Wood Wood is one of the most adaptable and versatile of materials. It has been used in manufacture for thousands of years. Examples of wooden products are: a) b) c)

Wood Advantages: Strong in proportion to its weight Easy to shape and join Aesthetically pleasing (Looks good) Warm to the touch (A good insulator) IT IS SUSTAINABLE/RENEWABLE

Wood General Properties of Wood Disadvantages: Can warp and shrink Can Split along its grain Needs protecting from insect/fungal attack and moisture

Wood The structure of wood Wood obtains its properties from the structural growth of the tree. Wood has good general properties along its grain but very weak across the end grain.

Wood Conversion

Wood Manufactured board To offer a range of wood products which have different characteristics (properties) than natural timber, processed boards such as Plywood is manufactured. Benefits include: Video: Making MDF Block board Plywood Birch faced ply Chipboard Hardboard M.D.F.

Wood Manufactured board Advantages They come in large sheets They can overcome the physical weakness of natural wood i.e. Plywood They can use all the tree, therefore no wastage i.e. MDF and chipboard Stable Uniform in appearance Uniform in thickness SEE SHEET

Wood Softwood : These are generally described as EVERGREENS, they are trees which do not lose their leaves in the autumn. They are fast growing, have needle leaves and bear cones with seeds. Softwood trees grow well in cooler climates like Scandinavia. Examples: a) b) c) d)

Wood Softwood White spruce Parana pine Douglas fir Cedar Giant Redwood

Wood Hardwoods These are 'Broad leaf' trees which are slower growing and bear fruit. Hardwood trees can be sub divided into: DECIDUOUS: Those which lose their leaves in autumn. Examples: a) b) c)

Wood Walnut Apple Beech Maple Oak Ash Cherry

Wood Tropical Evergreens: These are Hardwoods which grow in tropical rainforests. Examples a) b) c) Padauk Iroko Mahogany Purple Heart Sapele Bubinga Zebrano

Wood Seasoning A growing tree contains more than its own dry weight in water. Seasoning reduces the moisture content of the timber to less than 20% by either AIR SEASONING or KILN SEASONING. The purpose of seasoning is to: reduce the risk from decay and rot increase the timber’s strength and prevents shrinkage and warping Air dry seasoning Kiln seasoning

Wood schools/resmat/woodjoints/ s.htm

Wood Box Joints

Wood Box Joints

Wood Knock down fittings Traditional joining methods are often unsuitable for MDF or chipboard. Flat packed furniture made from these materials is often held together with knock down fittings. An advantage of knock down fitting is they can be put together and taken apart an unlimited amount of times.

Wood Knock down fittings

Wood Flat packed furniture Furniture brought today often comes flat packed. Flat packed furniture is very popular because: Consumers do not have to wait for their furniture to be delivered as it is usually small enough to be stored Transport costs are reduced Manufacturing costs are reduced because the product is assembled by the consumer Furniture is often cheaper because of low transport, storage and labour costs The consumer often finds satisfaction in assembling the furniture

Wood Flat packed furniture

Wood Video: Laminating L aminating

Wood Laminating

Wood Finishes Finishes are applied to wood for two main reasons: 1) To improve the looks of the wood 2) To protect it from Dampness and fungal attack. Examples of Wood Finishes are: Varnish, paint, French polish, wax, stain Finishes for manufactured boards MDF and chipboard is often made more attractive by using laminates (melamine formaldehyde). Laminates can also protect man made boards if they are going to be used in a damp environment or subjected to heat. Laminates can make the board look like a different material or change its colour.

Wood The stages of finishing wood are: 1) Plane wood to make smooth 2) Sand using 80 grit glass paper 3)Sand using 120 grit glass paper 4)Sand using 240 grit glass paper 5)Apply thin coat of finish 6)Allow to dry 7)Sand using 240 grit glass paper 8)Apply thin coat of finish 9)Allow to dry

Wood Types of Woods and their uses Hardwoods/Softwoods

Wood CNC Production CNC production is used to make furniture in large quantities. The advantages of CNC production are: Quicker Accurate No human error Machines can run 24 hours a day Safe for the machine operator Video

Wood CNC Production Manufactured boards are often used with this form of production because: They come in large sheets Quality control - they are uniform in appearance so do not have to be checked for imperfections They are uniform in thickness