Woods and Boards

There are two main types of wood - hardwoods and softwoods.

Hard woods
Hard woods come from broad leaved trees. These trees have flowers and produce seeds such as nuts and fruit). Examples are oak, beech and mahogany.
Hardwoods are denser than softwoods and are stronger and more durable too. They are used for furniture making. Beech is often used for making toys. Hardwoods are much more expensive than softwoods.

Soft woods
Soft woods come from cone bearing trees. Examples are pine, redwood and fir. Softwoods can be used for furniture and doors but are mostly used in construction for roof trusses and stud partitions.

Manufactured boards
Manufactured boards are processed timber. They have new and useful properties.

MDF (medium density fibreboard) is now widely used.

Plywood made up from alternating layers of thin sheets of wood is strong in all directions.

Chipboard made from softwood chips and sawdust is cheap but only attractive when coated with melamine – used for kitchen cupboards (carcases).

Not all hardwoods are actually hard and not all softwoods are soft.

GCSE Exam Practice Questions

  1. Describe, in as much detail as you can, the properties of beech
  1. Give three uses for ash

A,

B,

C,

  1. Describe, in as much detail as you can, the properties of teak

Match the use A, B, C and D with the woods 1-4 in the table, Enter the appropriate number in the box

A An outdoor table

B A child’s toy

C A hockey tick

D An indoor dining table

Across

2. This type of tree have do not have a fruit or nut.

3. This hardwood grows a nut which is called an acorn

5. The layers in this board are bonded together in odd numbers, in a criss cross pattern.

8. This machine is used to drill holes in wood

11. This wood is chips bonded together with glue or resin.

Down

1. This saw is used to cut straight lines in wood.

4. This wood is stable and wont warp

5. This hammer is used to knock pins into wood

6. Wood This a hard wood but is very soft

7. This wood is a softwood and is often used to make cheaper products

9. This saw is used to cut curves of narrow pieces of wood

10. These types of tree lose their leafs in winter.

12. This hardwood has antibacterial properties