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