Materials & manufacture · Higher
Woods & manufactured boards
8 cards · 5 quiz · 2 exam
Design & Manufacture · Higher · mrkellydt.co.uk
What you're learning in this topic
Learning intention WALT
We are learning about woods & manufactured boards, specifically to understand:
- the properties and uses of beech, ash, oak and mahogany
- the properties and uses of red pine and spruce
- the properties and uses of plywood, flexi-ply, MDF, chipboard and hardboard
- blockboard and veneered boards
Success criteria WILF
- I can describe the properties and uses of beech, ash, oak and mahogany
- I can describe the properties and uses of red pine and spruce
- I can describe the properties and uses of plywood, flexi-ply, MDF, chipboard and hardboard
- I can describe blockboard and veneered boards
Softwoods and hardwoods
- Softwoods come from coniferous trees (needles, evergreen). Grow quickly, often plantation grown and replaced, relatively inexpensive.
- Hardwoods come from deciduous trees (broad leaves, shed in winter). Grow slowly, often not replaced, more expensive.
Woods you need to know
| Wood | Properties | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Red pine / pine (soft) | Strong, durable, glues and finishes well, easy to work | Floorboards, joists, roof trusses, toys |
| Spruce (soft) | Strong, resists splitting, easy to work | General indoor work, furniture |
| Beech (hard) | Very strong, heavy, can warp, turns and machines well | Toys, wooden spoons, chairs, workbenches |
| Ash (hard) | Strong, tough, bends well, straight grain | Hockey sticks, bats, hammer handles |
| Oak (hard) | Very durable, heavy, steam bends, glues and stains well | Quality furniture, flooring, barrels, boats |
| Mahogany (hard) | Reasonably durable, glues and finishes well, easy to work | Quality furniture, veneers, banisters |
Manufactured boards
Made from waste wood. Cheaper than solid wood, come in large stable sheets that don't warp easily, often veneered or plastic-coated.
| Board | Properties | Uses |
|---|---|---|
| Plywood | Odd number of veneers, grain at 90°; very strong, stable; indoor/outdoor grades | Furniture, cabinet backs, door fronts |
| Flexi-ply | Thin layers, bends easily | Curved furniture, skateboards |
| MDF | Fine fibres and glue; smooth flat surface, easy to shape, heavy, veneers well | Flat-pack furniture, skirting, pattern-making |
| Chipboard | Wood chips and glue; low cost, brittle, hard to screw into, not for outdoors | Shelving, kitchen worktops (veneered) |
| Hardboard | Thin, smooth one side, low cost, not strong | Wardrobe backs, drawer bottoms, clipboards |
| Blockboard (H) | Strips of timber between veneers; strong, rigid, heavy | Shelving, doors, worktops |
Veneered boards (Higher): a thin slice of quality hardwood (or a plastic laminate) is glued onto MDF or chipboard. The product looks like solid hardwood at a fraction of the cost and is stable, but chipped edges expose the core.
Key terms
| Softwood source | Coniferous trees: evergreen, needle leaves, fast growing. |
|---|---|
| Hardwood source | Deciduous trees: broad leaves shed in winter, slow growing. |
| Beech | Hardwood: very strong, turns well. Toys, spoons, chairs. |
| Ash | Hardwood: tough, bends well. Sports bats, tool handles. |
| Oak | Hardwood: very durable. Quality and outdoor furniture, barrels. |
| Plywood | Odd number of veneers with grain at 90°: strong and stable. |
| MDF | Fine wood fibres and glue: smooth, flat, easy to machine. Flat-pack. |
| Advantage of manufactured boards | Low cost, large stable sheets that don't warp; uses waste wood. |
Quick check
1. Which is a softwood?
- Beech
- Oak
- Spruce
- Mahogany
Show answer
C: Spruce. Spruce is coniferous.
2. Why does plywood have an odd number of layers with grain at 90°?
- To make it cheaper than solid timber
- So that it bends easily in every direction
- To give it an attractive grain on both faces
- To reduce warping and add strength
Show answer
D: To reduce warping and add strength. Alternating grain balances the sheet.
3. Which hardwood suits a cricket bat or hammer handle?
- Ash
- Mahogany
- MDF
- Spruce
Show answer
A: Ash. Ash is tough and shock-resistant.
4. Which board would you use for a curved chair back?
- Chipboard
- Flexi-ply
- Hardboard
- MDF
Show answer
B: Flexi-ply. Flexi-ply bends easily.
5. Which is a drawback of chipboard?
- Very expensive
- Too flexible
- Brittle and hard to screw into
- Only available in small widths
Show answer
C: Brittle and hard to screw into. Special chipboard screws are used for this reason.
Exam-style questions
1. Describe one benefit of using manufactured boards. (1 mark)
Show marking guidance
- Available in large, stable sheets that don't warp
- Cheaper than solid wood
- Uses waste wood so more sustainable
- Can be veneered to look like quality hardwood
2. A child's toy is made from beech. Explain why beech is suitable. (2 marks)
Show marking guidance
- Strong/tough so it withstands rough play (1)
- Close grain finishes smoothly / turns well so no splinters (1)
- Non-toxic natural material safe for children (1)
Printable worksheet
An I do, we do, you do worksheet for this topic, with a separate answer sheet.