WOOD AND WOOD PRODUCTS

DEFINITION OF TERMS
Wood - the tough, fibrous cellular substance Pith – the soft, central core about
that makes up the most of the stems and which first growth takes place in a
branches of trees beneath the bark. newly formed stem.
Heartwood – the older, harder,
- Most common of the building materials. inactive core of a tree, usually darker,
denser, and more durable than the
Two types of woods: surrounding sapwood. Also called
duramen.
1. Hardwood – the wood from the broad-
leaves flowering trees. Not descriptive Sapwood – the younger, softer, living
of actual hardness. Graded according portion of wood between the cambium
to the amount of clear, usable lumber in and heartwood but usually lighter in
color, more permeable and less
a piece that may be cut into smaller durable. Also called laburnum
pieces of a certain grade and size
Growth rings – a concentric layer of
2. Softwood – conifer trees that have wood produced during a single year’s
needle-like leaves rather than broad growth of a temperate tree. Also called
leaves and bear their seeds in cones. Annual rings
Classified according to:
Rays – one of the vertical bands of
a. Yard lumber transverse cells that radiate between
pith and bark for storage and
horizontal conduction of nutrients.
b. Factory and shop lumber
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Cambium – a thin layer of reproductive tissue Sap – the vital fluid of water, nitrogen, and mineral
between the phloem and xylem, which produces nutrients that circulates through a plant
new phloem on the outside and new xylem on the
inside of stems, branches, and roots. Fiber – one of the slender, thick-walled cells which
together serve to strengthen plant tissue
Bark – the tough external covering of a woody stem,
branch, or root, composed of a living inner layer Deciduous - Shedding leaves annually or at the end of
called phloem and an outer bark or corky, dead a growing season. The term is descriptive of most
tissue hardwoods and a few softwoods.
Phloem – a layer of tissue that carries food from the Log – a length of trunk or large limb of felled tree,
leaves to the growing parts of a tree. Also called ready for sawing
inner bark
a. Yard lumber – softwood lumber intended for
Xylem – the woody tissue of a tree that provides general building purposes, including boards,
support and conducts water and mineral nutrients dimension lumber, and timbers
upward from the roots.
 Timber – wood suitable for building material.
Resin – a viscous, clear to translucent, organic
substance exude by certain pines, used in making - 5” (125mm) or more in the least dimension,
varnishes, adhesives, and plastics graded for strength and serviceability, and often
stocked in green, undressed condition.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Rough lumber – lumber that is sawn, Lumber – the timber product manufactured by sawing,
edged and trimmed but not surfaced. resawing, passing lengthwise through a planning
Structural lumber – dimension lumber machine, cross-cutting to length, and grading
and timbers graded either but visual - it is specified by species and grade.
inspection or mechanically on the basis of
strength and intended use. Also called - measured in board feet – 1 board foot is equal
framing lumber to the volume of a piece whose nominal dimensions are
12” (305mm)square and 1” (25mm) thick.
- Beams and Stringers – at last 5”
(125mm) thick and a width more than 2” TxWxL (D-4) 2 x L
(51mm) greater than the thickness,
graded primarily with respect to bending 12 16
strength when loaded on the narrow face
T = thickness in inches D=smaller diameter of the logs
- Post and Timbers – 5”x5”
(125mmx125mm) or larger and a width W = width in inches L =Length of logs in feet
not more than 2” ( 51mm) greater than
the thickness, graded primarily for use as L = length in feet 4 & 16 = slab deduction
columns carrying an axial load allowance which are constant
in the formula
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Nominal dimensions – the dimensions of a piece of  Dimensions lumber – from 2” to 4” (51mm to
lumber before drying and surfacing, used for 100mm) thick and 2” (51mm) or more wide, graded
convenience in defining size and computing for strength rather than appearance, and used for
quantity, usually mark without inch marks. Also general construction
called nominal size
- Joist and planks – from 2” to 4” (51mm to 100mm)
Dressed size – actual dimension of a piece of thick and more than 4” (100mm) wide, graded
lumber after seasoning and surfacing, from 3/8” to primarily with resect to bending strength when
¾” (10 to 19) than the nominal dimensions. Always loaded either on the narrow face as a joist or on
written with inch marks. Also called dressed the wide face as a plank
dimension
- Light framing – 2” to 4” (51mm to 100mm) wide,
- Subtract 1/4” (6) from nominal dimensions up to intended for use where high strength values are
2” (51) not required
- Subtract 1/2” (13) from nominal dimensions of 2” - Decking – 2” to 4” (51mm to 100mm) thick and 4”
to 6” (51 to 150) (100mm) or more wide, graded primarily with
respect to bending strength when loaded on the
- Subtract ¾” (19) from nominal dimensions wide face.
greater than 6” (150)
 Boards – less than 2” (51mm) thick and 2” (51mm)
- Lumber is generally available in lengths from 6’ to or more wide, graded for appearance rather than
24’ (1830mm to 7315mm), in multiples of 2’ (610) strength and used as siding, subflooring, and
interior trim
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
b. Factory and shop lumber – sawn or selected Surfaced dry – of or pertaining to dressed lumber
primarily for further manufacture into doors, having at a moisture content of 19% or less at the time
windows, and millwork, and graded according to of manufacture.
the amount of usable wood that will produce Moisture content – the amount of water contained in a
cuttings of a specified size and quality. wood piece expressed as a percentage of the weight of
- Matched lumber – lumber having edges dressed the wood when oven-dry
and shaped to form a tongue-and-groove joint Shrinkage – the dimensional contraction of a wood
when laid edge to edge or end to end piece occurring when its moisture content falls below
- Patterned lumber – lumber dressed and shaped the fiber-saturation point. Shrinkage is very slight along
to a pattern or molded form the grain, but significant across the grain.

Kiln-dried – of or pertaining to lumber seasoned in - Tangential shrinkage – wood shrinkage in a direction

a kiln under controlled conditions of heat, air tangent to the growth rings, about double that of radial
circulation, and humidity. shrinkage

Air-dried – of or pertaining to lumber seasoned by - Radial shrinkage – wood shrinkage perpendicular to

exposure to the atmosphere. the grain, across the growth rings

Oven-dry – of or pertaining to lumber dried to a - Longitudinal shrinkage – wood shrinkage parallel to

point at which no moisture can be extracted when the grain about 2% of radial shrinkage.
exposed in a kiln to a temperature of 214º to Grain – the direction, size arrangement, and
221ºF (101º to 105ºC) appearance of the fibers in a piece of dressed wood.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
Edge grain - Wood grain resulting from quartersawing, having the annual
rings forming an angle of 45° or more with the broad faces of a piece. Also
called vertical grain.
Flat grain – wood grain resulting from plain-sawing, having the annual
rings forming an angle of less that 45° with the broad faces of a piece.
Mixed grain – any combination of edge-grained and flat-grained lumber.
End grain – wood grain resulting from a cut across the grain
Raised grain – a dressed wood surface having the denser summerwood
rising above the softer springwood
Cross cut – a cut made across the grain of wood
 TYPES OF CUT
Two main types:
1. Quarter sawn – to saw quartered logs
approximately at right angles to annual
rings. Harder wearing, weather-resistant
and less likely to flare. more expensive as
the log requires resetting for each cut and
more waste is produced; however, the
larger sections will be more dimensionally
stable
2. Plain-saw – to saw a squared log into
boards with evenly spaced parallel cuts.
Also called bastard-saw. With tendency to
distort by cupping
Through and through - most economical, then
a mixture of plain and quarter-sawn timber is
produced.
Rip – to saw wood in the direction of the grain
also called ripsaw
 TYPES OF DEFECTS
Knot - a hard, ovoid or swirling growth
evident in the surface of sawn timber, a
branch stem in the original tree cut
through its width
Live knot – a knot having annual rings
intergrown with those of the surrounding
wood. Live knots are allowed in structural
timber within certain size limits. Also called
intergrown knot.
Sound knot – a knot that is solid across its
face, at least as hard as the surrounding
wood, and undecayed
Tight knot – a knot held firmly in place by
growth or position.
Dead knot – a knot having annual rings
not intergrown with those of the
surrounding wood. Encasement may be
partial or complete, but a dead knot is
considered to be a defect since it can
easily loosen or be knocked out. Also
called encased knot, loose knot
TYPES OF DEFECTS
Split – a check that extends completely
through a board or wood veneer. Also called
through check
Skip – an area on the surface of a board or
panel missed by planning machine
Machine burn – a surface
charring caused by
overheating of the cutting
blades or abrasive belts
during shaping or finishing of
a material.
Decay – a decomposition of
wood by fungi and other
microorganisms, resulting in
softening, loss of strength
and weight and often a
change of texture and color
Dry rot – a decay of
seasoned timber caused by
fungi that consume the
cellulose leaving a soft,
brittle skeleton readily
reduced to powder
TYPES OF DEFECTS

