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Hardwoods
Hardwoods are produced by broad leaved trees whose seeds are
enclosed in fruit e.g. acorns. They have a variety of grains and
a multitude of colours.
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Evergreen hardwoods.
These are trees that keep their leaves all the year round. They
generally grow quicker than deciduous trees and grow to a larger
size. They are usually softer and easier to work than deciduous
trees. There are only two European evergreens and these are holly
and the laurel. Most evergreens are found in tropical or sub-tropical
countries such as South America, central America, Africa, Burma,
India and East and West Indies. Examples of Evergreen Hardwoods
are:-
Mahogany, Teak, African Walnut, Iroko, Afrormosia, Ebony and Balsa.
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Deciduous Hardwoods
These are the trees that lose their leaves in winter. They generally
grow in temperate climates including the British Isles, Europe,
Japan, New Zealand, Chile, and central U.S.A. Examples of Deciduous
Hardwoods are:-
Oak, Ash, Elm, Beech, Birch, Walnut, Sycamore, Chestnut and Lime.
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The terms softwoods and hardwoods are used to
describe the leaves, seeds and structure of the trees. It is not
used to describe the type of wood produced e.g. Balsa is
light and very soft to use. It is used to make light weight models.
It is however a hardwood. Yew is a coniferous tree but is
heavy and hard to use like some hardwoods.
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Lesson Task :
To be able to appreciate the great variety of hardwoods and softwoods
commonly used in society.
To be able to answer questions regarding the properties, uses and
common forms of woods.
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Useful links
Tools used |
Flowcharts |
Vacuum Forming |
Quality Control |
Finishes |
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