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3. Wood and its derivatives
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2.
CLASSIFYING WOOD
There are lots of different types of wood but for technical purposes we classify them
into two types: hardwoods and softwoods.
Hardwoods
Softwoods
Hardwoods usually come from deciduous
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trees. They grow
slowly and have thick, compact trunks. They contain little resin
and can be many different colours.
Softwoods are usually from conifer trees, with needle-shaped
leaves. They grow quickly, contain a lot of resin and are pale-
coloured. They are light and easy to work with.
Tree type
Uses
Tree type
Uses
Beech
Used in furniture and floors
because it bends and is easily
shaped. Also used to make
toys, kitchen utensils, tool
handles...
Pine
Used in furniture, electrical
posts, boats, floors...
Oak
Used in furniture, doors,
windows, parquet floors,
boats, barrels...
Silver fir
Used in building, boats, simple
furniture, carpentry, boxes,
paper...
Mahogany
Used in joinery, luxury
furniture, handmade objects,
musical instruments (pianos,
clarinets and violins)...
White poplar
Used in furniture frames,
plywood, paper...
Understand
6.
What are the grain and knots in wood? Look up information about
different types of wood.
a)
Why are there fewer knots in hardwoods?
b)
What is the grain like in hardwoods?
7.
What’s the relationship between a tree’s growth and its wood’s
resistance? What about its growth and its density?
Apply
8.
What type of woodwill you use for your puzzle: hardwood or softwood?
Which tree type? Why?
❚❚
Wood is classed as hardwood
or softwood.
❚❚
It is used mainly in building,
making furniture and paper.
Key concepts
ADVANCE
W
EDITION
