Wood

Question 1

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Spruce

Answer 1

Softwood
Not very tough, creamy white colour
Indoor work, bathroom and bedroom furniture

Question 2

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Ash

Answer 2

Hardwood
Light brown colour, open grained, tough and flexible
Tool handles, some sports equipment

Question 3

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Beach

Answer 3

Hardwood
White to pinkish brown colour, close grained, hard, tough but warps easily
Tool handles, children’s toys, furniture

Question 4

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Elm

Answer 4

Hardwood
Light to medium brown colour, open and sometimes interlocking grain, durable in water, tough, resists splitting
Outdoor and indoor furniture

Question 5

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Mahogany

Answer 5

Hardwood
Pink to reddish brown colour, fairly strong, durable, some interlocking grains
High end furniture

Question 6

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Oak

Answer 6

Hardwood
Light brown colour, strong, tough, hard, open grained, corrodes steel screws and fittings
High end furniture, interior wood work

Question 7

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Plywood

Answer 7

Manmade board
Composite material, composed of veneers/plies which are glued together with synthetic resin, each veneer at 90degrees to previous veneer so less likely to warp or split, available in large range of sizes
Cheap quality furniture, simple joinery. Softwood ply used in construction industry e.g. Walls, Roofs, Floors. Hardwood ply used for quality laminate flooring, kitchen units, some furniture

Question 8

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Blockboard

Answer 8

Manmade board
Type of plywood, built up with a core of softwood strips bonded together with adhesive and covered with a sheet of ply on either side. Is a strong heavy board unlikely to warp and twist
Used for building materials, furniture manufacture e.g. Fitted kitchens/bathrooms

Question 9

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Chipboard

Answer 9

Manmade board
Small chips of wood bonded together with resin and formed into sheets under compression. Relatively cheap, but not as strong as ply/blockboard, covered with a laminate.
Used in cheap furniture

Question 10

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: MDF

Answer 10

Manmade board
Fine wood dust and resin compressed into a sheet. Relatively cheap but good quality. Worked,shaped and machined easily. Paint can be applied easily
Widely used in building, shop fittings, furniture trade

Question 11

Give the type of wood, properties and principle use of: Pine

Answer 11

Softwood
Very light brown colour, straight grained and sometimes knotty, fairly tough
Cheap quality furniture, simple joinery