Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Intro To Wood Materials
Intro To Wood Materials
Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
Hardwoods are biologically called
angiosperms, which are trees that produce
seeds enclosed in a fruit or nut.
The hardwood category includes the
oaks, ashes, elms, maples, birches, cherry, walnut,
beeches and cottonwoods.
In contrast to softwoods, hardwood trees have
broad leaves and nearly all North American
hardwoods are deciduous, which means they drop
their leaves in the fall.
However, there are exceptions: holly, magnolia and
live oak are hardwoods that retain their leaves year-
round.
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Classification of Woods
In biological terms, softwoods are called
gymnosperms, which are trees that produce "naked
seeds."
The most important group of softwoods are the
conifers or cone-bearing trees, which have seeds
that are usually visible inside opened cones.
All species of pine, spruce, hemlock, fir, cedar,
redwood and larch are softwoods.
Nearly all softwood trees have another common
characteristic: their leaves are actually needles or
scales and they remain on the tree throughout the
winter, which is why they are also called evergreen
trees. Exceptions are larch (or tamarack) and cypress
whose needles drop in the fall, leaving the tree bare
during winter.
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Classification of Woods
Giant coast redwoods
(Sequoia sempervirens)
The largest trees are
over 300 feet (91 m)
tall and 17 feet (5.2 m)
in diameter. They
sprouted from seeds
the size of oatmeal
flakes nearly 2000
years ago, and grew
into giants taller than
the Statue of Liberty
(from the foundation of
pedestal to torch).
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Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
Identification characteristic of woods:
Color – Most timbers show variation in color
between species and within species. It can also
vary within a single piece. Color descriptions
usually relate to the heartwood of the species and
may be significantly different from that of the
sapwood. (Sapwood is always white to very light
brown.) Color can vary with use, age and by the
application of finishes. Timber exposed to light
will change color, and unprotected timber exposed
to the weather will eventually become silvery grey
in color.
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Classification of Woods
Identification characteristic of woods:
Texture – of timber may be described as being coarse, fine,
even or uneven.
The differentiation between coarse and fine texture is
determined by the size and arrangement of the wood cells.
Softwoods are usually fine textured, while hardwoods
may be either.
For example, mountain ash is a coarse textured hardwood,
but brush box is a fine textured hardwood. The main process
affecting texture of the timber is the finishing applied during
fabrication. Planing will produce a fine texture, sanding or
brushing – a fine to coarse texture, rough sawing or splitting a
coarse to uneven texture. Surface finishes will also affect the
texture, high build, smooth coatings will give the finest texture.
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Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
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Classification of Woods
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Wood Structure
Cellulose (70%)… It forms the primary structural
component of green plants.
The primary cell wall of green plants are made of
cellulose; the secondary wall contains cellulose with
variable amounts of lignin.
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Wood Structure
Minerals, starches, oils, tannins,
coloring agents fats and waxes.
(5%)
All plants have tube or straw
shaped channels ducts that run
the direction of the plant called
xylem. XYLEM, (pronounced
ZIE-lem) is a tissue in plant
stems and roots.
Xylem transports water and
minerals upwards from the roots
to the stem, via capillary action.
Xylem is strong and also
provides support to the plant.
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Wood Structure
The two most troubling characteristics of
juvenile wood are that:
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Wood Structure
Seasoning of lumber
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Wood Structure
Basic Methods of converting a log
Plain sawn wood is the type most typically seen
today. When the log is cut in to planks all the cuts
are parallel to each other.
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Wood Structure
Basic Methods of
converting a log
With Quarter sawn wood
the log is first quartered
(hence quarter sawn) and
then diagonally from the
center.
This results in a grain that is
more vertical when looking
at the plank end on.
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Wood Structure
Air Drying (AD)
To air dry, the lumber is arranged in layers, or
courses, with
separating stickers, and built up into unit
packages and piles
outdoors so that atmospheric air can circulate
through the
piles and carry away moisture
Reduces moisture to about 15 percent.
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Wood Structure
Force Drying
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Wood Structure
Kiln Drying (KD)
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Wood Structure
Radio Frequency (RF)
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Growth of a Tree
A tree grows two times during the year.
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Growth of a Tree
Rings
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Growth of a Tree
Rings
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Growth of a Tree
Rings
….identify
Heartwood
Sapwood
Cambium
Outer Bark
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Growth of a Tree
Rings
Thickness:
How wide a ring is can tell
you if the environment
was good or bad for the
tree to grow in.
In years when the amount
of rain and temperature
were good a tree's rings
are wider.
In bad years a tree's rings
are thinner.
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Growth of a Tree
Rings
Shape:
If rings start to become
thinner on one side
than the other it
probably means the
tree is leaning over to
one side.
High winds or a big
storm can cause a
tree to lean.
