AQA GCSE Chapter 9 Natural and Manufactured Woods

Vocabulary terms and definitions regarding the properties, uses, and manufacturing processes of natural and manufactured woods based on the AQA GCSE curriculum.

Deciduous trees

Trees that generally lose their leaves in the winter and produce hardwoods with a less porous and denser cell structure.

Coniferous trees

Evergreen trees that do not lose their leaves in the winter and produce softwoods, which generally have a more porous cell structure than hardwoods.

Hardwood growth rate

Growth occurs at a slow rate, taking between $80-100$ years for the tree to reach maturity.

Softwood growth rate

Growth occurs quickly, taking between $25-30$ years to reach full maturity, making them a sustainable and renewable material.

Mahogany

A hardwood with a rich reddish brown colour used in high end joinery and furniture.

Beech

A hard, strong, tough, and durable hardwood that can be prone to warping and splitting; used for furniture, children's toys, and bench tops.

Ash

A tough, flexible, and shock resistant hardwood that laminates and finishes well; used for sports equipment such as Hurling sticks and tool handles.

Oak

A tough, hard, and durable hardwood that is expensive and finishes to a high standard; used for flooring, timber framed buildings, high quality furniture, and doors.

Pine

A softwood that is easy to work with and has a straight grain but can have many knots and is prone to twisting; used for interior joinery, furniture, and window frames.

Manufactured boards

Man made boards made by chopping softwood trees and recycled wood into chips or fibres, mixing them with adhesive, and pressing them into sheet form.

Plywood

A board made by gluing several layers of veneer on top of each other, each at $90$ degrees to the previous one, using an odd number of layers for consistent strength.

Veneer

A layer added to manufacturing boards to improve their aesthetics and appearance.

Larch

A tough, durable softwood with a natural resistance to rot, suitable for use in making garden sheds.

Spruce

A specific type of softwood listed alongside Pine and Larch.

MDF and Chipboard

Two specific types of manufactured boards mentioned in addition to plywood.

Seasoning

The correct preparation process for natural wood to prevent it from warping, twisting, or cracking.