Wood And Metal (Y10 - Autumn 1) Flashcards
What are the qualities of a Softwood (Coniferous) Tree (get 5 at least)
- They mainly grow in a cooler climate like Canada
- These types of trees are known as ‘cone-bearing’ trees, which are why the are called conifers
- The trees usually grow tall and stright which make it easy to cut into long straight planks for manufacturers
- They have a looser grain structure
- They are often used as a building material
- They are usually softer and easier to work with
- They grow quite faster and so are cheaper
- They are evergreen, meaning that they don’t loose their leaves
Examples of Softwood Trees
- Larch
- Pine
- Spruce
- Redwood
What are the qualities of a Hardwood (Deciduous) Tree (get 5 at least)
- You can have evergreen hardwood trees (like holly) which do not loose their leaves and Deciduous trees which lose their leaves in winter
- They are broad-leaved trees and the seeds are enclosed in the fruit that the tree produces
- They are slower growing trees, meaning it can take 100 years to grow fully
- Most evergreens are found in tropical and subtropical zones and countries, such as South America
- These are usually quite hard
- Tend to have a tighter grain
- They can be very expensive
Examples of Hardwood Trees
- Ash
- Beech
- Mahogany
- Oak
- Balsa
What do the FSC do?
- The FSC is known as ‘The Forest Stewardship Council’.
- Their Headquarters are found in Bonn, Germany
- The Forest Stewardship Council try to ensure that the World’s forests and rainforests are able to keep hold of large parts of their trees and as a result as to keep the ecosystem habitable.
- They are known as an international non-profit organisation (established in 1993) that claims itself to be responsible for the management for the world’s forests.
- The FSC use techniques such as selective cutting to ensure that the forests are not just cut down in large areas and clumps all at once, which would just destroy the habitat and ecosystem as a result.
- To combat this growing problem, the FSC make sure that any area that they cut down a selective amount of trees from is left for the required number of years needed for the vegetation to regenerate overtime
*Properties and Uses of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)
Properties:
MDF board does not have a natural grain like most wood (making it cheaper), because it is a manufactured wood product rather than a natural one. Because medium density fiberboard is fused and glued into a uniform panel, it is significantly easier to saw, lacking knots or a grain to consider. It is also a strong, stiff and heavy wood.
Uses:
- Furniture
- Cabinetry
- Fire Resistance
- Vapour Repulsion
- Soundproofing
- Roofing
*Properties and Uses of Chipboard
Properties:
Chipboard is made up of wood chips bound together with resin and pressed into a flat, rectangular shape. Pieces of wood that are too small, warped, or otherwise defective for use as lumber are splintered into small chips, and mixed with sawdust to make it (meaning it is cheap). It can come in normal, medium and high densities. You can also laminate chipboard for a better finish.
Uses:
Most laminate countertops have a chipboard base, and many types of laminate flooring are installed over chipboard.Because of its low cost, chipboard is commonly used to build low-cost indoor furniture
*Properties and Uses of Plywood
Properties:
Plywood is manufactured from softwoods and hardwoods or a combination of both. The timber used to make plywood is prepared by steaming or dipping in hot water. It is then peeled into thin plies between 1-4 mm by machine. It is high in strength, has good flexibility, is moisture resisting, impact resisting, chemical and fire resisting and gives good insulation.
Uses:
- Exterior Wall Sheathing
- Interior Walls
- Roofing and Flooring
- Furniture
- Cabinets
- General Projects
Properties and Uses of Blockboard
Properties:
Blockboard is a wood based panel, made up of a core of softwood strips glued together. The strips may be up to about 28mm wide and are placed edge to edge and sandwiched between veneers of softwood, hardwood or thin MDF or particleboard, glued under high pressure. It has good weight and density, as well as strength and durability, while it is also resistant to warping, cracking, sagging and bending
Uses:
- For shelving such as long book shelve
- For furniture making such as table
- For window, door shutter,flush door.
- For making wall furniture.
- For wall panels, partition.
Properties and Uses of Contiboard
Properties:
Contiboard is similar to chip board except it has a plastic coating in various optional finishes, such as white, oak, cherry, beech and more.
Uses:
It can be used for bedroom furniture construction and shelving when exposure to moisture is not a factor
Properties and Uses of Fibreboard
Properties:
Wood fibre board is made of wood fibres, which are connected to each other through the effect of heat and pressure, meaning that the board gives an even and compact surface. It is a strong tough and warm wood.
Uses:
- Home Interior
- Home Exterior
- Vapor Barrier and Insulation
- Soundproofing and Sound Deadening
Properties and Uses of Hardboard
Properties:
Hardboard is made of sawmill or forestry remainders. Using steam and heat, the wood is mechanically broken down into fibres. In the wet production process, the water is extracted from the pulp by pressing the pulp against a sieve and then pressed into panels under high pressure. The natural wood resin serves as an adhesive. In the dry production process, the fibres are first dried and then pressed together using additional resin adhesives to form a panel. It is a stable, lightweight, resilient, and low-costing wood.
Uses:
- Furniture manufacturing
- Construction
- Interior furnishings
- Automotive industries
- Packaging
- Poster backing and panelling
- It can also be painted coated with films and veneered
Properties and Uses of Aluminium - Pure Metal
Properties:
Greyish-White, soft, malleable, conductive to heat and electricity, It is corrosion resistant. It can be welded but this is difficult. Aluminium is very lightweight which is why it is often chosen for products despite being more expensive than some other metals.
Uses:
Aircraft, boats, window frames, saucepans, packaging and insulation, pistons and cranks.
Properties and Uses of Low Carbon Steel (Mild Steel) - Iron + Carbon
Properties:
It is a sliver/grey colour and it has a melting point of 1250°C, it is ferrous metal, it is malleable, ductile, and a conductor of heat and electricity, but it is not resistant to corrosion. Furthermore it can be soldered, it can be brazed, it can be welded, it can be rolled, it can be forged and machine cut too.
Uses:
General structural work, girders, nuts, bolts, screws, non cutting tools and car bodies.
Properties and Uses of High Carbon Steel (Tool Steel) - Iron + Carbon
Properties:
It is a silver/white colour and it has a melting point of 1300°C, it is a ferrous metal, it is hard and strong too. It is a conductor of heat and electricity, while it is resistant to wear too, whole it can be soldered, brazed, welded and rolled, forged and also bent, and it polishes well.
Uses:
Cutting tools for lathes, milling cutters and drill bits
