Timbers Flashcards
Shrinkage
Twists, warps, cups and/or bow timber when timber drying is uncontrolled
Splits
Occur at ends of timber if drying process is not controlled
Shakes
Cracks in timber due to uncontrolled drying OR if felled tree hits ground
Knots
When branch grows from tree trunk
Weaken timber, lead to decay, release resin which makes applying a finish difficult
Fungal attack
When timber is left unseasoned
Fungus cause disease and ruin wood
Types of defects
Shrinkage, Splits, Shakes, Knots, Fungal attack
Jelutong
Close grained, pail colour, medium hardness and toughness, easily worked
e.g. pattern making
Beech
Hard, strong, close-grained, light brown with flecks of brown, prone to warping and splitting, difficult to work
e.g. furniture, children’s toys, tool handles, bench tops
Mahogany
Strong, durable, deep reddish colour, available in wind planks, fairly easily worked but can have interlocking grain
e.g. good quality furniture, panelling, veneers
Oak
Hard, tough, durable, open-grained, can be finished to a high standard
e.g. high-quality furniture, flooring
Balsa
Lightweight, soft, easily worked, pale, weak, not very durable
e.g. model making, floats, rafts
Western Red Cedar
Resistant to weathering and decay, light reddish-brown colour, close straight grain, easily worked
e.g. fencing
Scots Pine
Straight grained, light yellow, soft, easy to work, can be knotty
e.g. interior joinery and furniture, window frames
Parana Pine
Distinctive open straight grain, contains few knots, strong, durable
e.g. internal joinery, staircases
Manufactured boards
Commercially produced timber sheets
