Trees (Junior Cert Wood Technology): Revision Notes

Diverse Timber Types

This section presents various kinds of timber that are not widely found in Ireland. It examines their special properties, uses, and the criteria for choosing them for specific tasks.

Definitions

• Diverse Timbers: Types of wood that are different in origin and not commonly found in a region.
• Properties: Features specific to a type of wood, like how bendable or strong it is.
• Timber Selection: Choosing the right timber based on specific needs or qualities.
• Bendability: The capacity of wood to bend without breaking.
• Strength: The ability of wood to withstand force or pressure.
• Finishes: The final treatment applied to wood for protection or appearance.

Diverse Timber Types

• Yew: Comes from Europe and Asia. Known for being hard and strong. Used for small furniture, floors, and bows.
• Sitka Spruce: Comes from Canada and the USA. It is soft, light, yet strong, and used in making musical instruments and boats.

Properties and Uses

Timber	Unique Features	Uses
Yew	Hard, heavy, strong	Brushes, floors, small furniture
Sitka Spruce	Soft, light, strong	Instruments, paper, boats

Example Case Study: Sitka Spruce is perfect for violins due to its light weight and excellent sound properties.

Timber Selection

• Bendability: Woods like Ash, Oak, and Beech can bend without breaking, useful for curved furniture.
• Strength: Hardwoods like Yew and Oak offer the needed support for strong furniture.
• Finishes: Choosing finishes can make wood last longer and look better; for example, varnishing Sitka Spruce improves its resistance to weather.

Summary