TIMBER (WOOD)

Types, Properties, Joints and Finishes

 Families of Wood
Softwood
• Coniferous / Evergreen
• Needles
• Cone Producing
• Fast Growing
• Widely Spaced Grain
• Easier to cut and work

• Pine
• Cedar
• Douglas Fir
 Families of Wood
Hardwood
• Deciduous
• Large leaves, lost in winter
• Slow Growing
• Denser Grain
• Harder to work but stronger
and more even

• Oak
• Beech
• Mahogany
• Teak
• Maple
 Families of Wood
Manufactured Boards
• Made out of softwoods or hardwoods
that have been industrially reconstituted
• Only available in large flat boards
• Made to be inexpensive (eg Chipboard)
or to improve the properties of the
material (eg strength – plywood)
• No Grain Direction
• Can be manufactured out of recycled
wood

• Chipboard
• MDF / HDF
• Plywood
• Blockboard
 Types of Wood Available
Timber is available in a variety
of market forms:
• Planks
Boards (1.8 m+ in length, 50-200
mm wide)
• Strips (1 m+ in length 22x22,
35x35, 47x47 mm PAR (Planed
All Round))
• Dowel (0.9 - 2.4 m in length,
diam.
4,6,9,12,15,18,21,25,28,34,38
mm)
• Mouldings (timber preformed
into different cross-sectional
shapes such as
skirting board).
Woods types commonly used in school:
• Pine – Softwood which is inexpensive,
easy to work and acquire with attractive
grain patterns
• Oak – Hardwood which is easily available
and hardwearing but relatively expensive
• Teak – Hardwood which is more
expensive and has to be imported but
has a pleasing colour and very dense
grain
• MDF – Manufactured board which is very
inexpensive and easy to work/machine
but looks dull
• Plywood – Manufactured board which is
strong in any direction and fairly
inexpensive. Looks good on the sides but
can be scruffy on the edges
 Methods of Joining wood
Joints: Adhesives:
Methods of cutting wood to For nearly Everything PVA (Poly Vinyl
increase the strength of the Acetate) is excellent as it is very
structure strong and inexpensive but it is water
based
Butt
Cascamite is a very strong waterproof
adhesive for wood
Lap
Screws:
Mitre Woodscrews provide a strong and
simple method of joining wood
Round Head Countersunk Head
Finger

Dovetail Slot Head Pozidrive

Head
 Methods of Joining wood
Knock Down Fittings:
Plastic or metal fixings
that allow wooden
products to be easily
assembled and
disassembled

Enables “Flat-packed”
products

Inexpensive and easy but

not strong, durable or
attractive
 Methods of Joining wood
Hinges: BUTT HINGE: Comes in a range of sizes from 13mm to 150mm
and is normally used for cabinet doors. They are very strong but
cannot be adjusted once they are fitted.
Brass or Steel
fixings that enable BUTTERFLY HINGE: This is often used on light-weight doors
and different shapes and patterns are available. They are
doors to be added generally easy to fit.

to wooden
products FLUSH HINGE: This type of hinge does not require a recess to
be cut. They are not as strong as butt hinges but can be used for
light-weight doors and small box construction.

BARREL HINGE: This comes in two parts. The threaded part of

the hinge is screwed into a pre-drilled hole. They are easy to fit
and the hinge can be dismantled.

CONCEALED HINGE: These normally come in two sizes (25mm

and 36mm. The hinge is adjustable once fitted and is designed
with chipboard and MDF in mind.

CONTINUOUS or PIANO HINGE: This is a hinge that comes in

different lengths and can be bought in brass or steel. It is ideal
where a long hinge is required such as a desk top or a cupboard
door. Small countersink screws are normally used to fix it in
position.
 Finishes for wood
Finishes are always applied to wood to
prevent it drying out and warping

Paint: is used for wood which is to be

exposed to high wear eg. Outdoors,
skirting boards. Oil based / Water based

Varnishes: Are used to protect the surface

of the wood to enhance the natural grain
of the wood e.g. Polyurethane

Beeswax or Linseed oil are used to bring

out the natural grain and seal the wood

Vegetable oils are used for food

preparation surfaces