TIMBER

TIMBER:
The wood which is suitable or fit for
engineering construction or engineering
purpose is called timber.

WOOD:

The organic matter obtained from trees is

called wood.

LUMBER:

The sawed wood meant for construction in the

form of boards is called lumber.
TYPES OF TREES:
Trees are classified into two groups depending upon
growth pattern.
(1) Endogenous trees:
The trees which grow inwards in longitudinal fibrous
mass are called endogenous trees.

(2) Exogenous tress :

The trees which grow in out wards across horizontal
section of stem are called exogenous trees.
These trees are only fit for engineering construction.
 Exogenous trees are again subdivided in to two types.

 Conifers or Evergreen:
 They give soft wood.
 They have pointed leaves.
Examples:
 Deodar

 Pine

 Chir

 Kail,etc

 Deciduous:
 These have hard wood.
 These have broad leaves.
Examples:
 Teak
 Sal
 Shisham, etc.
SEASONING OF TIMBER:
AS FRESH TIMBER WHICH IS OBTAINED FROM TREES
CONTAINS ABOUT 30 TO 40 % SAP OR MOISTURE. THIS
SAP IS VERY HARMFUL FOR THE LIFE OF A TIMBER.
THEREFORE, IT IS NECESSARY TO REMOVE THAT SAP BY
APPLYING SOME SPECIAL METHODS. ALL THOSE
METHODS WHICH ARE USED FOR REMOVING THE SAP
FROM TIMBER ARE COLLECTIVELY TERMED AS
SEASONING OF TIMBER.

ADVANTAGES OF SEASONED TIMBER:

IT HAS REDUCED WEIGHT,
IT IS STRONG AND DURABLE,
IT HAS RESISTANCE TO DECAY OR ROT,
IT TAKES HIGH POLISH,
IT IS EASIER TO WORK,
ITS LIFE IS MORE.
Types of Timber Seasoning:
The main types of timber seasoning are as under.
(1)Natural Seasoning,

(2)Artificial Seasoning,

(a) Kiln Seasoning,

(b) Chemical Seasoning,
(c) Electric Seasoning,
(3) Water Seasoning,
(1) Natural Seasoning:
In the air seasoning or natural seasoning
or natural drying, seasoning of timber,
timber is dried by direct action of air,
wind and sun. In this method, the timber
logs are arranged one over the other,
keeping some space or distance between
them for air circulation of fresh air.
Generally this type of seasoning requires
few months to over a year, this is very
slow process.
(2) ARTIFICIAL SEASONING
(a) Kiln Seasoning,
(b) Chemical Seasoning,
(c) Electric Seasoning,
(a) Kiln Seasoning:
In kiln seasoning timber is placed in a
chamber with some special heating
arrangement.
In this process one thing should be kept in
mind that heating system should be under
control, other wise timber will be crack or
wrap. The time required for this seasoning is 3
to 12 days. This is quick process.
KILN SEASONING
(b) Chemical Seasoning:
In chemical seasoning carbon
dioxide, ammonium carbonate or
urea are used as agents for
seasoning, those are applied in
dry state, the inter surface of
timber dries first than outer side.
This ensures uniform seasoning.
The time required for this
seasoning is 30 to 40 days.
(c) Electric Seasoning:
In this method electric
current is passed through the
timber logs. The time
required for this seasoning is
05 to 08 hours.
ELECTRIC SEASONING
(3) Water Seasoning:
In water seasoning, timber logs are
kept immersed whole in the flowing
water. The sap present in timber is
washed away. After that logs are
taken out from water and are kept
in open air, so water present in
timber would be dried by air. The
time required for this type of
seasoning is 2 to 4 weeks.
USES OF TIMEBR:
Timber is used in:
1. Building construction,
2. Construction of house posts,
3. Construction of beams,
4. Construction of rafters,
5. Construction of bridges,
6. Construction of piles, poles and railway sleepers
7. For furniture making,
8. For light packing cases,
9. For high packing cases (for machinery and
similar stores),
10. For manufacturing of agricultural implements,

11. For making toys, etc,

12. For manufacturing of veneers and ply woods.

VENEER:
Thin sheet of uniform thickness of wood is called
veneer.

