MaterialsPractical Woodworking

National 4 & 5

Wood There is an enormous selection of

different timbers available. This range can be split into two groups:

Softwoods

Hardwoods

Softwoods Timbers which come from trees that

are coniferous (evergreen)

Needle like leaves

Seeds found in cones

Most grow fast

Red Pine Yellow/white

softwood Straight grain Cheap Lightweight Easy to work with Use for exterior and

interior work Suitable for turning

White Pine Yellow/white

softwood Cheap Lightweight Easy to work with Use for exterior and

interior work Suitable for turning Used in construction

Spruce Pale brown/red Small knots Cheap Fairly strong Easy to work Very resistant to

splitting Lightweight Use for interior work

Larch Pale Red Heavy Hard Good water

resistance Easy to work Used in construction

and flooring

Cedar Light brown

softwood Lots of knots Durable Good water

resistance Medium weight Low strength Easy to work Used for furniture

and veneers

Douglas Fir Pale Yellow/white

softwood Straight grain Knot free Lightweight Fairly strong Splits easily Use for exterior

work and plywood

Hardwoods Come from trees which are deciduous

Have broad leaves that shed in the winter

Slow growing

Have few knots

Mahogany Red/brown

hardwood Strong Good water

resistance Easy to work and

machine Used for furniture

and veneers

Oak Pale yellow/brown

hardwood Heavy Hard and strong Expensive Can corrode steel

screws from acid Boat building,

barrels, high end furniture and floors

Ash

Pale brown hardwood

Expensive Strong Uses include

veneers and furniture

Walnut Dark brown

hardwood Cross grain makes

planning difficult Strong Can be used both

indoors and out for high end furniture and exterior joinery

Beech Pale yellow

hardwood Hard and heavy Good for machining Not suitable for

outdoors Suitable for tool

handles, worktops, furniture and floors

Teak Brown hardwood Hard and strong Straight grain Difficult to glue

because of oil in wood

Used in high end furniture, lab benches and ship decking

Man-made Boards Wide boards of hardwood and softwood

are expensive and can warp

Available in large boards

Does not warp

Cost less to buy

Chipboard Gluing chips of

wood together under heat and pressure

Veneer and plastic laminate faced chipboard common

Use for worktops, shelves and furniture making

Hardboard Made by mixing wood

fibres together with resin glue and water then pressed into sheets

Not very strong Usually used to

support timber frames

Found in drawers and cabinets

MDF Medium Density

Fibreboard Compressed under

great pressure Cheap, strong, easily

shaped and finished Used for all types of

furniture, kitchen worktops etc.

Laminated for ease of washing

Plywood Layers or plies of

wood glued together

Grain of ply laid at right angles to the next

Strong Used for back of

cabinets, drawers and lightweight box construction

Blockboard Sandwich of

softwood strips between two plies

Cheaper to manufacture than plywood

Lightweight and strong

Used for doors and box construction