“Ash stump” or how to distinguish ash from other wood - educational program from Sawmill

How to distinguish oak from beech?

The best hardwoods for making furniture are beech, oak and ash.

What is an edged board?

The most common lumber is dry edged board. It is used mainly during the laying of the foundation, in the construction of the roof, for the installation of partitions, fences, roofs and floors. Indispensable in repair and finishing work. It is made by cutting a log from several sides, in accordance with current standards. The finished timber is dried to maintain a moisture level of 8-10%.

Lumber is considered a durable option. They are manufactured in different qualities according to the purpose of application, including:

1. Low quality options are suitable for rough work. They are practical and durable, but have small defects that do not interfere with the task.
2. The highest grade is intended for decorating visible parts of buildings. Possessing practicality and aesthetic qualities.

Edged board - characteristics

The demand for edged boards is explained by their performance properties. Among them are:

1. Ease of installation
   . This is done using carpentry fasteners. No special tools are required for installation.
2. Ease of storage and transportation
   . It fits compactly and does not require special storage conditions, the main thing is to avoid moisture.
3. Public availability
   . It has a low cost, the material is available in any area.
4. Dimensions
   . Edged boards are used, the sizes of which are 50, 40, 30, 25 ml thick.

Edged boards are produced according to GOST standards. Deciduous wood material has three quality categories, coniferous wood has five. Selected grade lumber is considered the best and is marked “O”. The remaining varieties are named 1-4 depending on quality. The mark is made on the worst side of the material or on the edge. The criteria are regulated by GOST 24454-80. Used for the following purposes:

1. The first
   grade in the manufacture of window frames, doors, stairs, floor finishing.
2. The second
   grade is suitable for decking, load-bearing structures, and sheathing.
3. The third
   grade is designed for load-bearing structures.
4. The fourth
   goes to containers and small products.

What kind of wood is light?

Forest wood is usually light-colored. Moreover, in some species the entire mass of wood is painted in one color (alder, birch, hornbeam), while in others the central part has a darker color (oak, larch, pine). The dark part of the trunk is called the core, and the light, peripheral part is called sapwood.

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How to determine the quality and time of timber harvesting? What are these characteristics?

When buying wood, I read that you definitely need to pay attention to the quality and time of harvesting. How can I understand this by the appearance of the material if I don’t really trust the seller? Please explain these characteristics in more detail.

You have no way of knowing the preparation time. I think that the seller does not always know when the wood was harvested, even if you buy lumber at a sawmill. However, I am almost sure that a competent seller will definitely answer that the lumber is made from winter-cut wood.

But anyone can independently check the quality of purchased wood. To do this, you need to have at least 2 men with you who can move beams and boards. Come to the market (sawmill), tell the seller to show him the stack with the material you are interested in and off you go. The men move the beam (board) to the side, and you look at the following:

-presence of tarring. These are places in coniferous trees where resin accumulates in large quantities. As a rule, these clusters are in the butt part of the trunk and are clearly visible on the cut. When using such wood indoors, the resin will ooze out all the time with a slight increase in temperature. Also, during drying, large cracks often appear in the tars.

-blue and rotten. It happens that after harvesting wood, lumber is not immediately harvested from it, but is simply stored either in a plot in the forest or at a sawmill. Under the sun in hot weather, the wood begins to rot and after sawing, if stored improperly, the wood begins to turn blue. This is okay if you dry it after purchasing and don't plan to use it for finishing without painting, but if you don't plan to paint or otherwise finish the wood, it won't look very nice. It also happens that a tree begins to rot at the root, as it grows in a damp area. It is generally not advisable to use such wood for construction, at most for firewood, but cunning traders often try to sell us this crap. I think there is no need to explain that if such wood is used in a damp room, for example when building a bathhouse, the service life of the building will be greatly reduced.

-presence of “dead” knots. They differ from ordinary knots in that they are much darker in color than the others and are quite soft, often pressed through with a finger.

- a large number of knots and uneven placement on the board. This applies mainly to lumber made from the top part of the tree. Knots do not affect the strength of the material, however, if you buy boards or timber that you do not plan to use immediately, there is a high probability that the material may warp during drying.

