Wood, Metals and Smart Materials

Wood:

There is 3 types of wood: Hardwood, Softwood and Maunfactured Wood

Hardwood:

Hardwoods come from deciduous or broad-leafed trees. They are generally slow growing which tends to make them harder and more expensive. Please note though that not all hardwoods are hard, Balsa which is very soft and is often used for model planes is in fact a balsa wood! Hardwoods are sold by the cubic metre then this is sawn to the size the customer requires. Some timber is machined into many sections called mouldings for example, dowel, beading, etc.

Hardwood properties:

• Hardwoods are usually have broad leaves.
• Hardwoods come from deciduous or broad-leafed trees. 
• Hardwoods are special as they are deciduous this means they lose their leaves.
• You can distinguish hardwoods by the structure of the wood grain. 
• Hardwoods grow slower than softwoods so they are more expensive.
• Hardwoods include Ash, Beech, Oak, Balsa, Teak and Mahogany

Softwood:

Softwoods come from coniferous trees which have needles instead of leaves. Softwoods grow faster than hardwoods and so are cheaper they are also easier to work with as they are softer than hardwoods. These are supplied in standard sections sawn and planned smooth. Softwood sizes are confusing because they are smaller once they are planned.

Softwood properties:

• Softwoods come from coniferous trees.
• Softwoods are special because they don’t lose their needles.
• Softwoods have needles instead of leaves.
• Softwoods grow faster than hardwoods so are cheaper.
• Often used as building material.
• Trees grow tall and straight which makes it easier for the manufacturer 
   to cut long straight planks of wood.

Manufactured Woods:

Manufactured boards are timber sheets which are produced by gluing wood layers or wood fibres together. Manufactured boards often made use of waste wood materials. Manufactured boards have been developed mainly for industrial production as they can be made in very large sheets of consistent quality. Boards are available in many thicknesses.

Manufactured Wood properties:

• Manufactured boards often made use of waste wood materials.
• Saw dust is used to make MDF and hardboard.
• The saw dust is held together with glue. 
• Boards are inexpensive so are often used as instead of real woods. 
• Manufactured boards do however do not look as good as real woods look. 
• Manufactured boards are…