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Growth of a Tree
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Growth of a Tree
Dendrochronology
…means the measuring of time using trees –
dendro = trees, and
chronology = system of measuring time.
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Growth of a Tree
Extending a chronology based on
living trees further back
in time through
crossdating.
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Nature of Industrial Stock
Yard Lumber – mainly softwoods
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Nature of Industrial Stock
Yard Lumber – mainly softwoods
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Nature of Industrial Stock
Yard Lumber……
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Name of Industrial Stock
Lumber Measurement
The thickness of lumber is read in quarters of inches.
four-quarters 4/4
five-quarters 5/4
six-quarters 6/4
eight-quarters 8/4
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Name of Industrial Stock
Lumber Measurement
In rough lumber (also called nominal thickness
or size) that has not been surfaced (planed smooth).
4/4 rough=1” board thickness
5/4 rough=11/4” board thickness
6/4 rough=11/2” board thickness
8/4 rough=2” board thickness
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Name of Industrial Stock
Lumber Measurement
But surfaced lumber that has been planed
smooth may vary slightly in thickness.
4/4 rough=3/4” to 13/16” board thickness
5/4 rough=1” to 11/8” board thickness
6/4 rough=11/4” to 13/8”board thickness
8/4 rough=13/4” to 113/16”board thickness
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Wood Grades
Classified accordingly
to its quality.
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Wood Grades
Softwood lumber is graded using the
American Lumber Standards, which are
based on the structural integrity of a board.
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Wood Grades
Softwood lumber is graded using the American
Lumber Standards, which are based on the
structural integrity of a board.
These factors are used to determine the percentage
of clear wood in the board that in turn determines
the grade. Several of the most common grades and
their clear wood requirements are:
Select - at least 80% clear wood
Graded A to D. With A presenting the best quality
surface appearance.
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Wood Grades
Softwood lumber is graded using the American
Lumber Standards, which are based on the
structural integrity of a board.
Common - graded by number, ranging from 1-4.
With 1 being the best grade , no knots.
#1 Structural - at least 75% clear wood
#2 Structural - at least 66% clear wood
#3 Structural - at least 50% clear wood
Construction Grade - at least 57% clear wood
Standard Grade - at least 43% clear wood
Utility Grade - at least 29% clear wood
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Wood Grades
Hardwood Grades
An FAS(First and Second) board must be at least
6" wide and 8' long. 83 1/3% of the board must be
clear.
F1F (FAS One Face) If a board face is graded to FAS but the
reverse face is not, the board drops in grade. If the reverse
face of a board can be graded as #1 Common, the entire
board is graded as F1F.
For example, if a board face grades to FAS but the
reverse face only yields 82% clear the entire board is
graded to at best F1F.
If a board reverse face cannot be graded to #1 Common the
board is not F1F.
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Wood Grades
Hardwood Grades
Select
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Wood Grades
Hardwood Grades
#1 Common (Number 1 - 4)
A #1 Common board must be at least 3" wide and 4' long. 66 2/3% of
the board must be clear.
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Wood Grades
Hardwood Grades
#2 Common… #2 Common board must be at least 3" wide and
4' long, just like #1 Common.
The clear yield of a board can be as low as 50% after cuts equal to
half of the board measure. Surface area after each imaginary cut
must be at least 3" x 2'.
For example, a board 6" x 8 is 4 board measure and can be cut twice,
half of four. The resulting clear area of the board must be at least 3" x 2'
and at least 50% clear.
An additional cut is allowed in boards between 2 and 7 board measure if
the yield is 66 2/3% clear.
The reverse face of a #2 Common board can be #2 Common or
better.
If the reverse face of a board is #3 Common then the entire board
becomes #3 Common.
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Wood Grades
Abbreviations
HDWD - hardwood
M - thousand
SAP - sapwood
SD - seasoned
S1E - surface one edge
S1S - surface one side
S1S2E -……….
CLR - clear
BTR - better
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Wood Defects
Bark Pockets - a patch of bark partially or whole …enclosed in the wood.
Peck - a channeled or pitted area or pocket
Decay - disintegration of wood fiber.
Shake - a crack between and parallel to the rings of annual growth rings.
Stain - a discoloration that penetrates the wood fibers.
Wormholes - caused by insects or beetles.
Knots - piece of sawed lumber which is either a portion of a branch or limb
of a tree.
Pitch - an accumulation of resinous materials.
Wane - the presence of bark or absence of wood on corners of a piece of
lumber.
Warp - is any variation from a true surface.
Bow - a curve along the face of a board that usually runs from end to
end.
Twist - warping in lumber where the ends twist in opposite directions..
Cup - warping along face of a board from edge to edge.
Crook -warping along the edge from one end to the other.
THE END
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