2.  There is an enormous selection of different timbers available. This range can be split into two groups:  Softwoods  Hardwoods

3.  Timbers which come from trees that are coniferous (evergreen)  Needle like leaves  Seeds found in cones  Most grow fast

4.  Yellow/white softwood  Straight grain  Cheap  Lightweight  Easy to work with  Use for exterior and interior work  Suitable for turning

5.  Yellow/white softwood  Cheap  Lightweight  Easy to work with  Use for exterior and interior work  Suitable for turning  Used in construction

6.  Pale brown/red  Small knots  Cheap  Fairly strong  Easy to work  Very resistant to splitting  Lightweight  Use for interior work

7.  Pale Red  Heavy  Hard  Good water resistance  Easy to work  Used in construction and flooring

8.  Light brown softwood  Lots of knots  Durable  Good water resistance  Medium weight  Low strength  Easy to work  Used for furniture and veneers

9.  Pale Yellow/white softwood  Straight grain  Knot free  Lightweight  Fairly strong  Splits easily  Use for exterior work and plywood

10.  Come from trees which are deciduous  Have broad leaves that shed in the winter  Slow growing  Have few knots

11.  Red/brown hardwood  Strong  Good water resistance  Easy to work and machine  Used for furniture and veneers

12.  Pale yellow/brown hardwood  Heavy  Hard and strong  Expensive  Can corrode steel screws from acid  Boat building, barrels, high end furniture and floors

13.  Pale brown hardwood  Expensive  Strong  Uses include veneers and furniture

14.  Dark brown hardwood  Cross grain makes planning difficult  Strong  Can be used both indoors and out for high end furniture and exterior joinery

15.  Pale yellow hardwood  Hard and heavy  Good for machining  Not suitable for outdoors  Suitable for tool handles, worktops, furniture and floors

16.  Brown hardwood  Hard and strong  Straight grain  Difficult to glue because of oil in wood  Used in high end furniture, lab benches and ship decking

17.  Wide boards of hardwood and softwood are expensive and can warp  Available in large boards  Does not warp  Cost less to buy

18.  Gluing chips of wood together under heat and pressure  Veneer and plastic laminate faced chipboard common  Use for worktops, shelves and furniture making

19.  Made by mixing wood fibres together with resin glue and water then pressed into sheets  Not very strong  Usually used to support timber frames  Found in drawers and cabinets

20.  Medium Density Fibreboard  Compressed under great pressure  Cheap, strong, easily shaped and finished  Used for all types of furniture, kitchen worktops etc.  Laminated for ease of washing

21.  Layers or plies of wood glued together  Grain of ply laid at right angles to the next  Strong  Used for back of cabinets, drawers and lightweight box construction

22.  Sandwich of softwood strips between two plies  Cheaper to manufacture than plywood  Lightweight and strong  Used for doors and box construction