GCSE DT Timbers

What are softwoods?

They are woods from trees with needles and grow in colder climates. They grow quickly and tend to be cheaper than hardwoods

What are the properties of pine?

Strong, cheap, knotty so quite hard to work with

What is pine used for?

Fences and cheap furniture

What are the properties of larch?

Hard, tough, durable, resistant to rot

What is larch used for?

Decking and fence posts

What are the properties of spruce?

Hard, good strength to weight ratio, not very durable

What is spruce used for?

Structural purposes like on aircrafts and ship masts

What are hardwoods

They are woods from trees with leaves and usually grow in warm climates. They are generally more expensive and tend to have a tighter grain and are harder than softwoods

What are the properties of oak?

Tough, durable, strong, attractive grain markings

What is oak used for?

Interior panelling, flooring and furniture

What are the properties of mahogany?

Hard, durable, easy to work with, expensive

What is mahogany used for?

Good quality furniture, veneer, boat building

What are the properties of beech?

Quite hard so can resist dents, easy to work with

What is beech used for?

Toys and chairs

What are the properties of balsa?

Low density, very soft, easy to cut and shape, high strength to weight ratio

What is balsa used for?

Modelling

What are the properties of ash?

Tough, absorbs shock well, looks attractive

What is ash used for?

Tool handles, wooden sports equipment, furniture

What are manmade boards?

They are mores table and fixed than pure woods and are often used in the construction industry

How is plywood constructed?

It is composed of individual veneers of wood which are glued together with synthetic resin. It is less likely to warp or split due to construction and is very strong

What are the 3 different types of plywood?

Softwood ply, hardwood ply and marine ply

What is softwood ply used in?

Construction industry for walls roofs and floors

What is hardwood ply used for?

Quality laminate flooring, kitchen units and some furniture

What is marine ply used for?

Boat hull construction (treated to be water resistant)

How is MDF constructed?

Made of tiny fibres of softwood timber held together by glue. This makes it very cheap and dense

What is MDF used for?

Shelves and flat-pack furniture

How is chipboard constructed?

Made by compressing wood chips, shavings and sawdust together with glue and often used with veneered surface. This makes it cheap but not very strong.

What is chipboard used for?

Cheap flat-pack furniture