By looking through each board or timber when purchasing and selecting only those that do not have the “gifts” that I mentioned above, you will spend more time than if you simply tell the seller: “I need 5 cubic meters of timber,” give him money, but get quality lumber that is a pleasure to build with. Good luck.

Pine

Pine density is 520 kg/m3.

Pine is widespread throughout the north of Russia and most of Siberia and forms both pure forests and forests in a mixture with spruce and other trees.

Pine lives up to 600 years and in adulthood reaches a height of 30-40 m. Its trunk is straight and even, it is easy to plan and saw. The pine tree species is heartwood, resinous, and low-elastic. Depending on the characteristics of the tree's growth criteria, the density and specific gravity of the tree species may vary. Scotch pine is distinguished by wide sapwood, which is not likely to be removed. Therefore, in warm weather and the sapwood thickening, which occurs from spring to autumn, the log may turn blue. Surface blueness can be observed even in well-ventilated timber stacks. Blue does not change the mechanical parameters of the tree, so you can successfully fight with it. For these purposes, the industry produces a number of drugs.

Pine wood is soft and easy to process and does not crack when dry. Thanks to its beautiful color and clearly defined texture, it is widely used in the production of carpentry, in the production of artistic carvings and turning products.

The average density of spruce wood at normal humidity 12% is 445 kg/m3.

The total area of ​​spruce forests in Russia is about 70 million hectares. Spruce lives 250-300 years.

The spruce tree species is snow-white, with a faint yellow color, and low in resin. Spruce is a low-density species. In terms of strength properties it is somewhat inferior to pine. It bends somewhat better than pine wood.

Spruce is a tree that is exceptional in its properties. One of these parameters is musicality. Since ancient times, I have been making musical instruments from spruce, including stringed instruments. Novgorod harps of medieval Rus' were most often made from spruce. The wood species is soft, light, and is used as a building material (boards, beams), for small crafts, and for processing into wood pulp. Used for the production of wood chemical products - paper, cardboard, cellulose. It is also used in ornamental gardening and park construction.

Application of edged boards

The material has a wide range of uses, but is mainly used in construction. It is often used to design decorative partitions, as a frame. Oak edged boards are sold in different qualities. Thanks to this, it is suitable for different stages of construction, which saves raw materials and money in work. For visible parts of the structure, it is recommended to use premium grade lumber.

Design

The way in which the wood pieces are joined together during the furniture making process contributes greatly to its beauty, functionality and, most importantly, longevity. The joinery and joint strength can tell you a lot about the quality of the product you are about to buy.

Mortise-and-tenon and dovetail are two of the oldest methods of joining wood pieces, as well as the strongest and most beautiful joints. Dowels or screws also provide good grip, but never a stapler. In addition, in high-quality furniture the use of glue should not be noticeable.

Wooden furniture - tongue-and-groove connection

Wooden furniture - dovetail joint

Wooden furniture - fastening corners

Anti-dust panels between dresser drawers

The back panels of furniture that face the wall are usually secured with screws to provide lateral stability. The backs and hidden parts should be smoothly sanded and well fitted - this is an important feature for such furniture.

The doors should close gently, without a sharp knock, and remain flush with the body when they are opened. Take a closer look at the fittings (latches, handles, drawer guides, hinges, etc.): what material is it made of, how well is it secured?

Finishing

High-quality wooden furniture must certainly have a good finish. Sanding, painting and applying a protective coating are the main components of this process, and lack of care at any of the stages can affect the overall quality of the product.

Sanding is the first step in the wood furniture finishing process. The surface of the product should be smooth when you run your hand over it, without any rough areas that impede movement. Sanding across the grain of the wood often results in unsightly results such as dark lines or scratches across the entire surface.

Poor quality finishing of wooden furniture

Painting wooden furniture

Based on all of the above, let’s highlight the main signs of poorly finished wood:

• surface roughness;
• too shiny or cloudy coating that hides the wood texture;
• split edges;
• scratches, dents or specks;
• dull spots indicating missed areas and careless application of the coating;
• frozen “tears” on the edges and vertical surfaces of furniture.

