Types of Wood, Uses, and Woodworking Tools

Wood

Pith: the middle part of the trunk

Heartwood: hardest and darkest, best part for woodwork

Sapwood: recent growth used for more artistic woodwork

Bark: exterior layer, protects the plant from outside attacks

Cambium: thin transparent layer of live cells

Hardwood

Beech: used in furniture and floors because it bends and is easily shaped

Oak: used in parquet floors, boats, etc.

Mahogany: used in joinery, musical instruments, etc.

Softwood

Pine: used in electrical posts, boats, etc.

Silver fir: used in building, carpentry, etc.

White poplar: used in frames, paper, etc.

Engineered Wood

Plywood: formed by gluing together thin sheets with synthetic resins

Chipboard: made with wood shavings and chips which are glued together

Fibreboard: fibers come from grinding

Carpentry Tools

• Carpenter pencil: oval shaped to avoid slipping on the wood
• Compass: used to draw circles and arcs
• Punch: used to make a small mark in the wood
• Marking gauge: used to draw lines which are parallel to the edge of the board

Clamps

• Bench vice: fixed to the workbench
• C-clamp: consists of a fixed head and screw
• Bar clamp: used to clamp pieces to the workbench or to clamp together two pieces
• Ring clamp: used to clamp circular pieces with different diameters

Saws

• Handsaw: used to make straight cuts
• Tenon saw: used to make more precise cuts
• Keyhole saw: its thin blade can be used to make curved cuts
• Coping saw: used to make different cuts in thin wood
• Hack saw: used to make straight cuts
• Fret saw: U-shaped with flat or round blades

Drilling Tools

• Gimlet: used to drill through thin pieces of wood and make small holes
• Hand drill: used to make more precise holes quickly and more easily

Chisels and Files

• Bevel-edge: used for making grooves
• Mortise chisel: used for making deeper rectangular holes
• Gouges: used for making curved grooves
• Carpenter mallet: used to hit the handles of chisels
• Rasp: it has triangular teeth on its surface and is used to make rough cuts
• File: it has a grooved surface and is used to smooth pieces

Sandpaper

This is made of abrasive material glued to paper