TIMBER AND TIMBER PRODUCTS

Growth of a Tree.

Crown

Trunk

Roots systems

Classification of timber tree

Softwood Hardwood
-Needle like leaves -Broad leaves
-cones for their seeds -acorn for seeds
-Evergreen (coniferous) -Shed leaves (deciduous)
-lighter in weight -Denser in weight

Structure of a tree trunk

1.
Functions of parts
Bark -the outermost part of wood that protects the wood against external damage eg
insects, animal, human and mechanical attacks.
Bast -Inner layer of the bark, green in color. It transports foods from the leaves to the other
parts of the tree.
Cambium layer-It contains the growth cells , it grows into new wood.
Sapwood -It contains the newly grown wood and it stores the sap( water) and starch for the
tree.
Heartwood – It is the mature wood and gives firm support to the tree. It is the part that gives
the best timber.
Pith -It is the inner most part of the tree and it stores the tree waste ,it represents early growth.
Annul rings or growth rings – These are layers of tissues representing the growth of the tree.
Medullary rays –These are thin openings on the tree that allows waste to pass for storage in
the heartwood.
Timber conversion
This is changing logs or trunks into marketable sizes of timbers.

Methods includes:-
1. Plain or Through and through or rift method.
2.Box or tangential method.
3. Quarter method or Radial method.

Tangential sawing or Box sawing.

2.
Plain sawing:-
Advantages –less wastage Disadvantages- Timbers shrink more on both sides,they
-Time saving have sapwood on both sides
-Good for mass production -They have short grains

Tangential sawing:-
Advantages -Timbers are durable Disadvantages -Has a lot of waste
-Sapwood and heartwood can be -Time consuming
Separated
-Timbers cannot split when nailed
-Good appearance.

Radial or quarter sawing:-

Advantages-Good timbers Disadvantages- Time wasting
-Sapwood is separated -more waste.

Types of timbers obtained from conversion

(i) Boards - Thin and wide sections
(ii) Frames or Joists - rectangular section
(iii) Planks – Broad and thick sections
(iv) Posts – square sections

Timber seasoning
The removal of excess moisture in newly converted timbers in a controlled way is called
reasoning. Wet timbers are not good for working with due to the excessive moisture in the
timbers. It should be noted that the moisture content must removed in controlled way to avoid
timber shrinkage that causes deformations and warpage.
Only the excess moisture should be removed, up to required moisture contend is arrived at.

Moisture content (mc) =(wet weight-dry weight) X 100

Dry weight
The moisture content for construction timbers is between 23%-27%
Example:- A sample piece of timber weighs 25g when wet,after drying it weighs 20g.
What is percentage moisture content.
wetweight =25g, dry weight =20g. mc =(25-20)g=5g. but mc=(wet weight-dry weight) X 100
Dry weight
MC = 5x 100
20 =25%
3.
 Methods of seasoning
a) Open air seasoning or Natural method
Timbers are placed in an open shed protected from direct sun light. It is spaced to allow air
circulation between the timbers. The under side of the shed should be free from vegetations.
Advantages –Its cheap in construction. –Doesn’t require skilled labuor.
Disadvantages-It takes long to dry.-Moisture content cannot be controlled.-Not done through
out the year.

4.
b) Kiln seasoning or Artificial seasoning
Timber is placed in a kiln where temperatures and humidity are closely controlled by skilled
persons.
Advantages-It is fast. –MC can be controlled.-Its done throughout the year.
Disadvantages-It is expensive.-It requires skilled labor.-It causes more defects

Timber Kiln

Timber defects
It should be noted that the moisture content must removed in controlled way to avoid timber
shrinkage that causes deformations and warpage. These deformations are called Timber
defects. Timber defects is the deterioration or degrading of timbers either due to:
(i)Growth -Knots, sloping grains, curls, shakes
(ii)conversion-Warney edge, collapse
(iii)seasoning-Bowing ,twisting, warping, springing, cupping, end splits.

5.
Timber defects

Advantages of seasoned timbers.

a)It doesn’t decay or rot
b)It accepts finishes well, eg paints and varnishes.
c)It is works well with hand tools and machines.
d)It shrinks less therefore good for furniture making.
e)It is good in electrical resistance.
f)It is not affected by insects.
h)It is strong and more durable.
i) It is light in weight when handling.

