1. SOFTWOOD
Coniferous (doesn’t loose it’s leaves in winter) trees provide softwood. They have needle like leaves and keep them throughout the year.
They grow quick and the wood is relatively cheap.
PINE, CEDAR and SPRUCE are softwood trees.

2. HARDWOOD
Deciduous trees loose their leaves in winter and provide hardwood. The difference between a softwood and a hard wood is biological and not to do with the hardness or softness of the wood.
BALSA wood is a hardwood which is very soft.
Hardwood grows slow and the wood is relatively expensive.
OAK, BEECH, ASH, MAHOGANY and TEAK are hardwoods.

3. 1. Using the computers find the file: Z:\DT\1 KS4\GCSE 2017-18\natural timber research.ppt
a) Use this file to fill in the chart about natural timbers and manmade boards
b) Print and paste into your book
Natural timbers
Description/image
Advantages
Disadvantages
Common uses
Oak
Mahogany
Beech
Balsa
Pine
Cedar
Jelutong
Birch
Ash
Larch

4. Description/image Advantages Disadvantages Common uses Plywood MDF
1. Using the computers find the file: Z:\DT\1 KS4\GCSE \natural timber research.ppt
a) Use this file to fill in the chart about natural timbers and manmade boards
b) Print and paste into your book
Manufactured boards
Description/image
Advantages
Disadvantages
Common uses
Plywood
MDF
Chipboard
IKEA megafactories about 3.20 in for making MDF

5. WOOD PROPERTIES Oak Beech Pine Wood Advantages Disadvantages
Applications
Oak
Strong, hard, tough
Works well
Durable
Expensive
Heavy
Prone to splitting
Physically hard
Garden furniture
Construction
Quality furniture
Beech
Physically hard
Tough
Polishes well
Prone to warping
Not suitable for outdoor use
Can be difficult to work
Workshop benches
School desks
furniture
Pine
Straight grain
Easy to work
Knots can make work difficult
Construction
Roof joists
Floorboards
Furniture

6. HANDLING COLLECTION
Using your notes on different natural timbers and man made timbers identify as many of the 13 timbers you can. Use the supplied list to help you

8. Pine Oak Beech Maple Mahogany MDF Plywood Chipboard/ laminated
ANSWERS
Pine
Oak
Beech
Maple
Mahogany
MDF
Plywood
Chipboard/ laminated
Jelutong
Ash
Hardboard
Blockboard

9. Pine Oak Beech Plywood Chipboard/ laminated Maple Mahogany MDF
Jelutong
Ash
Hardboard
Blockboard

10. SOFTWOOD
PINE is a pale creamy brown colour. It is easy to work and relatively cheap but may contain knots which are weak points.
USES building frames, construction and furniture.
Needs protection for outdoors.
CEDAR is a dark reddish brown colour. It is light weight but not strong, expensive but durable with a high oil content.
USES cladding on outdoor buildings.

11. SOFTWOOD
PINE is a pale creamy brown colour. It is easy to work and relatively cheap but may contain knots which are weak points.
USES building frames, construction and furniture.
Needs protection for outdoors.
CEDAR is a dark reddish brown colour. It is light weight but not strong, expensive but durable with a high oil content.
USES cladding on outdoor buildings.

12. HARDWOOD MAHOGANY BEECH TEAK ASH OAK Light brown Deep red/brown
Indoor/ outdoor
Expensive
Hard to work
Tough/durable
Furniture
Deep red/brown
Indoor/ outdoor
Very expensive
Durable but difficult grain. Furniture and veneers
OAK
MAHOGANY
Pinkish. Indoor use
Close grain
Hardwearing
Finishes well
Furniture, toys, kitchen utensils
Golden brown
Indoor/ outdoor
Strong and durable.
Garden furniture, boats, science lab worktops.
BEECH
TEAK
Pale cream
Indoor use.
Tough / flexible
Tool handles, sports equipment
ASH

13. MANUFACTURED BOARDS Advantages Disadvantages
Available in large sheet size
Are not weather proof and will disintegrate outside unless modified/treated/finished so that they can be used outside
Cheaper to buy than natural timbers
Some are not as Aesthetical pleasing

14. MANUFACTURED BOARDS MDF
MDF Medium density fibreboard is made from fine wood particles compressed and glued together.
When used it is sometimes covered with a plastic laminate coating or a hardwood veneer.
It holds paint well and can be painted to a smooth finish.
ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES

15. MANUFACTURED BOARDS CHIPBOARD
Made by compressing and gluing small chips of waste wood into sheets.
When used it is normally covered by a plastic laminate coating (work tops) or a hardwood veneer.
ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES

16. MANUFACTURED BOARDS PLYWOOD
Made from thin sheets of wood (veneers) glued together with the grain at 90 degrees to the one next to it.
They have an odd number of layers 3,5,7 etc so that the grain on the top and bottom face the same direction.
ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES

20. HOMEWORK
Research the manufactured woods Plywood, MDF and chipboard looking at their possible finishes for indoor and outdoor use.
Present your work on an A3 power point slide using a text size of 12pt- it will be used for your GCSE