Notes: Term 1, Week 3 - Hardwoods and Softwoods

Hardwoods

Teak

Properties:
Teak is a hard hardwood, it is heavy and strong. It has a high durability and is strong in strength. Teak originated in India and Burma.
Uses:
Teak is used to build boats, cabinets, other furniture, flooring and decorative veneers.
Other:
It is best to use an oil finish when using teak. It can also be difficult to glue and its dust has known to be an irritant.

American Birch

Properties:
American Birch is a hard hardwood, it is heavy and strong but has a low durability. It originated from USA and Canada. Birch also finishes well.
Uses:
Making furniture, quality joinery, dowels and flooring. It is also used in the manufacture of plywood.

English Elm

Properties:
English Elm is a hardwood with an intermediate hardness. It has an intermediate weight and low durability. It finishes well but is not suitable for exterior work.
Uses:
Used for cabinet making, Windsor chairs, boat building, flooring and coffins.

Softwoods

Douglas-fir

Properties:
Douglas- fir is a softwood, it
Uses:
Douglas-fir is commonly used in the construction industry. It has also been used for home built aircraft. They are also the most common Christmas tree in the USA.

Western Red Cedar

Properties:

Western Red Cedar is a lightweight softwood that has a high durability and finishes well. It originated from Canada, UK and the USA. It is weak and is soft.

Uses:

Garden sheds, greenhouses, exterior boardings, fencing and posts.

Notes:

When nailing Western Red Cedar it is best to use galvanised or copper nails. This timber is not a true cedar.

Yellow Pine

Properties:

Yellow pine is a softwood that has an intermediate weight and is also strong. It also has a intermediate durability and finishes well.

Uses:

Construction work, shipbuilding, flooring, joinery work, crates and pallets.