EG 121: CARPENTRY

WORKSHOP TRAINING

Lecture :Timber processes

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 What is conversion of timber
• The process of cutting logs into timber is
called conversion.
• There are several methods of conversion,
each of which has some special advantage.
For some timbers conversion must take place
before the log has time to dry out and shrink.
 What are some of the factors that
determine the type of cut?
The way the cuts are made will depend on
several factors ,some of which are:
• The type of sawing machine
• The condition of the log
• Economy
• The size of log
• The wood species
• The end use of resulting timber
 Methods of conversion of timber
There are three main methods of conversion of
timber. These are :
• Plain sawn (Through and through (Ordinary) sawing )
• Quarter sawn
• Tangential sawing
 Plain sawn
• Plain sawn which is sometimes called through-
and-through or slash sawing. In plain sawing,
the saw cut forms a tangent to one of the
annual rings. There are several variations of
plain sawing
Figure: through and through sawing
 Plain Sawn
Advantages of plain sawn
• The log is easily-manipulated and frequent turning is
not required.
• There is no so much waste of timber.
• It is a cheaper method
Disadvantage of plain sawn
• It has the disadvantage that shrinkage may tend to
warp and split the boards.
• They also tend to absorb more moisture from the air
which can also lead to unwanted movement
 Quarter Sawn
• To mill quarter sawn wood, each log is sawed
at a radial angle into four quarters. Then each
quarter is plain sawn. This method of quarter
sawing does leave some waste.
• In quarter sawing , the saw cut is made at
right angles to the annual rings. A quarter
sawn board will therefore expose the rays
where as a plain sawn one would cut across
them.
Picture of Quarter sawn
 Quarter sawn
Advantages of Quarter Sawn
• Smoother surface due to less distinct grain
• Twisting, cupping, and warping resistance
• More resistant to moisture penetration
• Enhanced paint retention
 Quarter sawn
Disadvantage of Quarter Sawn
• The cutting operation is much more
complicated and involves more waste.
• The boards are rather narrow.
• It is an expensive method
Tangential sawing
ADVANTAGES OF TANGENTIAL SAWING
•Boards produced are strong, are used for beams
and joists.
•Heartwood and sap wood are easily separated
•Board can take nails without splitting because of
the position of the annual rings.

DISADVANTAGES OF TANGENTIAL SAWING

•Prone to shrinkage (cupping).
•It is expensive compared to plain sawing methods
because the log is turned 900 after each cut.
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SEASONING OF TIMBER:
-As fresh timber which is obtained from trees
contains about 30 to 40 % sap or moisture. This sap
is very harmful for the life of a timber. Therefore, it
is necessary to remove that sap by applying some
special methods.
-Simply Seasoning is the controlled process of
reducing the moisture content of the timber so
that it is suitable for the environment and
intended use.
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We need to reduce the moisture content of timber for the
following reasons:
• Every time the moisture content reduces, the timber shrinks.
• Consequently it will show fewer tendencies to warp, split or
shake.
• Seasoned timber although lighter will be stronger and more
reliable.
• The sap in timber is a food for fungi and wood parasites.
Remove the sap and the wood will be less attractive to these
dangers.
• Dry well seasoned timber is stronger.
• Dry well seasoned timber is easier to work with and
consequently safer especially machine working.
• Timber with higher moisture content is difficult to finish i.e.
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paint, varnish, etc.
Types of Timber Seasoning:
The main types of timber seasoning are as
under.
(1)Natural Seasoning,
(2)Artificial Seasoning,
(a) Kiln Seasoning,
(b) Chemical Seasoning,
(c) Electric Seasoning,
(3) Water Seasoning,

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(1) Natural Seasoning:

In the air seasoning or natural seasoning or natural

drying, seasoning of timber, timber is dried by direct
action of air, wind and sun. In this method, the timber
logs are arranged one over the other, keeping some
space or distance between them for air circulation of
fresh air.
Generally this type of seasoning requires few months to
over a year, this is very slow process.

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Air-drying site
(2) ARTIFICIAL SEASONING
(a) Kiln Seasoning,
(b) Chemical Seasoning,
(c) Electric Seasoning,

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(a) Kiln Seasoning:
In kiln seasoning timber is placed in a
chamber with some special heating
arrangement.
In this process one thing should be kept
in mind that heating system should be
under control, other wise timber will be
crack or wrap. The time required for this
seasoning is 3 to 12 days. This is quick
process.

