Timbers
Types of timbers and their uses
Selecting materials
Materials can be selected based upon their How materials behave in different environments when subjected to changing conditions, eg force or temperature changes.. It is important to know and understand which materials can be used for a specific purpose:
- How do they look?
- What are they commonly used for?
- How can they be manufactured?
- How do they perform in use?
- What makes them unique - are they the most Hardwearing., the lightest etc?
When selecting a timber, there are many different types to choose from. Timber that has come from a tree that drops leaves in the autumn to prepare for winter. and Timber that has come from a coniferous tree that does not drop leaves in the autumn to prepare for winter. are types of timber that come from many different trees. Manufactured boards such as A type of engineered wood made of compressed wood and fibre particles held together with glue. are man-made from Used materials that have been reprocessed to make new materials. material and other boards such as Thin layers of wood glued at right angles to each other. are man-made from layers of wood.
Quite often MDF is laminated with a single sheet of a hardwood A thin decorative covering of fine wood applied to a coarser wood or other material. to give the impression that solid hardwood has been used to make a product, but at a fraction of the cost.
Environmental factors
When a tree is chopped down for timber, there is a cost to the environment. Trees are vital for our survival as they absorb carbon dioxide (CO2). Although more than one tree can be planted for each tree that is chopped down, older trees often absorb more carbon dioxide and provide more of a habitat for wildlife because of their size.
The availability of a material is an important consideration too. Some softwoods are readily available because of the fast-growing nature of the tree. Hardwood, on the other hand, grows considerably slower and is therefore much more expensive.
Responsibilities of designers and manufacturers
When choosing materials for a product, designers and manufacturers can consider many factors. Along with cost and environment issues, there are also considerations when it comes to employees and their working conditions. Designers and manufacturers may choose to opt for more ‘ethical’ choices by finding suppliers that may pay higher labour costs or tackle poverty in other ways when selecting timber.
Material costs
Material costs are an important factor when selecting material. It is often possible that more than one material is suitable for a job, and it may be the cost that determines which one is used. For example, softwoods are more widely available than hardwoods because of their growth rate and are therefore cheaper in price.
Manufactured boards vary in price depending on where they are bought and how many are bought at once. Some timber is sold at a price calculated by The volume of a three-dimensional shape is a measure of the amount of space or capacity it occupies, eg an average can of fizzy drink has a volume of 330 ml.. The price per metre cubed (m3) is the method of working out the value. If the price per m3 is known, then the calculation to work out the cost starts with working out the volume of timber that is needed.
Example
A piece of oak costs £1,700 per m3 and the piece to be valued is 1,000 mm × 50 mm × 250 mm. Calculate the price.
Convert to metres (m):
1,000 mm = 1 m
50 mm = 0.05 m
250 mm = 0.25 m
Work out the volume needed (m3):
Volume = 1 m × 0.05 m × 0.25 m
= 0.0125 m3
Work out total cost (£):
Total cost = volume in m3 × cost for 1 m3
= 0.0125 × 1,700 = 21.25
Total cost = £21.25
Question
A plank of ash will be used in the design of a guitar body. It costs £1,850.00 per m3 and the neck design requires 650 mm × 60 mm × 55 mm.
Calculate the cost of the neck section.
Volume = 0.65 m × 0.06 m × 0.055 m = 0.002 m3
Total cost = 0.002 × 1,850 = £3.96
