Wood Key Skills: - Thinking, Communication, Literacy Numeracy, ICT, Working with others, Problem Solving. Objectives: To understand, recognise and communicate the different types of wood and their properties. Aims: To work as a class discussing the various characteristics of different woods. To demonstrate this understanding by investigating and recording information a range of methods.

Woods can be divided into two main categories – softwood and hardwood. This is not a description of the wood – it is a description of the type of cell structure.

Softwood: Most softwood trees are coniferous (cone bearing). They typically have thin, needle- like leaves and are evergreen (pine, cedar, yew). They grow in colder climates and are fast growing- most reaching maturity within 30 years. This makes them easy to replace with new trees, so they’re usually cheaper than hardwoods.

Hardwood: Most hardwood trees are broadleaved and deciduous (they shed their leaves annually). For example: Oak, Mahogany, Beech, Elm, Broadleaf trees grow in warm climates and are usually slow growing. They can take around a hundred years to mature, so there are more expensive than softwoods. Colours are: Oak- rich light brown Mahogany- reddish brown Beech- creamy/ pinkish Elm- light reddish brown

Task: In groups of 3, using an A3 piece of paper draw a table neatly with a rule!! Delegate a new person to record the data for each new material. MaterialPropertiesConstructionUses

Solid Timber: Softwoods

P - - e (red deal): Properties: softwood, cream and pale brown colour, often knotty, rots unless protected Manufacturing tips: easy to cut, trim, shape and join Cost: Cheep Typical uses: simple frameworks, block models

Solid Timber: Hardwoods

M y: Properties: hardwood, red- brown colour, durable, hard, Manufacturing tips: more difficult to work than red deal Cost: medium Typical uses: containers, indoor furniture, items requiring decorative finish

B a: Properties: hardwood, whitish pink, very soft, very light, not durable Manufacturing tips: very easy to shape, cut and trim for joining use balsa cement Cost: expensive Typical uses: rapid model- making, light weight structures

Jelutong: Properties: hardwood, light colour, no knots, more durable than red deal, light Manufacturing tips: easy to cut, trim, shape and join Cost: medium Typical uses: simple frameworks, block models, moulds for vacuum forming

Protection: Polyurethane varnish can be used to seal and protect the surface of the wood, and give it a smooth surface finish. You can buy it clear or in a wide range of colours. Woodstain can be applied to wood to enhance the appearance of the wood’s grain. It’s available in natural but also in bright colours. Stains usually don’t protect the wood, so varnish may need to be applied afterwards.

Protection: Oil can be used to maintain a natural appearance of the wood. Some oil- based finishes also offer protection to wood used outdoors. Paint is often used to colour and protect wood. Emulsion paints are cheap, but they are water- based, so they don’t protect wood from water. Polyurethane paint is more expensive but is waterproof and much tougher.

Solid woods are cut straight from the tree. Man- made woods (boards) are made from the bits of waste that are produced when the trunks and branches are cut into planks.

Manufactured Boards:

P d: Properties: very strong, doesn’t warp, exterior plywood is water resistant. Construction: it’s made up of several layers (always an odd number of them) and the layers are glued with their grain at 90 degrees to each other. That’s the reason why it is very strong. Manufacturing tips: can split when cut, outside of the board can be finished with a nice veneer (thin layer of good quality wood). Typical uses: containers, cheep furniture, mechanical parts, toys

H - - db d: Properties: brittle, goes soggy with water – soft Construction: pulp – wood powder / shavings compressed into thin sheets. Manufacturing tips: tears easily, difficult to finish edges Typical uses: covering panels / classroom displays

M D F d (MDF): Properties: hard, keeps edges well, goes soggy with water, has smooth faces and takes paint and other finishes well Construction: wood fibre and adhesive compressed into sheets. Manufacturing tips: blunts tools due to adhesive, shapes easily, finishes well, drills well. Typical uses: block models / toys, vacuum forming moulds, cheep furniture.

C board: Properties: brittle, edges easily damaged Construction: off cuts and shavings compressed into a board with an adhesive. Manufacturing tips: difficult to shape, blunts tools, finishes poorly, catches on drills – all grain related problems. Typical uses: large bases (panelling); because it’s cheap but not very strong, so is usually used with a hardwood or plastic veneered surface in c heap furniture.

Now in your groups, write a humorous comic strip, sketch, poster, news article, interview or self description / profile of your piece of wood. We will read out the best at the end of the lesson. Task: