FURNITURE EP. 2 (WOOD, DEFFECTS, FINISHES)

diagonal grain

Grain runs obliquely to the longitudinal axis usually due to incorrect sawing, but some timber exhibit marked deviations in grain direction which cannot be avoided.

inter-locked grain

Grains are in successive layers and in opposite direction (boards with this grain results from trees whose fibers lined up in opposite directions in each growth year.)

ash

Grayish through creamy white through to a reddish-dark brown. Distinct straight grains and open pores. Tough, heavy and hard with good shock resistance.

kamagong

Hardwood for chests, jewel boxes, stair frames

yacal and guijo

Both hardwoods, used for posts and girders, or jambs attached to concrete and also for wooden decks having flooring and railings exposed to weather

oil stain finish

Can be achieved by simply using boiled linseed oil or various other oils

wood

most prevalent raw material for furniture industries. designers and craftsmen consider this as a unique and valuable medium taking advantage of the distinct and challenging qualities and characteristics offered by numerous species.

sycamore

pale reddish-brown; obvious wide growth pattern and small wood pores

butternut

pale to dark brown with occasional red streaks running throughout, large open wood pores. soft to medium texture, only moderate shock resistance.

rind galls etc.

patches of growing bark, probably caused by exterior damage to the growing tree (going in)

mahogany

Yellowish-brown through reddish brown to dark red. Frequently highly figured grain pattern and open wood pores. Extremely stable, moderately hard, even textured, and heavy.

paints and enamel

a mixture of a solid pigment suspended in a liquid vehicle

catface

a partially heated fire scar

board foot

a piece of lumber 1 foot by 1 foot by 1 inch or less thick. (12 inches wide and 1 inch thick and 1 foot long)

Bleach finish

achieved by applying one of the various acids and chlorine compound pertained to as bleaching agents

Wax or films

achieved by brushing, rubbing or spraying processed fatty acids from animals and vegetables, mineral sources combined with alcohol

oxalic acid

best bleach to use not only on natural wood colors but also on many water and chemical stains

Pitch veins, pitch pockets, etc.

can appear either as thin veins or shallow cavities filled with resin. usually caused by damage to the cambium layer in resinous woods, they may remain hidden and thus constitute a serious danger if the wood is used structurally

cupping rounding

the plank hollows across the width, forming a rounding on the underface, often due to incorrect pilling

opaque

gives a solid finish for protection and decoration

spike or splay knots

knots sliced through their length during sawing, and commonly known as 'slash' knots.

oak

light grayish-brown to reddish brown. striking grain figure and large open pores. heavy, strong and hard, durable under exposure, great wear resistance.

cedar

light red with light coloreds streaks running throughout, knotty pattern and other natural markings are always present. highly aromatic and moderately hard though brittle.

varnish

made from various gums and resins dissolved in an oil (oil varnish) or alcohol (spirit varnish). it gives a relatively hard, tough and reasonably elastic finish. - (varnish = resins + oil)

narra

most expensive used for furniture and paneling, flooring, door panels, stairs.

bowing

the plank is curved like a bow throughout us length. a succession of short bows is usually caused by sagging between too widely spaced stickers or by stickers which are not placed exactly over each other.

twisting

the plank twists on its longitudinal axis with the result that the long edges are straight, but the diagonal are curved. usually known as 'in winding'

flaking

the surface of the wood lifts in innumerable small flakes or layers which spring under the cutting action, preventing a smooth surface.

case hardening

the wood dried too quickly that the surfaces dry out at a rate quicker than the rate of movement of moisture by capillary attraction from that of the plank, with the result that the dry outer layers are in tension, and the moist interior layer are in compression.

sun checking

the wood surface is covered with small splits along the grain caused by too rapid drying in hot sun. Not serious unless the splits penetrate deeply

wood finishes

these are chemicals belonging to such groups as acids, alcohols, resinous substances, oils, dyes and pigments. these are applied to wood for its protection and to enhance grain structure or alter its wood application.

