Natural and manufactured timber

Question 1

Where do softwoods come from?

Answer 1

Coniferous trees (evergreen)
Less expensive

Question 2

Where do hardwoods come from?

Answer 2

Deciduous trees (leaves fall in autumn, take longer to grow, more durable, more expensive.)

Question 3

What is seasoning?

Answer 3

When the moisture of the timber is reduced after converted into planks.

Question 4

What is green timber?

Answer 4

Newly-felled timber containing lots of moisture.

Question 5

What is air seasoning?

Answer 5

When the timber is dried out by air.
Process takes years.

Question 6

What is kiln seasoning?

Answer 6

Timber is housed in a kiln where steam dries the timber.
Very quick.

Question 7

What is felling?

Answer 7

Cutting down trees.

Question 8

What are the possible defects of timber?

Answer 8

Shrinkage = uncontrolled drying.
Splits = Ends of timber if drying not controlled.
shakes = Cracks from uncontrolled drying.
Knots = Weaken timber and lead to decay. (Branches on trees)
Fungal attack = Left unseasoned.

Question 9

Types of hardwood?

Answer 9

Oak = open-grained timber.
Beech = Closed-grained timber, doesn’t splinter.
Mahogany = Interlocking grain.

Question 10

Types of softwoods?

Answer 10

Red Cedar = Resistant to weathering & decay. Straight grain.
Pine = Light, strong, prone to knots.

Question 11

What are manufactured boars?

Answer 11

Sheets of timber that have been manufactured to give certain properties.

Question 12

Describe the life cycle of timber?

Answer 12

Tree planted -> felled -> transported -> converted into useful sizes -> transported to factory -> manufactured -> retailer -> user -> composted or landfill.

Question 12

What are some types of Manufactued boards?

Answer 12

MDF = Compressed wood fibres bonded with resin. (Cheap)
Plywood = Wood veneers glued with ALTERNATING grain. (Strong)
Chipboard = Wood chips bonded with resin. (Weak and cheap)
Hardboard = Compressed wood fibres bonded with resin. One smooth & one textured side. (cheap)

Question 13

What are the benches in the workshop made of?

Answer 13

Beech

Question 14

What is laminated timber?

Answer 14

Layers of parallel timber laminations, normally softwoods.

Question 15

What are manufactured boards?

Answer 15

Like plywood are much stiffer.

Question 16

What is the grain of plywood?

Answer 16

Each layer is at a 90 degree angle so the grain is in alternating direction. This makes it stronger.

Question 17

What are the methods of joining and fixing timbers?

Answer 17

Nailing
Screwing
Butt joint
Glue (PVA)

Question 18

butt joints good?

Answer 18

Simplest method but is weak.

Question 19

What are veneers?

Answer 19

Thin sheets of wood.
Constructional = typically from plywood
Decorative = Applied to boards to enhance appearance.

Question 20

What is a jig?

Answer 20

A device that is specially made to perform a specific part of the process.

Question 21

Advantages of jigs?

Answer 21

Speed up the manufacturing process.
Reduce the risk of human error.
Make the process safer.
Increase accuracy and consisteny.
Reduce wastage.

Question 22

Disadvantages of jigs?

Answer 22

Increase initial cost of the part.
Require high level of skill.

Question 23

What is continuous flow production?

Answer 23

When identical products are being constantly made due to high demand.

Question 24

What is CAM (Computer aided machinery)?

Answer 24

Laser cutter cuts thin sections of timber from a computer aided design.

Question 25

What can you use for a more accurate cut line?

Answer 25

Marking knife.

Question 26

What gives you an accurate 90 degree line to an edge?

Answer 26

A try square.

Question 27

What can give an accurate 45 degree angle and what can be set to any angle?

Answer 27

Mitre Square (45) Sliding Bevel (any)

Question 28

What produces a single parallel line and what makes a double parallel line?

Answer 28

Marking gauge. (S) Mortise gauge. (D)

Question 29

What saw will cut straight lines in wood?

Answer 29

A tenon saw.

Question 30

What saw is used for cutting large pieces of wood and what is used for curves?

Answer 30

A hand saw A coping saw

Question 31

What mechanical saws can speed up the process and accuracy?

Answer 31

Bandsaws and scroll saws.

Question 32

How do you shape wood?

Answer 32

Surform or wood rasp

Question 33

What can be used to shape the wood and cutt joints?

Answer 33

Chisels

Question 34

What joint is difficult to produce but provides good strength?

Answer 34

dovetail joint

Question 35

What are Epoxy resins?

Answer 35

Used to join wood to other materials such as metals and polymers.

Question 36

What fittings are for furniture?

Answer 36

KD (knock-down) fittings enable furniture to be sold unassembled.

Question 37

How can complex curves be formed in wood?

Answer 37

From laminating and steam bending. It is steamed for hours and then clamped in a mould.

Question 38

What is laminating?

Answer 38

Gluing veneers on natural timber in between two halves of a mould.

Question 39

What are the main types of finishes?

Answer 39

Varnishes = Good protection. Oils = Reasonable protection, but not long lasting. Wax = Low Level protection. Paints = High level of protection. Veneer = improves appearance.