Woods Flashcards
What do you use to mark out wood?
Wood may be marked out with a sharp pencil. Straight lines can be made with a ruler and arcs with a compass.
These lines may be scratched out with a marking gauge or with dividers.
A try square can be used to check if the sides are at right angles to each other.
What should you do before selecting a piece of wood?
- Check to see if the wood is warped or twisted.
- Check for any splits in the wood.
- Check for knots in the wood grain.
- Check for small holes made by insects.
How do you saw thin wood?
Thin wood may be sawn with a coping saw or with a scroll saw. Large sheets of thinner wood may be cut with a band saw or table saw.
Coping saws are used because they are small and lightweight saws. Their frame allows material to be cut at any angle as well. Their blade also has a high TPI, which produces more accurate and fine cuts.
How is thick wood sawn?
Thick pieces of wood may be sawn with a hack saw or a tenon saw. They can also be sawn on a band saw or table saw.
A hack saw or a tenon saw is used because they have blades with a high TPI. These blades cut through material faster.
When sawing thick wood, it should be held in a bench hook sitting in a vice or in a vice with waste wood on either side.
What is a scroll saw used for?
A scroll saw may be used to cut thin pieces of wood.
The material should always be held firmly against the table of the saw. The hold-down bar should also always be positioned right above the piece being sawn.
How do you cut large sheets of wood?
Large sheets of wood should be cut on a band saw or on a table saw.
When using either of these saws, ensure the protective cover covering the blade is always just above the piece being sawn.
How do you shape wood?
Two of the main ways wood can be shaped is with a firmer chisel/mallet or with a wood-working plane.
- Firmer chisels pare small amounts of wood away to produce a rough form. They can be used in combination with a mallet to more effectively cut away wood.
- Wood-working planes shave thin slices off a surface for smoothing or producing a rough form. Wood must always be planed in the direction of the grain.
To plane the end of wood, clamp a piece of waste wood to the end and the plan regularly. This prevents the end from splitting.
How can you cut out shapes in wood?
Shapes can be cut out in sheets of wood using a coping saw.
Your workpiece should be secured in a vice or with clamps on a table. A hole should first be drilled in the shape to be cut out. Next, take off the blade of the coping saw and feed it through the drilled hole. Then, reattach the blade to the frame and now the shape can be sawn.
How do you cut holes in sheets of wood?
A cone bit attached to an electric drill can be used to cut larger holes in sheets of wood.
How do you remove rough edges on wood?
Rough edges on wood can be removed with a disc or belt sander or using a flat file.
- Using a disc or belt sander is a fast process. Ensure the material is held firmly against the table and that the edge is flush against the sander. Once the sander is turned on, apply equal amounts of pressure to the wood. You can apply a varying amount of pressure to remove more or less wood from the edge.
- Using a flat file is a slower process. If more material needs to be removed, use a flat file with a coarse cut first. If not, use one with a finer cut for smoothness. You should file at an angle to remove material faster and draw file for finishing.
How do you join wood with adhesives?
Adhesives, mainly spirit adhesives, should only be applied in ventilated areas.
- Ensure the joining surfaces are free of dirt or oil residues by rubbing alcohol over them. This ensures the adhesive can soak into the pores of the wood.
- Put masking tape around the joining surfaces so the surrounding area is not stained by the adhesive.
- After applying the adhesive to the joining surfaces, clamp the joint together until the adhesive sets. This forces the adhesive into the pores of the wood.
- Only when the ‘setting time’ is up, can the joint be unclamped. During this time, the adhesive should have evaporated and dried.
What is a scroll saw / band saw / orbital sander / detailed sander used for?
- A scroll saw is used for cutting straight or curved cuts in thin sheets of wood.
- A band saw is a large saw primarily used for cutting straight or curved lines through larger sheets of wood.
- Orbital sanders are small and lightweight. They vibrate in an elliptical motion to produce a smooth surface.
- Detailed sanders are lightweight, have a triangular base and are good for sanding tight gap or corners.
What is considered fine and coarse sand paper?
The lower the grit of the sandpaper, the more coarse it is and the faster it strips away material.
How do you shape the edges of wood?
The edges of wood may be shaped using a plunge router or a routing table.
Using a plunge router:
1. Clamp your workpiece to a bench or table.
2. Attach the desired edge bit to the plunge router.
3. Align the edge bit with your marked lines.
4. Turn the plunge router on and pass it through the marked lines at a controlled place.
5. After you have completed the cut, lift the router straight up and turn it off.
What finishes can be applied to wood?
Wood can be finished with paint or with a clear varnish.
- A clear varnish allows the wood grain to show through. It is also water and heat resistant and can provide a sheen to the material.
A thin layer should first be applied with a brush, and then lightly sanded. A second coat can then be applied. - Paint adds a coloured protective coating and is also water and heat resistant.
Paint should be applied in many thin layers, starting with a primer coat, then an undercoat and finally the finishing coat, which may be glossy or matt.
