Natural and manufactured timbers

Question 1

What are natural timbers sorted into?

Answer 1

Two groups: Hardwoods and Softwoods

Question 2

What are softwoods?

Answer 2

Comes from coniferous trees (leaves don’t fall eg. Evergreen)

Question 3

Characteristics of softwoods

Answer 3

Quick growing, poor resistance to decay, less expensive than hardwood

Question 4

Types of Softwoods

Answer 4

Pine, Redwood, Spruce, Fir

Question 5

What are hardwoods

Answer 5

Comes from Deciduous trees (lose their leaves in the winter)

Question 6

Characteristics of Hardwoods

Answer 6

Trees have broad leaves, grows slower than softwood, generally more expensive, good resistance to decay

Question 7

Examples of hardwoods

Answer 7

Oak, Ash, Cherry, Maple, Beech

Question 8

Oak wood

Answer 8

Hard, tough, durable
Use: Timber framed buildings, high quality furniture

Question 9

Beech wood

Answer 9

Hard, strong, doesn’t splinter
Use: Childrens toys, furniture, benches

Question 10

Mahogany wood

Answer 10

Deep reddish brown colour, easy to work with
Use: High quality furniture

Question 11

Examples of manufactured timbers

Answer 11

Laminated Board
Compressed Board

Question 12

What are laminated boards

Answer 12

Several layers of wood glued together

Question 13

What are compressed boards

Answer 13

Particles, chips or flakes of wood glued together under pressure

Question 14

Advantages of manufactured timber

Answer 14

Available in large sheets
Less likely to twist, warp or split
Durable
Resistant to moisture
easier to handle
Cheaper

Question 15

Plywood

Answer 15

Made from several layers of veneer
Glued with grain placed at 90 degrees to the next
Use: Furniture, flooring, roofing, boat building

Question 16

MDF - Medium Density Fibreboard

Answer 16

made from fine fibres of low grade wood
glued under pressure together
Use: Self assembly furniture

Question 17

Chipboard

Answer 17

low grade wood chips which are glued together under pressure.
Use: Kitchen worktops covered with a polymer laminate