Woods

Question 1

What are hardwoods?

Answer 1

• This wood comes from trees that lose their leaves during autumn.
• Hardwood trees are slow-growing and therefore less amounts are available, which makes it more expensive.

Question 2

What are some hardwoods and their properties/uses?

Answer 2

• Oak - Brown colour, close straight grain, tough durable - furniture, doors
• Beech - pink tinted, close grained, tough, durable - used for hardwearing
• Mahogany - dark red, very close grain, polishes easy - furniture

Question 3

What are softwoods?

Answer 3

• This wood comes from trees that are evergreen, possibly bearing pinecones and needles, not leaves.
• Softwood trees grow quicker and in more locations. They are readily available and less expensive

Question 4

What are some softwoods and their properties/uses?

Answer 4

Pine - pale yellow, lightweight, easy to work - construction, furniture
Cedar - pale, lightweight, not as strong as pine - outdoor uses, fences, decks
Larch - dark shade, water resistant, durable - boats, outdoor cladding

Question 5

What are manufactured boards?

Answer 5

Man-made boards like MDF, plywood and chipboard are all manufactured boards. They are made from wood fibres, normally collected from recycled wooden materials, bonded together with resins to form sheets.

Question 6

What are some manufactured boards and their properties/uses?

Answer 6

• MDF - made from small fibres which are mixed with a wax and resin, no grain, easy to work - Interior DIY furniture.
• Chipboard - made from small ‘chips’ of timber bonded together, dense - base of kitchen worktops.
• Plywood - made from layers of wood bonded together, strong, rigid, facing layers can be high quality wood.

Question 7

How can woods be finished?

Answer 7

• Waxes and oils are popular to provide enhancement of the natural grain in the wood.
• Stains and varnishes help to add colour to natural wood, and even change colours to match colour schemes

Question 8

How can manufactured boards be finished?

Answer 8

• MDF can be stained to match other natural woods, or it can be painted.
• Plywood can have natural grain on the face veneers, so a spray-on lacquer or a paint-on varnish might be best.
• Chipboard can look unattractive and is normally finished with a veneer