Product Design: Natural Woods

By Sasha Walker

NATURAL WOODS

HARDWOODS SOFTWOODS

Oak MahoganyTeak Ash

Elm BalsaBirch Beech

Walnut Chestnut

Scots PineSpruce

Douglas Fir

EvergreenDeciduous

HARDWOODS = Timbers that are deciduous(lose leaves in autumn)and slow growing.

SOFTWOODS = Timbers that are evergreen(do no lose leaves in autumn) and are quick growing.

HARDWOODS

Properties and Uses

White Oak and Red Oak stronger due to the climate they grown in compared to Northern oaks.

Oak

Great strength and Hardness

high crushing strength so therefore can be useful to hold up structures such as beams.

White Oak can be used for outdoor furniture due to its moisture

Resistant to insect or fungal attack

Flooring , Doors, white oak Barrels can store Spirits , Cork Oak for wine stoppers. White Oak bark used in medical preparations. Acorns used to make flour and Coffee

Mahogany

Extremely good for cabinets and other furniture, Boat Construction , used in musical instruments(Acoustic Guitars and Drum Shells). Used on certain stereo headphones to give music genres the sound it needs. Doors , Floors , Pool Cues, Certain Writing Pens.

Good screwing and nailing properties

can be glued and stained effectively and has great quality finish

The timber produces a good veneer

Durable and versatile

Mahogany resists wood rot

Can be easily stained which alters the colour of the natural wood

Properties and Uses

Beech

Properties and Uses

excellent for firewood, Heavy and Strong , Hard and Tough , can be painted , stained and polished.

Plywood,Furniture, chairs and tables

Interior furnishing, stairs

Tools

Household equipment

Model building

Pianos Toys

Teak

Properties and Uses

Naturally High in Rubber and Oil content

Has a close grain which means it is a good wood for carving as you can achieve high detail

Resistant to climates/ weathers ( snow, rain, frost , hot sun,) and also resistant to rotting which makes it perfect for outdoors.

Expensive wood and can be hard to locate/obtain so substitute woods are available(Iroko, Shorea wood(African Teak))

Resistant to termite(insect) attacks. Over time it can gradually turn into a silvery grey colour.

Teak is used for Doors, Windowframes , Furniture and beams in Old style houses. Suitable for indoor and outdoor furniture uses. Bridges (e.g. – U Bein bridge (longest teak bridge in world - 1.2 km )).

Ash

Properties and Uses

Strong and flexible ‘user friendly’

takes easily to glue and nails

Can be used to make furniture, tools, sports equipment, Basket Making and other detailed crafts. In the Past Ash was used by the Anglo Saxons for spears and shield handles. Aircraft wings on the De Havilland Mosquito which flew in World War II.

Ash is the fourth

commonest tree species in

Britain and is sometimes

the dominant tree in a

wood. It is found across

Europe from the Arctic

Circle to Turkey.

SOFTWOODS

Scots Pine

weak, and light with low decay resistance, shock resistance can be steam bent. Very stable.

parts of musical instruments

Christmas Trees

Attractive ornamental plantings for parks and larger gardens

Carvings and sculptures

Puppets Toys

Match sticks

Properties and Uses

Spruce

Properties and Uses

Spruce branches are also used at Aintree racecourse, Liverpool, to build several of the fences on the Grand National course.

Native Americans in North America use the thin roots of some species of spruce for weaving baskets.

Spruces are a natural source of vitamin C

One of the most important woods for paper uses, as it has long wood fibres which bind together to make strong paper.

Christmas Trees

Low resistance to Decay , Lightweight, Exterior stain can be applied which will maintain durability. Doesnt Warp , can be air dried , can be use din framing.

Douglas Fir

Medium to coarse texture , can be easily varnished. Recommended for interior use only. Wood kept outdoors may only last for 12 -18 months.

Christmas Trees

Plywood

Doors

pine was used for masts on ships

Properties and Uses

LIFE CYCLE OF NATURAL WOOD

1 2 3

4

5

67

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrNSc5TFoj4

TIMBER MANUFACTURING PROCESSES

This shows the natural cycle from the forest to when it is made into furniture and the stages throughout.

P.S.E and F.S.C

P.S.E AND F.S.C are woods from sustainable forests which plant trees and grow them responsibly.

http://www.youtube.com/user/fscinternational?feature=results_main