1. Softwoods, Hardwoods and Manufactured Boards
Objective:
To understand the differences between the 3 categories of wood.
To Know a ranges of examples of each category and their properties.

2. They are often used as building material.
Softwood
These are usually softer and easy to work
They mainly grow in a cooler climate like Canada
The trees grow tall and straight which makes it
easier for the manufacturer to cut long straight planks of wood
These cone baring trees are called conifers
Evergreen trees which means they do not lose there leaves.
They have a looser grain structure
These grow quite faster and so are cheaper
They are often used as building material.
Coniferous trees.
They don’t lose their needles.
They have needles instead of leaves.
These grow quite faster and so are cheaper.
The are often used as building material.
The trees grow tall and straight which makes it
easier for the manufacturer to cut long straight planks of wood
Coniferous trees.
They don’t lose their needles.
They have needles instead of leaves.
These grow quite faster and so are cheaper.
The are often used as building material.
The trees grow tall and straight which makes it
easier for the manufacturer to cut long straight planks of wood
Coniferous trees.
They don’t lose their needles.
They have needles instead of leaves.
These grow quite faster and so are cheaper.
The are often used as building material.
The trees grow tall and straight which makes it
easier for the manufacturer to cut long straight planks of wood
Coniferous trees.
They don’t lose their needles.
They have needles instead of leaves.
These grow quite faster and so are cheaper.
The are often used as building material.
The trees grow tall and straight which makes it
easier for the manufacturer to cut long straight planks of wood

3. Hardwood These are usually quite hard.
You can have evergreen hardwood trees which do not lose there leaves and Deciduous tress which loses there leaves in winter
they are broad leave trees and the seed are
enclosed in the fruit that the tree produces
tend to have a tighter grain
They generally grow in temperate climates including the British Isles
they can be very Expensive.
They are slower growing trees it can take 100 years to grow fully
Most evergreens are found in tropical or sub-tropical countries such as South America

4. Softwood or Hardwood?
The terms softwoods and hardwoods are used to describe the leaves, seeds and structure of the trees. It is not used to describe the type of wood produced e.g. Balsa is light and very soft to use. It is used to make light weight models. It is however a hardwood. Yew is a coniferous tree but is heavy and hard to use like some hardwoods.

5. Manufactured boards are timber sheets which are produced by gluing wood layers or wood fibers together
Manufactured Boards
Boards are available in many thicknesses
Boards are inexpensive so are often used instead of real woods
Manufactured boards are often made using waste wood
Manufactured boards have been developed mainly for industrial production as they can be made in very large sheets of consistent quality
Manufactured boards are often covered with a thin layer of real wood which is called veneer this improves their appearance or properties.

6. Red cedar Red cedar is a softwood.
It is commonly found in North America.
It is used for cladding buildings.
Natural oils make it durable against the weather, insects and rot
It is not very strong.
© Folens 2009

7. Oak Oak is a hardwood. Oak is hard, and very strong.
It is used for expensive furniture.
Oak timber is in short supply, and therefore expensive.
In the past, in much of Europe oak was over-forested for furniture, buildings, and ships.
It has a beige brown colour
It is durable and quite heavy
© Folens 2009

8. Reuse, recycling and disposal of wood
When wood rots in landfill or is burned, greenhouse gases are released, contributing to climate change.
Trees act as carbon ‘sinks’ that absorb the gases.
Approximately 25% of the fresh weight of timber is carbon.
If a forest grows at 10m3 per hectare per year, this is equivalent to 10 fresh tonnes of timber, or 2.5 tonnes of carbon.
Using a recycled timber product reduces deforestation and retains the locked-in carbon.
© Folens 2009

9. What wood are each of these products made from?
chipboard
Pine
Beech
Oak
Ash
Mahogany

10. Plenary 1.What manufactured board could be used for boat building?
2. If mahogany proves too expensive to use what would be an ideal substitute? 3. Give two examples of suitable hardwoods that may be used to make quality garden furniture? 4. Name one property of Teak which makes it difficult but not impossible to use? 5. Why is Western Red Cedar a suitable material to use in the construction of children's playgrounds? 6. Name a hardwood that is very soft (soft enough you can dent it with your fingers) and very light?
© Folens 2009