Woods

Question 1

What is conversion?

Answer 1

When a tree is cut into rough sawn planks (green timber)

Question 2

What is the best pieces of wood from a log?

Answer 2

Pieces with a good grain structure, when the grain is going down the plank.

Question 3

How would you cut wood cheaply and quickly but not get high quality wood?

Answer 3

You would cut the wood down the log however this would make imperfect grain structures.

Question 4

How would you cut wood to make would with a good grain structure?

Answer 4

You would quartersaw the wood. This cuts out planks which all face towards the center of the log so they have a good grain structure. However this is expensive and slow.

Question 5

What is seasoning?

Answer 5

Is the turning of rough sawn plank (green timber) into EMC-equilibrium moisture content (dried to suit surroundings). It will always have a square edge.

Question 6

Why is green timber not usable apart from which exception?

Answer 6

Green timber is flexible so not great for building things however oak can be used in its green state.

Question 7

What is air-dying and what is its problems?

Answer 7

Air-drying can reduce the moisture in the wood to 20% in a covered shed. This takes 6 months-1 year which is inconvenient and it is exposed to the elements so insects can destroy the wood.

Question 8

What is kiln-dying?

Answer 8

Kiln-dying can reduce the moisture in the wood to 10% in an autoclave (oven). It takes 2-5days.

Question 9

What is a soft wood?

Answer 9

Soft wood is wood from a coniferous (cone bearing) tree. Like pine.

Question 10

Give some positives (3) and some negatives (3) of Scots Pine and examples of it in use (2).

Answer 10

\+ Fast growing
\+ Usable within 40yrs
\+ Cheap
- Weak
- Knotty
- Yellow
Used in moulds/jigs and and for builders construction.

Question 11

Give some positives (3) of Spruce and examples of it in use (2).

Answer 11

+ Cheap
+ Fewer knots than Scots pine
+ Ling fibers
Used in high quality paper (long fibers) and interior wood work like doors and skirting boards.

Question 12

Give some positives (2) of Douglas fir and examples of it in use (3).

Answer 12

+ Not many knots
+ Durable
Used in flooring, furniture and window frames.

Question 13

What does a wood having an FSC stamp mean?

Answer 13

More trees are planted than are cut down.

Question 14

What is a hardwood?

Answer 14

Broad leaved and not cone bearing trees.

Question 15

Give some positives (5) and some negatives (2) of Beech and examples of it in use (3).

Answer 15

\+ Durable
\+ Hard
\+ Non abrasive
\+ Short grain, almost knot free
\+ FSC
- Bland/dull appearance
- Takes 80yrs to grow
Used in kitchen products, flooring and furniture.

Question 16

Give some positives (5) and some negatives (2) of Oak and examples of it in use (1).

Answer 16

\+ Durable
\+ Hard
\+ Attractive
\+ Long grained - rigid
\+ FSC
- Very abrasive
- Takes 90yrs to grow
Furniture

Question 17

Give some positives (3) and some negatives (1) of Mahogany and examples of it in use (2).

Answer 17

\+ Very dense
\+ Hard to damage
\+ Attractive
- Not FSC
Laboratory and bar tops.

Question 18

Give some positives (1) and some negatives (1) of Teak and examples of it in use (1).

Answer 18

+ Lasts 50yrs with no treatment outside then treated to last another 50yrs.
-Not FSC
Outside furniture.

Question 19

What are some properties of man made woods?

Answer 19

Dimensionally accurate - constant thickness and stable
Available in large sizes
Not necessarily cheap - plywood is more expensive than solid wood.

Question 20

Give some positives (4) of MDF and examples of it in use (3). What is it made from?

Answer 20

\+ Made from unusable wood dust
\+ Cheap
\+ Very dense
\+ Very strong
Used for vacuum forming (as has no grain), model making and table tops (but needs covering).

Question 21

Give some positives (2) and some negatives (1) of Plywood and examples of it in use (1).

Answer 21

\+ Durable
\+ Has a veneer of wood
- Expensive
Furniture 
Layers of wood glued together by formaldehyde glue in opposite grain directions. an odd number of layers are used so have same grain on each side.