Heart Shake – radial cracks originating

at the heart of the logs
Star Shake – composed of several heart
shakes which radiate from the center of
the log in a star-like manner
Wind shake or Cup Shakes – are cracks
or break across the annual rings of
timber during its growth caused by
excessive bending of the tree due to
wind
Frost Shake – wood splits inwards, the
result of very harsh weather conditions
Ring Shake – when cup shakes cover
entire ring, they are known as ring shake
WOOD TREATMENT AND PRESERVATIVES
Preservative – any of the various substance s for coating or impregnating
wood in order to protect it against wood-destroying fungi and insects
- Water-borne preservative - An inorganic, water-soluble compound, as
ammoniacal copper arsenite (ACA) or chromated copper arsenite (CCA),
used as a wood preservative. ACA and CCA affix chemically to the wood
cell walls and is resistant to leaching. The copper acts as a fungicide while
the arsenate is toxic to wood-destroying insects. Wood treated with ACA
and CCA is odorless and paintable.
- Oil-borne preservative - An organic chemical dissolved in a petroleum oil
carrier, as pentachlorophenol or copper naphthenate, used as a wood
preservative. Pentachlorophenol, the most commonly used oil-borne
preservative, has a persistent odor, is insoluble in water, and is highly toxic
not only to fungi and insects but also to humans and plants.
- Creosote - An oily liquid of aromatic hydrocarbons obtained by the
distillation of cool tar, used as a wood preservative for marine installations
or for severe exposures to wood-destroying fungi and insects. Creosote
and creosote solutions have a penetrating odor and render wood
unpaintable.
WOOD PRODUCTS
WOOD PRODUCTS
WOOD PRODUCTS
WOOD PRODUCTS

Phenolic Board
 PHILIPPINE TIMBER

First group: Tanguile and Apitong – Mahogany Pili

the most common
Narra – most expensive, lumber in the market. Ipil Malabayabas
used for furniture and Used generally for
paneling, for expensive framings, joists, trusses, Kalantas Third Group:
floorings, door panel, stairs nailers, etc.
and plywood veneer or Kalamansanai Bakawan
facing White and red Lauan –
for framings, chests, Supa Malakamias
Yacal and Guijo – both jewel boxes
hardwoods, used for posts Second Group: Malasaging
and girders, or jambs Kamagong – hardwood Acacia (rain tree) for Matamata
attached to concrete as also for chests, jewel boxes, wood carvings
for wooden decks having stair frames Nangka
flooring and railings Agoho
exposed to weather Dao – used for paneling Santol
and plywood veneer Dita
Pine Benguet – softwood, Fourth group:
used for paneling, sidings, Almaciga – similar to Oak
flooring and furniture. Also pine for paneling All other ordinary
used for framings and Philippine chestnut wood species
trusses