Introduction to Basic Manufacturing Processes and ... - always yours

Carpentry 153
heartwood, sapwood, pith, cambium layer, bast, medullary rays and bark. Commercial timbers
are commonly classified into hardwoods and softwoods. Hardwoods comprises of oak and
beech that have a broad leaf. Whereas softwoods include pine and spruce which have narrow
needle like leaf.
This chapter presents the various kinds of material, tools and equipments used in carpentry
shop along with their properties and uses.
9.2 HARD AND SOFT WOOD
Hard wood is generally obtained from broad leaves or deciduous trees where as the softwood
from trees having needle shaped yes or conifers. The major differences between hard wood
and soft wood are given as under.
Table 9.1 Difference between Hard Wood and Soft Wood
S.No. Hard Wood Soft Wood
1 It is dark in color Its color is light
2 It is heavy in weight. It is light in weight
3 Hard woods are harder and denser. Soft woods are comparatively lighter
4 It has less resin content Few softwoods are resinous.
5 It does not split quickly It gets splitted quickly
6 It is difficult to work. It is easy to work.
7 It’s annual rings are close and often Its annual rings are well spaced and quit
indistinct
distinct
8 It is slow growing. It is fast growing.
9 It has good tensile and shear resistance. It has good tensile resistance but is weak
across the fibers.
10 It does not catch fire very soon It catches fire very soon.
9.3 TYPES OF COMMON TIMBERS, THEIR QUALITIES AND USES
The common types of well recognized timbers available in India are Shisham, Sal, Teak,
Deodar, Mango, Mahogany, Kail, Chid, Babul, Fir wood, Walnut and Haldu,. Out of these,
Deodar, Chid, Kail, Fir wood and Haldu fall in the categories of softwoods and Shisham, Sal,
Teak, Kiker, Mango, Walnut fall in the categories of hardwoods. Some of the other foreign
timbers commonly used in India are Ash, Burma, Hickory, Oak and Pine.
1 Shisham is dark brown in color and it possesses golden and dark brow stripes. It
is very hard to work and generally wears or blunts the sharp edge of cutting tool
very soon. It is available in India in Himalayan range at heights from 1000-1500
meters and in deep forests. It is recognized as highly strong and durable wood and
it is mainly used for making good variety of furniture, tool handles, beds, cabinets,
bridge piles, plywood etc.
2 Sal exists in rose brown color which slowly turns into dark brown. This wood is
commonly available in India in Himalayas, M.P and U.P. It is free from attack of
white ants insects and it is very difficult to work. It has poor finish and therefore