question 5

What is the term used to describe cutting down trees?

Answer 5

Felling

Question 6

What is the term used to describe the process of cutting/sawing trees in to useable shapes?

Answer 6

Timber conversion

Question 7

What is the term used to describe the process of reducing moisture in timbers that have been felled

Answer 7

Seasoning

Question 8

What 2 main types of stock finish are timbers produced in

Answer 8

Rough sawn - can have splinters

Planed all round - planed on each side to give a nice finish

Question 9

Name 2 ways of seasoning timbers

Answer 9

Air-drying

Kiln-drying

Question 10

Why do you need to reduce the moisture content of timbers newly felled?

Answer 10

Timbers contain over 50% moisture. Natural uneven drying can cause warping, splitting and bowing

Question 11

What are timber veneers?

Answer 11

Very thin sheeting of natural timber, often used on top on MDF chipboard to make them look nicer

Question 12

Name 2 advantages of manufactured board

Answer 12

Available in large sheets
Very stable
No defects - warping splitting etc
No knots or resin that can make hard to use
Smooth finish - little prep
Makes use of waste timber
Available in different finishes, veneers, laminates

Question 13

Name 2 disadvantages of manufactured board

Answer 13

Adhesives used to make them have VOCs
Dust can be harmful to breath in
Tools can blunt because of adhesives in materials
Some tools can be used - chisels
Edges hard to finish
Most Can absorb moisture easily and warp

Question 14

Name 3 types of softwood

Answer 14

Redwood
Cedar
Parana pine
Mexican pine
Larch
Spruce

Question 15

Name 3 types of hardwood

Answer 15

Ash
Beech
Mahogany
Oak
Balsa

Question 16

Name 3 types of manufactured board

Answer 16

MDF - medium density fibreboard 
Chipboard
Softwood Plywood
Hardwood plywood
Marine plywood
Hard board

Question 17

Name 3 properties of hardwoods

Answer 17

Less porous 
Denser cell structure
Most more hard wearing 
Most less prone to rotting 
Tend to be more expensive 
Take longer to grow
Not often considered very sustainable 
(Balsa wood is a hardwood but is fragile and lightweigh often used in modelling)

Question 18

Name 3 properties of softwoods

Answer 18

General more porous cell structure
Absorb moisture easily
(Cedar however contains natural oils which protect it outside)
Relatively cheap
More sustainable because it’s widely planted and grows faster then hardwoods

Question 19

Explain 3 reason why timbers have finishes

Answer 19

To protect them from warping and bowing
To protect from staining and discolouration
To prevent them rotting
To prevent splintered and splitting
To add colour and texture
To make softwoods look more like hardwoods and more expensive

Question 20

What 3 finishes can be applied to timbers

Answer 20

Water-based paint - not durable 
Solvent-based paint - can have VOCs
Danish oil 
Liming wax
Beeswax
Stains - man made and natural 
Varnish - colours and clear

Question 21

Name 3 types of timber stock form

Answer 21

Planks
Dowels
Post - square length 
Moulding - architrave skating boards 
Boards - manufactured boards

Question 22

Name 3 fittings or fixtures you can use with timbers

Answer 22

Nails - round wire, panel pin, clout nail
Screws - slotted, Phillips, pozidriv, Allen, Torx
Knock-down fittings - block, cross dowel fitting, cam lock fitting
Hinges - flush hinge, butt hinge, butterfly hinge