softwood

these are coniferous or cone-bearing, needle-leafed, usually evergreen tree.

hardwood

these are deciduous or board-leafed trees.

lumber

timber sawn or split in the form of beams, boards, joists, planks, esp. thatt which is smaller than heavy timber.

callus

tissue formed over a wound in a tree resulting in unnatural growth incorporated in the normal wood growth.

branched knots

two or three knots springing from a common center

dao

used for panelings and plywood veneer

end grain

when board is cut across the grain (perpendicular to the grain direction and the growth rings)

quarter or radial grain

when board is cut parallel to the grain direction but through the radius of the growth rings

diagonal grain

when straight grained log is not sawn along its vertical axis

plain/tangential or flat grain

when wood is cut parallel to the grain direction and tangent to the growth rings

kiln drying

where lumber is artificially dried to the correct moisture content. used for more expensive lumber, required for more refined uses so as wood will not move like in furniture.

white and red lauan

For framings, chests, jewel boxes

polyurethane finish

A transparent plastic finish made of polyhydric alcohol esterified with oleic, linoleic, palmetic and stearic fatty acids and modified with tolyrene disocynate and mineral spirits.

irregular grain

Boards of this type have fibers at directions that are varying and irregular from the log's vertical axis.

pine

Cream color to light reddish-brown, extremely small pores. Heavy, hard, strong and stiff with very good shock resistance.

maple

Creamy white to light reddish-brown. Frequently straight-grained and tiny wood pores. Bird's eye pattern and special burl figures are also available. Heavy, hard, strong and stiff; good shock resistance.

pecan

Creamy white to reddish-brown, occasional dark streaks and large wood pores, very heavy, closed-grain, hard and strong

encased knots

Dead knots which are still sound and difficult to dislodge, and often ringed with resin in softwood

knots

Imperfections in timber, caused by the growth of branches in the tree that reduces its strength.

tangential shakes

It Is an natural wood defect characterized by The soft spring wood of the log splits away from the harder summer wood, either during seasoning or through shearing stresses in the growing tree caused by old age, excessive bending under strong winds, intense heat.

burls/burrs

It Is an natural wood defect characterized by the value of the timber considerably, they are, however, true defects. It is caused by fungal or insects attacks irritating the cambium layers and resulting in large growths.

elm

Light brown to dark brown often containing shades of red, straight grain pattern with obvious light and dark boundaries. Moderately hard and heavy, good shock resistance, excellent bending qualities.

walnut

Light gray-brown to purple-brown. Wide variety of plain and highly figured patterns. Very strong and stable, only moderately heavy and stuff. Good shock resistance.

cherry

Light to dark reddish-brown. Straight grain and small individual pores. Moderately hard and heavy, good shock and weather resistance.

poplar

Light yellow to brownish-yellow with green tinge. Even texture and straight grain pattern with barely visible pores. Medium to light weight, only moderately hard, stiff and shock resistant.

plain sawing

Lumber cut tangent to the annual rings or growth at an angle of 0 to 45 degrees. Preferable when a pleasing pattern is required (wall paneling).

natural varnish

Made from gums derived from plants, insects and vegetable matter

clear lacquer

Made from resin dissolved in ethyl alcohol; it forms a high gloss film on the surface when dried. -(lacquer = resin + ethyl alcohol)

synthetic varnish

Made from synthetic resin commonly, esterified glycerine

internal sapwood

Normally the sapwood dies ring by ring, forming heartwood, but on occasions patches of sapwood survive within the heartwood, and show as lighter patches as sometimes seen in Rio rosewood.

radial shakes

the log splits from the plight or heart radially along the medullary rays, usually indicating that the tree has passed its prime.

quarter sawing

Produced by cutting the log into quarters and then sawing perpendicular to a diameter line; tend to twist and cup less, shrink less, hold paint better and have fewer defects.

pine benguet

Softwood, used for panelings, sidings, flooring and furniture.

springing

Sometimes known as "edge bend", the wood remains flat hut bends edgewise on its own plane.

