WOOD WORK

TIMBER
TIMBER IS WOOD SUITABLE FOR FOR BUILDING AND
ENGINEERING PURPOSES. WHEN IN THE LIVING TREE,THE
TIMBER IS CALLED STANDING TIMBER; WHEN FELLED ,IT IS
CALLED ROUGH TIMBER; WHEN IT IS SAWN INTO VARIOUS
MARKET SIZES, SUCH AS BEAMS, BATTENS,POSTS, PLANKS, ETC
IT IS CALLED CONVERTED TIMBER.

GROWTH OF TREE
ACCORDING TO THEIR MODE OF GROWTH, ALL TREES ARE
BROADLY DIVIDED INTO TWO CLASSES
EXOGENOUS: THESE TREES ARE THOSE , WHICH GROW
OUTWARDS, AND A SECTION OF WHICH WILL SHOW DISTINCT
CONCENTRIC RINGS , CALLED ANNUAL RINGS.
ENDOGENOUS TREES ARE THOSE ,WHICH LIKE THE PALM OR THE
BAMBOO, GROW ENDWARDS
 TIMBER
STRUCTURE OF THE TIMBER

TIME FOR FELLING

THE TREE SHOULD BE FELLED IN MID-SUMMER
OR IN MID–WINTER, WHEN THE SAP IS AT THE REST. IF FELLED IN
SPRING AND AUTUMN, ,WHEN THE SAP IS VIGOROUS IN ITS
MOVEMENT, THE TIMBER IS LIABLE TO DECAY.
 TIMBER
DIFECTS IN TIMBER

TIMBER CONTAINING LARGE,DEAD OR LOOSE KNOTS , SHOULD

BE AVOIDED , AS THEY ARE POOR IN STRENGTH AND
APPEARANCE
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD TIMBER:- GOOD TIMBER SHOULD
BE THE HEART OF SOUND TREE, THE SAP BEING ENTIRLY
REMOVED, THE WOOD UNIFORM IN COLOU, WITH STRAIGHT,
CLOSE FIBERS AND FREE FROM LARGE OR DEAD KNOTS, FLAWS,
SHAKES OR BLEMISHES OF ANY KIND
 TIMBER
SEASONING OF TIMBER
SEASONING IS THE CONTROLLED
PROCESS OF REDUCING THE
MOISTURE CONTENT (MC) OF THE
TIMBER SO THAT IT IS SUITABLE
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AND
INTENDED USE.
WE NEED TO REDUCE THE MC OF
TIMBER FOR THE FOLLOWING
REASONS.

NATURAL SEASONING :- IT IS THE BEST METHOD OF SEASONING ,

BUT IS SLOW, AS IT TAKES 2-4 YEARS BEFORE THE TIMBER IS
SUITABLE FOR CARPENTER’S OR JOINERY WORK.
ARTIFICIAL SEASONING :- IT IS THE QUICK PROCESS, RENDERS THE
WOOD LESS LIABLE TO SHRINK OR WARP, BUT WEAKENS THE
TIMBER.
 TIMBER
CLASSIFICATION OF TIMBER
BATTEN:- BATTENS ARE PIECES OF SAWN
TIMBER, WHOSE DIMENTION DOES NOT
EXCEED 5CM (2”) IN THICKNESS.
SCANTLINGS:- PIECE OF SAWN TIMBER
WHOSE CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS
EXCEEDS 5CM (2”) IN BOTH DIRECTION
AND DO NOT EXCEEDS 20 CM (8”).
BAULKS:- PIECE OF SAWN TIMBER WHOSE
CROSS SECTIONAL DIMENSIONS EXCEEDS
5CM (2”) IN ONE DIRECTION AND 20 CM (8”)
IN OTHER DIRECTION.
PLANKS:- PIECE OF SAWN TIMBER WHOSE
THICKNESS DOES NOT EXCEEDS 5CM (2”)
AND AT THE SAME TIME THE WIDTH
EXCEEDSTWICE THE THICKNESS
 TIMBER
DECAY OF TIMBER
DECAY OR ROT MAY BE CAUSED BY THE PRESENCE
OF SAP OR BY ALTERNATE WETTING AND DRAWING OF THE
MATERIAL. WARM, MOIST AIR AND LACK OF VENTILATION ARE
ALSO CAUSES OF DECAY.