B. Timbers Flashcards by Mia Hickman

What is hardwood?

Hardwood is from a deciduous tree, usually a broad-leafed variety.

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What are the properties and uses of Ash?

Hardwood

Properties: Flexible, tough and shock resistant, laminates well

Colour: Pale brown

Uses: Sports equipment and tool handles

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What are the properties and uses of Mahogany?

Hardwood

Properties: Easily worked, durable and finishes well

Colour: Reddish brown

Uses: Flooring, furniture and joinery, veneers

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What are the properties and uses of Oak?

Hardwood

Properties: Tough, hard and durable, high quality finish

Colour: Light brown

Uses: Flooring, furniture, railway sleepers, veneers

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What are the properties and uses of Beech?

Hardwood

Properties: Fine finish, tough and durable

Colour: Beige with pink hue

Uses: Children’s toys and models, furniture, veneers

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What are the properties and uses of Balsa?

Hardwood

Properties: Soft and spongy, good strength to weight ratio

Colour: Pale cream/white

Uses: Prototyping and modelling

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What is a softwood?

Softwood is from a coniferous tree that usually bears needles and has cones

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What are the properties and uses of Pine?

Softwood

Properties: Lightweight, easy to work, can split and be resinous near knots

Colour: Pale yellowish brown

Uses: Interior construction, furniture

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What are the properties and uses of Spruce?

Softwood

Properties: Easy to work, high stiffness to weight ratio

Colour: Creamy white

Uses: Construction, furniture, musical instruments

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What are the properties and uses of Larch?

Softwood

Properties: Durable, tough, good water resistance, good surface finish

Colour: Pale reddish brown

Uses: Exterior cladding, decking, flooring, machine mouldings, furniture and joinery, railway sleepers, veneers

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What are manufactured timbers?

Sheets of processed timber waste products. They are made from waste wood, low grade timber and recycled timber

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What are the properties and uses of Chipboard?

Manufactured timber

Properties: Good comprehensive strength, not water resistant unless treated, good value but prone to chipping on edges

Uses: Flooring, low-end furniture, kitchen units, worktops

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What are the properties and uses of Medium Density Fibreboard (MDF)?

Manufactured timber

Properties: Rigid and stable, smooth and easy to finish surface. Absorbent, so not goof in high humidity

Uses: Good value, flatpack furniture, toys, kitchen units and internal construction

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What are the properties and uses of Plywood?

Manufactured timber

Properties: Stable in all directions due to alternating layers at 90 (outside layers run in the same direction)

Uses: Furniture, shelving, toys and construction. Interior, exterior and marine grades available

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Advantages of using manufactured timber over natural timber

Available in large board sizes which can reduce the number of joints
Cheaper than natural timber
A good insulator
Easily cut
Easily laminated to apply a wide range of finishes

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Disadvantages of using manufactured timber over natural timber

Dense, making it very heavy in large sheets
Due to its density and the adhesive used in production, it can quickly blunt blades
Resins and binders used can be toxic
Edges are difficult to finish due to no natural grain

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Why does newly cut timber need to be seasoned?

Green timber contains a lot of moisture. In order to reduce the moisture content, it needs to be seasoned

How does air seasoning work?

Air dried timber is separated and stacked under a protective roofed structure, with open sides so that the air can circulate.

How does kiln seasoning work?

The kiln is filled with steam and, and the moisture content is gradually reduced to dry out the wood. Expensive, but enables timber to be sold more quickly

How is MDF produced?

Waste wood is broken down into fibres and combined with a resin binder. It is then pressed into sheets that are dense and strong

How is Plywood produced?

Thin layers (veneers) of wood are glued together. Each layer has its wood grain rotated at 90.

How is Chipboard produced?

Wood chips of varying sizes are mixed with resin, pressed and formed into a sheet

How can softwoods and manufactured boards be made to look like more expensive hardwoods?

Boards could be laminated with a thin veneer of hardwood on the outer surface
Boards could be laminated with Formia (melanin formaldehyde)
Boards could be stained

Which timber is best for flat-packed furniture?

Manufactured boards
- More consistent than natural wood due to lack of knots or grain

Which timber is best for children's toys?

Beech or oak - Dense grain and can be sanded to a smooth surface, so there are no splinters

Which timber would be best for constructing a garden shed?

Larch - Tough - Durable - Water resistant due to natural oil content

How to join two pieces of wood together using wood screws

Need a hole to be pre-drilled through both pieces of wood - This hole (pilot hole) needs to be narrower than the diameter of the screw

Why are knock down fittings suitable for kitchen cabinets?

- KD fittings can be easily assembled with a simple selection of tools. - They provide a strong enough joint and are lightweight - Can be taken down without damaging the item

What is lamination?

Gluing or heat pressing several layers of wood to create a strong composite

Where is lamination used?

Laminated floor materials, office furniture and kitchen units

What is glulam?

Strips of wood are layered together with a strong adhesive. The grain runs along the length of the timber

What is glulam used for?

Glulam is a strong timber used for load bearing structures such as bridges and beams

What is an oil finish?

- Soaks into the timber - Replenishes natural oils that has been lost through exposure, age and wear and tear - Provides protection and some water resistance

What is a paint finish?

- Gives a colour finish and adds a layer of protection against weathering - Needs a primer on bare wood

What is a varnish finish?

- Transparent and enhances the natural grain of the timber - Protects from moisture - Can be colour tinted with oil stain; yellows over time

What is a wax finish?

- Protects from moisture - Enhances natural colour and gives it a deep shine - Applied with steel wool

What is a wood preservative?

Protects wood from fungal or insect attack. Helps prevent rot and decay. Needs regular application to maintain protection

What is a wood stain?

- Permanently stains wood; can be affected by base wood - Does not protect

What is tantalisation for?

To provide long-term protection against rot, fungal and insect attack

Where is tantalisation used?

Tantalised timber is used for outdoor applications to extend its life - usually for fencing, decking, walkways and footbridges

What is tantalisation?

The timber is pressure impregnated with wood preservative.

Why does timber need to be protected with an additional treatment and wood finish?

- Can prevent rot and reduce the chance of a fungal or insect attack - Have a surface treatment to protect from wear and tear