S4S

Surfaced four sides; often used for parts with exposed sides and carving details

S1S

Surfaced one side; used for framing

S2S

Surfaced two sides; used for framing

Teak (outdoor resistant)

Tawny yellow to dark brown with frequent lighter and darker streaks. Pattern very similar to that walnut. Heavy, strong, oily and tough.

end splitting

The butt end of the plank splits open, usually caused by too rapid drying, but some species will always split.

Tanguile (Philippine Mahogany) and Apitong

The most common lumber in the market. Used generally for framings, joists, trusses, nailers etc.

rosewood

Various shades of dark brown to dark purple, conspicuous dark streaks, large open wood pores. Very hard, very heavy, with an extremely course texture.

beech

Very light brown hardwood. Distinct straight grain and open pores. Turns well and is easily worked, commonly used as bentwood.

spiral grain

When trees grow twisted, spiral grained logs and subsequent boards are produced. fibers follow a spiral course with a twist that is either left or right-handed.

cross shakes

caused by compression and not by splitting or shearing, while the actual rupture is across the grain and not with it as with all other shakes; the probable cause is not thunder, as the name suggests, hut either felling shutter or mechanical strain in the living tree.

canker

caused by fungoid disease

collapse

characterized by extensive shrinking and warping, particularly in springwood, giving a washboard effect. caused by too rapid drying in the early stages of seasoning. moisture is drawn out too quickly, causing dehydrated cells to collapse.

natural drying

commonly called air-drying or sun-drying. lumber is strip-piled at the slope on a solid foundation to allow air to circulate around every piece while sloping allows water to run off quickly

chlorinated laundry bleach

comparatively weak, excellent for removing chemicals, dyes, ink and water stains from wood surface if used full strength

wavy or curly grain

constantly changing in orientation so that a line drawn parallel to their direction appears as wavy lines. (this type of grain results when direction of wood fibers has constantly changed.)

basswood

creamy white to creamy brown with frequent reddish markings, faint growth rings and broad wood raise which are darker than the background wood.

birch

creamy white to light reddish brown, extremely small pored. heavy, hard, strong and stiff with very good shock resistance.

fir

creamy white to yellowish with obvious differences between spring and summer growth. moderately heavy, hard and stiff, pronounced resin canal, and wild grain markings make this a difficult wood to finish.

redwood

deep reddish-brown with obvious alternating spring and summer growth rings.

actual size

dimension of lumber after it has been dressed

nominal size

dimensions of a piece of wood before it plane down to S1S, S2S OR S4S.

Wood stain finish

dyes or pigments suspended in water or oil. it alters coloring the wood or accentuates its natural color without covering the grain

transparent

emphasize and enhance the charm of natural wood color and grain.

shakes

extensive splitting that occur in the weakest links in wood

two-solution bleach

fairly expensive and extremely strong, can bring out really light tone on dark wood because of strength ​

straight grain

fibers running in the same direction as the main axis of the tree. (the board's fibers run approximately parallel with the vertical axis of the log from which it originated)

frost shakes

project inwardly from a definite frost rib on the cambium and are, as their name implies, the result of severe weather

pitch flecks

repeated damage to the cambium layer by small insects is often healed over with hark, and may show as small dots or patches of brown cork deeply buried in some woods, notably birch alder and sycamore.

live sawing

sawing through and through, produce much wider boards

surface coating

seals wood pores for protection against water and other destructive elements

honeycombing

severe internal stresses and subsequent checking or disruption of the wood fibers due to continuous kiln drying of case hardened lumber.

pin knot

small knot 1/2 in (12.5mm) or under, often caused by the shedding of early branches. usually allowable in prime timber.

penetrating finishes

soak into the wood pores to give a natural look and feel

shellac

spirit varnish, made by dissolving purified lac flakes in denatured alcohol. (shellac = lac flakes + denatured alcohol)

warping

synonymous terms for distortion in one or more directions.