Timbers

Question 1

What happens to tree trunks once they have been cut down?

Answer 1

they are stripped of their bark and cut into usable planks in a sawmill

Question 2

What effect does the way a plank is cut have on it?

Answer 2

affects its risk of warping or twisting
the more complex the cut, the costlier the timber

Question 3

What are the 3 types of cuts?

Answer 3

through and through
quarter
baulk

Question 4

Describe the through and through cut.

Answer 4

a method of cutting a log where the log is cut parallel to the grain, producing a series of boards

Question 5

describe the quarter cut.

Answer 5

The log is first quartered, and then each quarter is sliced perpendicular to the growth rings

Question 6

describe a baulk cut.

Answer 6

a square or rectangular cross section cut from the log

Question 7

What are the characteristics of a through and through cut?

Answer 7

cost-effective
quick
can warp and twist easily
general use

Question 8

What are the characteristics of a quarter cut?

Answer 8

complex
expensive
creates a lot of waste
high-quality cut
used in high-quality furniture

Question 9

What are the characteristics of a baulk cut?

Answer 9

very simple cut
not very versatile
used in posts and beams

Question 10

What is seasoning and why is it done?

Answer 10

newly cut timber contains a lot of moisture which makes it liable to rot, split and warp
to counteract this, the moisture is removed through seasoning

Question 11

What are the 2 types of seasoning?

Answer 11

air
Kiln

Question 12

How does air seasoning work?

Answer 12

planks are stacked under a roofed, unwalled shelter and separated by stickers (thin pieces of wood) to allow for air to circulate between the planks

Question 13

What is a pro and a con of air seasoning?

Answer 13

cost-effective
takes a long time

Question 14

How does Kiln seasoning work?

Answer 14

carried out the same way as air seasoning but heat, steam and pressure are used to speed up the drying process
the moisture in the kiln is reduced gradually to avoid damage to the timber

Question 15

What is a pro and con of kiln seasoning?

Answer 15

faster than air seasoning
more expensive than air seasoning

Question 16

What woods are used for wooden toys and why?

Answer 16

hardwoods such as beech and oak because of their hardness and durability
they are also easy to paint and unlikely to break into small parts that may pose choking hazards

Question 17

What woods are used in flat-pack furniture and why?

Answer 17

manufactured boards as they are cheaper than natural woods and easy to assemble and disassemble for transportation
they can also be finished with veneers to achieve different looks

Question 18

What is planing of timber?

Answer 18

it is removing 2-3mm of material from each side of the timber to make it smoother

Question 19

what are differences between flat-pack and solid wood furniture?

Answer 19

flat-pack is generally not as strong or durable
it is also prone to moisture damage
however it is usually cheaper

Question 20

what are 2 ways in which timber is available and what are their differences?

Answer 20

rough-cut and planed
planed is smoother, but more expensive

Question 21

What are mouldings?

Answer 21

specially shaped section of wood that are commonly used for frames, frames around doorways and windows and skirting boards

Question 22

What are 3 types of hinges?

Answer 22

butt
flush
concealed

Question 23

What are knock-down fittings?

Answer 23

joints that are often used in the assembly of flat-pack furniture

Question 24

What are 3 types of knock-down fittings?

Answer 24

corner block fitting
cam lock
scan fitting

Question 25

What are 3 ways of finishing a wood product?

Answer 25

painting varnishing tanalising

Question 26

How do you prepare the wood for painting?

Answer 26

clean and sand the wood to provide a smooth and clean surface prime the wood with a preparatory coating to help seal the wood so paint sticks to surface better

Question 27

What are the 2 types of paint and what are their properties?

Answer 27

oil-based: hard-wearing and water-resistant, but take a long time to dry water-based: not very durable, but easy to work with and dry quickly

Question 28

What is varnish?

Answer 28

a translucent liquid which provides a hard, protective finish to the wood

Question 29

What is tanalising?

Answer 29

adding preservatives to the wood to protect the wood from rot, decay and insects

Question 30

Describe the process of tanalising.

Answer 30

1) wood is placed into the tank and a vacuum is created by drawing all the air out 2) the tank is flooded with preservative treatment 3) pressure is applied, forcing the preservatives deep into the wood 4) excess preservatives is drained from the tank and the wood is left to dry

Question 31

What is a rip saw used for?

Answer 31

used to cut parallel to the wood grain

Question 32

what is a cross-cut saw used for?

Answer 32

used to cut against the wood grain

Question 33

What is a tenon saw used for?

Answer 33

to cut accurate straight lines in small pieces of wood and provide a smooth cut

Question 34

What is a hacksaw used for?

Answer 34

used to cut through metals and plastics and is available in smaller size (jr.)

Question 35

What is a coping saw used for?

Answer 35

to cut intricate curves in thin materials (e.g. wood and plastics), but is difficult to control and blade can snap easily

Question 36

What are the 2 types of drills?

Answer 36

power drill pillar drill

Question 37

What is chiselling?

Answer 37

involves forcing a chisel into the target material (using a hammer or mallet) to carve or cut it

Question 38

What are 2 ways to sand wood?

Answer 38

using a belt sander or using sanding paper

Question 39

What are 2 ways of bending wood?

Answer 39

lamination and steam bending

Question 40

How is lamination used to bend wood?

Answer 40

to bend the wood, layers of wood are glued and then clamped into the desire position when the glue is completely dry, the wood is removed and retains its shape

Question 41

How is steam bending used to bend wood?

Answer 41

the wood is placed in a steam box once it has been steamed for a sufficient amount of time, it is placed around a former and clamped into position while it dries once dry, the wood is removed and holds its new shape