An exception in this case may be artificially aged wooden furniture. Many designers today use similar effects to give furniture a rustic, country style. The wood is specially beaten, cut and scratched, after which a protective coating is applied that prevents the paint from chipping, splinters appearing, etc.

Ash

The density of wood species is 690 kg/m3.

Ash is a genus of deciduous plants of the olive family, which has about 70 species. Ash grows singly or in groups in mixed forests, often together with oak, less often with conifers.

This is a moderate neighbor of the oak, which for some reason has not become known as such, although it deserves all praise. Not inferior to it in strength and hardness, richness of texture, it is significantly superior to it in long-term resistance to deformation and impact strength. Therefore, it is perfectly suitable for the production of stairs, floor coverings and other interior details. Currently, ash is increasingly becoming fashionable among furniture makers and parquet manufacturers. Regarding consumer qualities, we can say that ash, with normal care, lasts a long time and does not present any surprises. The cost of products made from it is close to the price of products made from oak and beech.

The ash wood species, which has the highest physical and mechanical characteristics, finds the most extensive application. It is used to make veneer, bent and carved furniture, railings and parquet, paneling, window frames and sofas, hunting and combat bows, and sports equipment.

Density 660 kg/m3.

Beech is the second most common and valuable genus of the bamboo family after oak. These are deciduous trees, thin, columnar, 45-50 m high, with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m. Beeches grow up to 350 years old, more actively at the age of 40-100 years. Life expectancy is over 500 years.

The beech tree species is snow-white with yellow or red color. The annual layers are clearly visible. Older trees occasionally have red-brown colored mature wood. This does not affect the quality; on the contrary, such trees are especially valued by cabinetmakers, but they are found quite rarely. The color palette of beech wood is quite diverse - from pink to snow-white. In order to remove this variety of colors and give the wood the most uniform color, and also to create it as balanced as possible, beech needs preparatory steaming. If this is not done, the texture of the wood will be very variegated. This procedure takes about three days.

Beech has perhaps the highest bending ability, which has been widely used in the production of bent furniture. The wood is perfectly processed, perfectly finished, and accepts various paints and varnishes.

Due to its high wear resistance, beech is widely used for the production of wooden stairs. The pleasant warm color is a prerequisite for the fact that it is often used for separate small products.

The light pinkish color of beech evokes a feeling of warmth. The simple and generous structure of this covering is a beautiful finishing touch to all interiors.

The density of wood species is 650 kg/m3.

Birch got its name for its snow-white bark. This is a non-nuclear breed. The tree species is snow-white, with yellow or red color. The annual layers are poorly visible. The medullary rays are visible only in strictly circular sections.

The distribution area of ​​birch is very wide - 2/3 of the area of ​​​​all deciduous forests in our country.

Birch is used for the production of plywood and wood panels, furniture, tools, fittings, turning products, and veneer. Birch wood is perfectly tinted, opening up virtually unlimited design possibilities.

Larch

The density of Siberian larch is 620-725 kg/m3 with a humidity of up to 12%.

Larch is a genus of woody plants of the pine family, one of the most common species of coniferous trees. This is the only genus of conifers whose needles fall off in the winter.

Larch wood is characterized by increased strength compared to oak. In addition to special strength and resistance to external influences, it is characterized by good color and structure.

Possessing high physical and mechanical properties, at the same time it requires a certain technological approach when processing it. Saw blades become heavily oiled when sawing. It is difficult to process with ordinary tools, but can be sanded and painted well. Prolonged exposure to water leads to a noticeable increase in hardness.

The cost of products or structures made from larch is higher than from pine, but the products are much more durable.

Story

In many cultures, the oak tree was considered a sacred tree due to its powerful appearance and benefits. And the spreading crown, and valuable wood, and bark, and oak fruits, acorns, have been used since ancient times for protective, domestic and economic purposes.

Interesting fact. At a time when agriculture was not yet developed, the oak acted as a “bread tree”, because after washing and drying its acorns, flour was made and bread was baked.

Today, oak is still valued for its unique properties. The southern species of this tree have sweet fruits that are edible. Oak bark contains tannins, which are used in medicine and industry. But the most important value is oak wood - strong and elastic - which is used for the production of construction and finishing materials, furniture and other joinery products.