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Kiln Seasoning

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Solar kilns for drying timber
(b) Chemical Seasoning:
In chemical seasoning carbon dioxide,
ammonium carbonate or urea are
used as agents for seasoning, those
are applied in dry state, the inter
surface of timber dries first than outer
side.
This ensures uniform seasoning. The
time required for this seasoning is 30
to 40 days.
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(c) Electric Seasoning:
In this method electric current is
passed through the timber logs.
The time required for this
seasoning is 05 to 08 hours.

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Electric Seasoning

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(3) Water Seasoning:
In water seasoning, timber logs are
kept immersed whole in the flowing
water. The sap present in timber is
washed away. After that logs are
taken out from water and are kept in
open air, so water present in timber
would be dried by air. The time
required for this type of seasoning is 2
to 4 weeks.
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 Defects in Timber

‘Defect’, in this case, means

anything that effects the structural
integrity or appearance of timber.

Remember…
There are as many potential defects
as there are uses for timber.
Timber Defects

Defects due to
abnormal
growth

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Shakes
Heart Shakes:
These are splits occurring in the centre of the tree
and running from the pith (inner most part) to
wards the sap wood from the medullary (vascular
tissues) rays.
In some timbers, these splits are hardly visible and
in some timbers these are quite permanent.
Heart shakes are caused due to shrinkage of
interior parts due to age. A heart shake straight
across the trunk is not a serious defect.

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Heart Shakes
Star Shakes:
These are splits which radiate from the
centre of the timber or from the bark
(outer side), running in the planes of
medullary rays.
These occur due to severe frost or
scorching heat of the sun.

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Cup Shakes:
These are curved splits which
separate the whole or part of one
annual ring from another. These are
caused due to the unequal growth of
the timber.

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Cup Shakes
Radial Shakes:
These are similar to the star shakes
and occur in felled timber when
exposed to the sun during
seasoning.
Radial shakes are generally irregular,
fine and numerous.
In this many splits are appeared.

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Radial Shakes
Radial Shakes
knots

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Knots

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 Knots
• Where a branch has grown out of a tree the
grain in the trunk becomes very twisted.
When this is cut through during conversion
the result is a weaker board and one which is
difficult to work. Dead knots occur in some
softwoods

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Seasoning
defects

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Forms of warps
Sawing Patterns / Timber Defects

Conversion
defects

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 Sawing Patterns / Timber Defects

Wane (Want)
Is the lack of wood on any face or edge of
a piece of sawn timber, usually caused by
a portion of the original rounded surface of
a long remaining on the piece; bark may or
may not be present

Slope of Grain
Localized slope of grain can be caused by
knots. Slope of grain can also be caused
by a slight bend in the tree, which means
that when a straight board is cut out of it,
there is a bend in the grain. This tends to
be a longer feature and may go unnoticed
in an appearance product

[Link] 50
Things that affect timber
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Preservation of Timber
Preservation is the poisoning of timber as a food source for
fungi and insects by the injection of poisonous chemicals.
Because it is practically difficult and expensive to poison the
entire cross section, usually only a layer of wood at the
surface is protected. The effectiveness of such a treatment
is seriously compromised by the presence of checks, splits,
drilled holes, etc.,

Hence it is a standard practice to treat seasoned timber

which has been machined to the final shape.
Softwoods are often less durable than hardwoods: ironically,
due to the high pore content, they are much easier to
preserve than heavy hardwoods.

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 Preservation of Timber
• Preservatives
– Oil-borne ;these chemicals are generally insoluble in
water so they are usually dissolved in petroleum solvents
in order to penetrate wood e.g. pentachlorophenol
– Water-soluble (most used);this class include various
metallic salts and other compounds, the principal
compounds used are combinations of
copper,chromium,fluoride etc ,example is copper
chromate
– Organic solvents

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 Preservation of Timber
• Desired preservative properties
– Toxic to fungi, insects, borers
– No leaching
– Easy penetration
– Corrosion resistant
– Economic

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 Methods of timber preservation
 Brushing
 Spraying
 Dipping
 Injecting under pressure
Brushing
spraying
dipping
Use of timber in construction.
Use of timber in construction.

Timber is used in:

[Link] construction,
[Link] of house posts,
[Link] of beams,
[Link] of rafters,
[Link] of bridges,
[Link] of piles
7. For furniture making,
8. For light packing cases,
9. For high packing cases (for machinery
and similar stores),
10. For manufacturing of agricultural
implements,
11. For making toys, etc,
12. For manufacturing of veneers and ply
woods.

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Use of timber
Use of timber