Softwoods Hardwoods and Manufactured Boards Objective To understand

Softwoods, Hardwoods and Manufactured Boards Objective: • To understand the differences between the 3 categories of wood. • To Know a ranges of examples of each category and their properties.

They mainly grow in a cooler climate like Canada These cone baring trees are called conifers They have a looser grain structure They are often used as building material. These are usually softer and easy to work The trees grow tall and straight which makes it easier for the manufacturer to cut long straight planks of wood Evergreen trees which means they do not lose there leaves. These grow quite faster and so are cheaper

These are usually quite hard. You can have evergreen hardwood trees which do not lose there leaves and Deciduous tress which loses there leaves in winter tend to have a tighter grain they can be very Expensive. Most evergreens are found in tropical or sub-tropical countries such as South America they are broad leave trees and the seed are enclosed in the fruit that the tree produces They generally grow in temperate climates including the British Isles They are slower growing trees it can take 100 years to grow fully

Softwood or Hardwood? • The terms softwoods and hardwoods are used to describe the leaves, seeds and structure of the trees. It is not used to describe the type of wood produced e. g. Balsa is light and very soft to use. It is used to make light weight models. It is however a hardwood. Yew is a coniferous tree but is heavy and hard to use like some hardwoods.

Boards are available in many thicknesses Boards are inexpensive so are often used instead of real woods Manufactured boards are often covered with a thin layer of real wood which is called veneer this improves their appearance or properties. Manufactured boards are timber sheets which are produced by gluing wood layers or wood fibers together Manufactured boards are often made using waste wood Manufactured boards have been developed mainly for industrial production as they can be made in very large sheets of consistent quality

Red cedar • Red cedar is a softwood. • It is commonly found in North America. • It is used for cladding buildings. • Natural oils make it durable against the weather, insects and rot • It is not very strong. © Folens 2009

Oak • Oak is a hardwood. • Oak is hard, and very strong. • It is used for expensive furniture. • Oak timber is in short supply, and therefore expensive. • In the past, in much of Europe oak was overforested for furniture, buildings, and ships. • It has a beige brown colour • It is durable and quite heavy © Folens 2009

Reuse, recycling and disposal of wood • When wood rots in landfill or is burned, greenhouse gases are released, contributing to climate change. • Trees act as carbon ‘sinks’ that absorb the gases. • Approximately 25% of the fresh weight of timber is carbon. • If a forest grows at 10 m 3 per hectare per year, this is equivalent to 10 fresh tonnes of timber, or 2. 5 tonnes of carbon. • Using a recycled timber product reduces deforestation and retains the locked-in carbon. © Folens 2009

What wood are each of these products made from? chipboard Pine Ash Beech Oak Mahogany

Plenary 1. What manufactured board could be used for boat building? 2. If mahogany proves too expensive to use what would be an ideal substitute? 3. Give two examples of suitable hardwoods that may be used to make quality garden furniture? 4. Name one property of Teak which makes it difficult but not impossible to use? 5. Why is Western Red Cedar a suitable material to use in the construction of children's playgrounds? 6. Name a hardwood that is very soft (soft enough you can dent it with your fingers) and very light? © Folens 2009