Hardwoods vs Softwoods

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Questions and Answers

Which type of tree does hardwood primarily come from?

  • Coniferous Trees
  • Deciduous Trees (correct)
  • Palm Trees
  • Evergreen Trees

Softwoods are generally more expensive than hardwoods due to their slower growth rate.

False (B)

Name a common stock form for both natural timbers and man-made boards.

Planks

The process of reducing moisture in wood by stacking planks and allowing air to circulate is known as ______.

<p>air-drying</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following natural timbers with their key characteristics:

<p>Ash = Flexible, tough and shock resistant Beech = Fine finish, tough and durable Mahogany = Easily worked, durable, high quality finish Oak = Tough, durable and hard</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a characteristic of softwood?

<p>Often has pine cones (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Man-made boards are limited to the sizes that trees naturally grow to.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Name one advantage of using kiln-drying over air-drying for timber.

<p>Faster drying</p> Signup and view all the answers

The man-made board known as ______ is prone to chipping but has good compressive strength and is not water resistant.

<p>chipboard</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match each type of manufactured board with its description:

<p>Chipboard = Good compressive strength but prone to chipping and not water-resistant MDF = Rigid and stable, easy to finish, absorbs liquid easily Plywood = Very stable and utilizes exterior veneer often from more expensive woods</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a typical use for ash wood?

<p>Sports equipment and tool handles (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Lamination involves shredding wood and compressing it with adhesive under extreme pressure.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of seasoning wood after it is cut into planks?

<p>Reduce moisture</p> Signup and view all the answers

Softwoods originate from ______ trees, which typically have needle-like leaves.

<p>coniferous</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match each type of wood with its common applications:

<p>Mahogany = High-end furniture Pine = Cheap furniture, construction and decking Spruce = Musical instruments and construction</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic makes Balsa wood suitable for modeling?

<p>Very soft and spongy nature (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

MDF is highly water-resistant and suitable for outdoor use without additional treatment.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are the two primary processes used to create manufactured boards?

<p>Lamination and compression</p> Signup and view all the answers

The process of ______ involves layering woods and adhesive, typically with a more expensive wooden veneer on the top layer.

<p>lamination</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following softwoods with their key characteristics:

<p>Larch = Durable, tough, good water resistance and finishes well Pine = Light, easy to work with but can split Spruce = Easy to work with, high stiffness but can decay quickly</p> Signup and view all the answers

For what application is Oak wood commonly used?

<p>Flooring and veneers (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Compression in manufactured boards involves layering wood and adhesive.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of products is Beech wood used for?

<p>Toys, furniture, and veneers</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] is shredded, heated, and compressed with adhesive under extreme pressure.

<p>wood</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following manufactured boards with their typical uses:

<p>Chipboard = Flooring, Low-end furniture, Flat-pack furniture MDF = Flat-pack furniture and kitchen units Plywood = Shelving, furniture, toys</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes deciduous trees?

<p>They loose leaves in winter and grow fruit and flowers in spring (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Air drying is more costly than kiln-drying.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What makes man-made boards cheaper than timbers?

<p>They are manufactured</p> Signup and view all the answers

Trees are cut then converted into ______ by cut using saws.

<p>planks</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following natural timbers with their examples of uses:

<p>Larch = Furniture, flooring and used outdoors Balsa = Modelling Mahogany = High-end furniture</p> Signup and view all the answers

Decay risk is the main disadvantage of:

<p>Spruce (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Ash is the best material choice for furniture.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Besides sheets and planks, what is another stock form for both natural timbers and man-made boards?

<p>dowel</p> Signup and view all the answers

[Blank] wood is light and easy to work with but can split.

<p>pine</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following manufactured boards with their examples of uses:

<p>Chipboard = Flooring, Low-end furniture, Flat-pack furniture MDF = Flat-pack furniture and kitchen units Plywood = Shelving, furniture, toys</p> Signup and view all the answers

Wood for musical instruments are commonly made of:

<p>Spruce (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Man-made boards are more likely to depend on tree growth than timber wood.

<p>False (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What process involves wood being shredded, heated, and compressed with adhesive under extreme pressure?

<p>Compression</p> Signup and view all the answers

The seasoning process helps reduce the ______ in wood.

<p>moisture</p> Signup and view all the answers

Match the following reasons softwoods are cheaper than hardwoods

<p>Softwoods = More available</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Softwoods

Generally cheaper than hardwoods due to faster growth and greater availability.

