Wood Identification
Manufacturing II
Grain
• The mass of the wood’s cell structure.
• Determined by the growth of a tree.
• Straight, Cross, Spiral, Curly
Sawing
• With the grain (length)
• Across the grain (width)
Figure
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Describes the appearance of the wood
Density of the annual growth rings
Size and shape of the rings
Distribution of color
Effect of disease or physical damage
http://www.wurrkshopwoods.com/types-of-wood.htm
Texture
• Relative size of the woods cells
• Fine texture woods have small closely
spaced cells
• Course textured woods have large cells
• Affects the cutting process
• Appearance after staining and finish
Hardwoods
 Deciduous
 Broad leaved trees
 Loss of leaves in the
winter
 More durable than
softwoods
 Wider choice of color,
texture, and figure
 More expensive than
softwoods
Walnut
 Hardwood
 Tough wood
 Coarse texture
 Usually straight grain
 Rich dark brown to purplish black color
 Good workability
 Good finishing
 Furniture, gunstocks, instruments
Cherry
• Hardwood
• Hard
• Straight grained
• Fine texture
• Heartwood is reddish brown to deep red
• Good workability
• Good finishing
• Furniture, instruments, flooring
Poplar
• Hardwood
• Soft and light weight
• Straight grain
• Fine texture
• White sapwood, pale olive green to brown
heartwood
• Good workability
• Good finishing
• Furniture, toys
Mahogany
 Hardwood
 Medium textured
 Straight even grain
 Heartwood is reddish brown to deep red
blonde highlights
 Good workability
 Good finishing
 Interior paneling, carving, furniture
Maple
• Hardwood
• Hard, heavy
• Straight grain
• Fine texture
• White sapwood with reddish brown
heartwood
• Difficult workability
• Fair finishing
• Furniture, instruments, butcher blocks
Balsa
• Softest and lightest commercial hardwood
• Open straight grain
• Very pale beige to pinkish color
• Good workability
• Fair finishing
• Models, packaging
White Oak
• Hardwood
• Straight grained
• Course texture
• Brown in color
• Good workability
• Good finishing
• Furniture, flooring
Red Oak
• Hardwood
• Straight grained
• Course texture
• Pinkish Red in color
• Good workability
• Good finishing
• Furniture, flooring
Chestnut
• Course textured with wide growth rings.
• Similar to oak in appearance
• Because of blight most lumber comes from
standing dead wood trees.
• Insect attack causes “wormy chestnut”
• Furniture, coffins, poles, stakes
• Good finishing
Birch
• Hardwood
• Fine grain
• Pale tan with light brown growth rings
• Good workability, Good finishing
• Dowels, knobs, turning projects
Purpleheart
• Hardwood
• Uniform fine to medium texture
• Usually straight grained
• Attractive purple color
• Medium workability
• Good finishing
• Construction work, boats, furniture
Softwoods
• Coniferous Trees
• Cone bearing trees
• Evergreen
• Narrow, needle
shaped leaves
• Light color range,
pale yellow to
reddish brown
White Pine
• Softwood
• Straight grain
• Fine even textured
• Inconspicuous growth rings
• Pale yellow to pale brown color
• Good workability
• Good finishing
• Furniture, plywood
Cedar
• Softwood
• Fine textured
• Visible growth rings
• Pale yellow to dark brown color
• Good workability
• Good finishing
• Paneling, closets, hope chests
Composite
• Laminated material
made from thin sheets of
wood
• Bonded in layers to form
a thick stable board
• Deteriorate when wet
• Good workability
• Fair finishing
• Sub flooring, furniture
Plywood
• Hardwood, Softwood
• Laminated layers of wood and glue
pressed together to make a firm stable
board
• Warps when wet
• Used for subflooring, furniture, roofing
• Can be pressure treated
Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
• Hardwood or Softwood
• Strands of wood in layers laminated with
layers of glue and then pressed together.
• Warps when wet
• Used in construction subflooring, roofing,
siding.
• Used as a filler with veneer and Formica.
Medium Density Fiber Board (MDF)
• Hardwood or Softwood
• Particles or saw dust fibers mixed with
glue and pressed together.
• Disintegrates when wet
• Used in construction, sub woofer boxes,
table tops
Formica
• OSB board coated in a Plastic sheet
• Used in commercial and residential
construction
• Tabletops, Countertops, bathroom vanities
• Is water proof on the top and sides cannot
get wet on the bottom
Veneer
• Thin layer of wood used to cover
types of composite wood.
• Used for desktops, bookshelves,
cheaper made furniture.
• Pliable when wet with glue.
• Special technique to apply.