PLYWOOD:
Veneers used for making plywood are known as
plies and ply wood is made by gluing together
plies in odd numbers. Gluing is done under
pressure.
 DEFECTS IN TIMBER:
Most common defects in timber are:
1. Heart Shakes
2. Star Shakes
3. Cup Shakes
4. Radial Shakes
5. Rind Galls
6. Wind Cracks
7. Knots
8. Dead Wood
(1) Heart Shakes:
These are splits occurring in the centre of
the tree and running from the pith (inner
most part) to wards the sap wood from the
medullary (vascular tissues) rays.
In some timbers, these splits are hardly
visible and in some timbers these are quite
permanent.
Heart shakes are caused due to shrinkage of
interior parts due to age. A heart shake
straight across the trunk is not a serious
defect.
Heart Shakes
 Medullary Rays:
These are thin horizontal veins radiating from
the pith to wards the bark. These carry sap from
outer side to inner side.
(2) Star Shakes:
These are splits which radiate from the centre of
the timber or from the bark (outer side), running
in the planes of medullary rays.
These occur due to severe frost or scorching heat
of the sun.
(3) Cup Shakes:
These are curved splits which
separate the whole or part of
one annual ring from an other.
These are caused due to the
unequal growth of the timber.
Cup Shakes
(4) Radial Shakes:
These are similar to the star
shakes and occur in felled
timber when exposed to the sun
during seasoning.
Radial shakes are generally
irregular, fine and numerous.
In this many splits are
appeared.
Radial Shakes
Radial Shakes
(5) Rind Galls:
These are typical enlarged
swellings and occur due to
branches cut-off.
Rind Galls
Rind Galls
(6) Wind Cracks:
These are shakes or splits
on the sides of a bark of
timber due to shrinkage of
exterior surface exposed to
atmospheric influence.
Wind Cracks
(7) Knots:
These are the roots of the small branches of the
tree. These are not harmful.

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Knots
 Dead Wood:
(8)

It is the deficient in
strength and weight and is
the result of trees being
felled after maturity.

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DETERIORATION OF TIMBER
(OR)
DECAY OF TIMBER:
DETERIORATION OF TIMBER
(OR)
DECAY OF TIMBER:
There are so many agencies which may cause
decay of timber. But there are three main
harmful agencies which cause timber decay.
(1) Decay or Rot:
Decay or rot of timber is the result of the
activity of various bacterias and fungi, which
utilize various portions of timber as food; they
require both oxygen and excess moisture.
Hence timber having moisture content below
25 % will not rot easily.
(2) Insects:
There are so many insects which
attack the wood, out of them
termites (white ants) are the
main insects which are very
dangerous for timber. Termites
of one class live under ground
and eat wood and forms tubes or
tunnels inside it.
(3) Fire:
Fire is also the damaging
factor for timber. As timber
has tendency to burn, so
fire can damage it easily.
PRESERVATION
OF
TIMBER

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TIMBER PRESERVATIVES:
There are three main classes of timber
preservatives.
(1) Oily substances insoluble in water
(2) Water soluble salts
(1)Oily substances insoluble
in water:
Coal tar oil is the best known and widely used
preservative material of this class. It is obtained
during the destructive distillation of bituminous
coal. It is available in many grades and types. It
has high degree of penetration. It has highly toxic
effect to wood destroying fungi.
(2) Water soluble salts:
Zinc chloride is the most extensively used
preservative of this type. It is clean and
odourless.
SPECIAL PAINTS TO SAVE TIMBER
FROM FIRE:
Following paints are used to save
timber from fire.
 Diammonium phosphate,
 Mono ammonium phosphate,
 Mono magnesium phosphate,
 Phosphoric acid.
METHODS OF APPLYING
PRESERVATIVES:
Before applying preservatives, the timber should
be completely seasoned.
There are some important methods of applying
timber preservatives which are given below.
1.Painting and dipping method

2.Pressure process or full cell process

3.Empty cell process

(1) Painting and dipping method:
This is the most common method in which the
preservative material is applied by means of a
brush several times. The timber is also immersed
in a tank full of liquid (preservative material). In
both types the penetration hardly exceeds 1/16’’.
The duration of immersion and temperature of
solution is increased the penetration rate.
(2) Pressure process or full cell process:
In this process, the timber is placed in an air
tight chamber, from which air is with drawn
by creating a vacuum. The cells are full
emptied to receive preservative material.
After that preservative material is pumped
under pressure of 100 to 200 psi and at a
temperature of 120degreeF. As the timber
contains required quantity of preservative a
low vacuum is maintained to remove excess
preservative. Such a timber is generally used
in case of plies in salt water and railway
sleepers.
(3) Empty cell process:
This method is similar to the full cell process
but initial vacuum is not to be maintained and
no attempt is to be made to remove the air
from cells. The preservative material is
applied under pressure of 200 psi.