Man-made boards

Cheaper than timbers because they are manufactured. More variety in sizes as they aren't dependent on tree growth.

Stock Forms (Timbers)

Sheets, dowels and planks.

Hardwoods

Come from deciduous trees that lose leaves in winter and grow fruit/flowers in spring.

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Ash

Flexible, tough, shock resistant; used for sports equipment and tool handles.

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Beech

Fine finish, tough, and durable; used for toys, furniture, and veneers.

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Mahogany

Easily worked, durable, high-quality finish; used for high-end furniture.

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Balsa

Very soft, spongy, and light; used for modeling.

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Oak

Tough, durable, and hard; used for flooring, furniture, and veneers.

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Softwoods source

Come from coniferous trees with needle-like leaves, pine cones, and sometimes nuts/seeds; grow all year round.

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Larch

Durable, tough, good water resistance, finishes well; used for furniture, flooring, and outdoor uses.

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Pine

Light, easy to work with, but can split; used for cheap furniture, construction, and decking.

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Spruce

Easy to work with, high stiffness but can decay quickly; used for furniture, musical instruments, and construction.

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Chipboard

Prone to chipping but good compressive strength; not water-resistant; used for flooring, low-end furniture, flat-pack.

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MDF

Rigid and stable, easy to finish, absorbs liquid easily; used for flat-pack furniture and kitchen units.

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Plywood

Very stable, exterior veneer can be used from more expensive woods; used for shelving, furniture, and toys.

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Air-drying

Planks are stacked and air is allowed to circulate, causing evaporation.

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Kiln-drying

Planks are put into a kiln and dried rapidly; more costly than air-drying.

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Lamination

Layers of woods and adhesive are layered and compressed, usually with a more expensive veneer on top.

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Compression (Wood)

Wood is shredded, heated, and compressed with adhesive under extreme pressure.

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Study Notes

  • Softwoods are generally cheaper than hardwoods because they are more available and grow quicker.
  • Man-made boards are cheaper than timbers because they are manufactured.
  • Man-made boards come in a better variety of sizes, an advantage that they do not depend on tree growth.
  • Stock forms for both hardwoods and softwoods include sheets, dowel, and planks.

Hardwoods

  • Hardwoods come from Deciduous Trees.
  • Deciduous trees loose leaves in the winter, and grow fruit and flowers in the spring.
  • Ash is flexible, tough and shock resistant, thus useful in sports equipment and tool handles
  • Beech has a fine finish and is tough and durable, so is used in toys, furniture, and veneers.
  • Mahogany is easily worked, durable, with a high quality finish, ideal for high-end furniture
  • Balsa is very soft and spongy and light, thus useful for modelling
  • Oak is tough, durable, and hard, so is used in flooring, furniture, and veneers.

Softwoods

  • Softwoods come from Coniferous Trees, which have thin, needle-like leaves and grow all year round.
  • Coniferous Trees often have pine cones and sometimes nuts and seeds.
  • Larch is durable, tough, with good water resistance and finishes well, this makes it useful in furniture, flooring, and outdoor applications
  • Pine is light and easy to work with, but can split, making it relevant for cheap furniture, construction, and decking
  • Spruce is easy to work with, has high stiffness, but can decay quickly, appropriate for furniture, musical instruments, and construction

Man-Made Boards

  • Manufactured boards are made from wood chips/dust/ layers and glue.
  • Chipboard is prone to chipping but offers good compressive strength and is not water resistant
  • Applications for chipboard include flooring, low-end furniture, and flat-pack items
  • MDF is rigid and stable, easy to finish, but absorbs liquid easily
  • MDF is used in flat-pack furniture and kitchen units
  • Plywood is very stable, and exterior veneer can be used from more expensive woods
  • Plywood is used to make Shelving, furniture, and toys

Primary Processing

  • Trees are cut then converted into planks by using saws.
  • Wood is seasoned to reduce moisture content through air-drying or kiln-drying.
  • Air-drying involves stacking planks and allowing air to circulate, causing evaporation.
  • Kiln-drying involves placing planks in a kiln for rapid drying, but it is more costly than air-drying.
  • Manufactured boards are made by lamination or compression.
  • Lamination involves layering wood and adhesive, compressing them together; often uses more expensive wooden veneer on top.
  • Compression involves shredding, heating, and compressing wood with adhesive under extreme pressure.

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