Natural and Manufactured Timbers (Core)
Wood comes straight from a tree or is manufactured into boards. Sort the hardwoods from the softwoods, meet plywood and MDF, and dodge the classic balsa trap.
Justify the choices, the way you are assessed
Free interactive practice on the decisions the assessment actually asks you to justify.
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Wood, natural and made
Some wood comes straight from a tree as a natural timber; other boards are manufactured by gluing wood together. Natural timbers split into hardwoods and softwoods, and there are handy manufactured boards like plywood and MDF. This module sorts them all out.
The language of timber
Four ideas run through this module:
Hardwoods and softwoods
Natural timbers are grouped by the type of tree they come from, not by how hard they feel.
Match each timber to its use
- Oak
- Pine
- Balsa
- Cedar
- A strong, durable hardwood for furniture
- A cheap softwood for construction
- A very light, soft wood for models
- A weather-resistant softwood for outdoor use
Spot the hardwoods
Select the TWO hardwoods.
- Oak
- Mahogany
- Pine
- Cedar
The balsa trap
The commonest mistake is to think a hardwood must be hard. In fact hardwood and softwood describe the tree, not how hard the wood is. The proof is balsa: it comes from a broad-leaved tree, so it is a hardwood, yet it is one of the softest, lightest woods there is. Always classify by the tree, not the feel.
Match each timber or board
- Plywood
- MDF
- Mahogany
- Beech
- Thin layers glued with the grain crossing over
- Wood fibres pressed into a smooth board
- A rich-coloured hardwood for quality furniture
- A tough hardwood for tool handles and toys
Classify the timber
Pine comes from a fast-growing coniferous tree. What kind of timber is it?
- A softwood
- A hardwood
- A manufactured board
- It is not a timber
Timbers in words
Timber from a deciduous tree is a _____, such as oak. Timber from a coniferous tree is a _____, such as pine. A _____ board is made from wood and glue; MDF is made from wood _____. Despite being soft, _____ is classed as a hardwood.
Is balsa hard or soft?
Balsa is one of the softest, lightest woods. Is it a hardwood or a softwood?
- A hardwood, because it comes from a broad-leaved tree
- A softwood, because it feels soft
- A manufactured board
- Neither, it is a plastic
Timbers, natural and made
Tap the TWO statements that are TRUE.
- Hardwoods come from deciduous, broad-leaved trees.
- MDF is a manufactured board made from wood fibres and glue.
- Softwoods are always harder than hardwoods.
- Plywood is a natural timber cut straight from a tree.
- Balsa is a softwood because it is soft.
How plywood is made
Put the steps of making plywood into the right order.
- Peel a log into thin sheets called veneers
- Stack the veneers with the grain of each crossing the next
- Glue the layers and press them together
- Trim the finished board to size
Choose the timber
Pick the best timber or board for each product.
- You are making a lightweight model aeroplane. Which timber is best?
- You need a cheap, smooth board that is easy to paint for a cabinet. Which is best?
- You are building a garden shed that must resist the weather. Which timber suits it?
Natural or manufactured?
Explain the difference between a natural timber and a manufactured board. Give one example of each, and explain one advantage a manufactured board like MDF has over a natural timber.
- Explain what a natural timber is and give an example, such as oak or pine
- Explain what a manufactured board is and give an example, such as MDF or plywood
- Explain how a manufactured board is made from wood and glue
- Explain one advantage of a manufactured board, such as being cheap, smooth or made in large sheets