6.
Preservation of timber
Timbers need to be treated with preservatives to protect them from insect and fungal attacks
hence increase their life. However not all timbers are treated because they have natural oils
and resins that protects them. Eg cedar, teak oak etc.(but they are expensive timber trees)
Types of Preservatives
Any preservative must possess qualities that are poisonous to agents of decay. In practice only
a few are in use because they meet all or most of the following requirements :-Toxicity to wood
destroying agents (insects and fungi), -Permanency ,economical, availability, Penetration or
penetrability, non poisonous to humans plants and animals, non corrosive nature, non
flammable.
Preservative are classified as:-
(i) Tar or Creosote. (oil preservatives)
These are widely used, particularly in the form of coal- tar or creosote than the pressure
impregnation. They are brush applied and excellent for timbers located externally or exposed to
weather elements. The disadvantages includes flammability, odor on food and difficulty in
applying paint therefore restricting internal use.
(ii) Water soluble preservatives.
The preservatives are odourless and non staining with no restrictions on decorative treatment,
making treated timber more suitable for interior finishing and joinery work. Because its water
based, re-drying the timbers might be necessary to acceptable moisture content. It is not
flammable . The most commonly used is a copper chrom-arenic
(iii) Organic-solvent preservatives
These are generally poor in respect to non-flammability because of the volatile nature of the
solvent. Such preservatives are generally non corrosive , but may be adverse to foods. The
treated timber can be decorated by paints without the need for re-drying.
Methods of timber treatment.
The methods vary from a surface treatment of notional protective value to full pressure
impregnation. They include :-
(i)Brush Application. This is ordinary but least effective method. However providing the
preservative is flooded over he surface to encourage absorption .
Reasonable penetration is possible in permeable timbers
(ii)Deluging, Dipping or Steeping. These applications are often specified for a variety of
preservatives although the organic solvent type is most frequently used in one or any other of
these methods. In these methods, preheating may assist penetration depending on the
preservative used. These methods are used in increasing order of the length of immersion.
Deluging-Fairly a short time of immersion (5to10)minutes.
Dipping-Moderate length of immersion.
7.
Steeping-Is reserved for a period of several days of immersion which might result in deep
penetration in permeable timbers.
(iii) Open tank application
This can be very efficient in ensuring penetration in permeable timber. The method is generally
used to ensure maximum penetration of preservative into softwoods.
It is done in a large metal tank in which the preservative can be heated at 80 oc by open fire or
steam. The timbers can remain there for several hrs, when the heat turned off ,the preservative
penetrates the timber.
(iv)Pressure Application
This is the most efficient method and controllable method of preservation. It is widely and
economically practiced. Pressure plants were initially found at major timber factories but now
are available in many places. They include:-
(a)The full cell process- . In this method, the timber is placed in a large enclosed
pressure tank and is subjected to vacuum. While the vacuum is maintained, the preservative,
usually pre-heated, is introduced onto the until it is filled. the pressure is increased to a
required amount and then reduced. The vessel is emptied of preservative and then a further
vacuum is applied to clean the surface of the timber.
(b)The empty cell process. There are several similar methods but they differ from
the full process by absence of a preliminary vacuum period.
They include :- 1)Rueping Method
2)The lowry method
3)The boultern method
NB. Before Preservation is don ensure the timbers are well seasoned.
Tests done on timbers.
It is recommended by BS laboratory tests to check up the physical properties of timber.
i) Moisture content test
Variation in moisture content affects the properties of timber. To determine the moisture
content of timber , obtain a sample timber of 5x5x2.5 cm and weigh it, recording the weight as
wet weight (wi).It is the oven dried at a temperature of 103oc.
The weight of specimen is regularly observed and noted till no variation is observed .The weight
is then recorded as dry weight (wo).
wi−wo
Then calculate moisture content (MC) =
wo
x100

8.
ii) Specific gravity test
The specimen of the test are to be 5x5x15 cm piece and free from usual defects. Weigh the
specimen while green and note as (Wi) usually corrected to 0.001gm and the volume (Vi)
measured by immersion method corrected to 0.01cm 3.
The specimen is then end coated with paraffin wax by immersion and left to air season at room
temperature till moisture content is
about 12%.The weight (Wr) and volume(Vr) are recorded when MC is about r%.The specimen
is the kept in an oven at a temperature of 103oc till weight is constant, weight (Wo) and(Vo) are
recorded. Therefore:-

Wi
Specific gravity =
Vi

Wo
Standard specific gravity =
Vi

Wo
Oven dry specific gravity =
Vo

Timber grading
Stress grading of timber should be done to ensure proper designing of timber structures.The
following should be known:-
(i)Permissible bending stress
(ii) Permissible shear stress
(iii) Permissible compressive stress in parallel grains.
(iv) Permissible compressive stress perpendicular to grains.
(v)Modulus of elasticity.

MANUFACTURED BOARDS (MAN MADE)

Apart from using timber in their natural form, other by products are also used. These are called
man made or manufactured using timber bye products. They include:-
i)Plywood
ii)Laminated board
a)lamin board
b)block board
c)batten board

9.
iii)Chipboards(particle boards)
iv)Fibre boards
a)Hardboards
b)medium boards(M D F)
c)Softboard (insulation board)
v)veneers

Plywood
This is a thin sheet of manufactured board, made from an odd number of plies. The lowest
number of plies being three plies. One ply is about 1mm thick . These plies are arranged in
perpendicular to each others grains which makes the board made very strong and stable.
These thin sheets are then glued together and kiln dried, then trimmed to size of (2.4x1.2)m
These thin sheets are obtained from the logs by either (i)Rotary method (ii)slice method.

Plywood manufacture

a)Rotary cutting b) Slice cutting

10.
There several types of plywoods:-
-Three plies Plywood
-Stout heart plywood
-multi ply plywood
-marine plywood
Advantages of plywood over solid timber
i)They are not affected by timber defects and fungal attacks due to their construction.
ii)They can bend without fracture .
iii)They don’t require surface preparations
iv)They are available in large surfaces
v)It is stronger than solid timber of the same thickness.
Uses of plywood
i)They are used in partitioning
ii)They are used in making furniture
iii)They are also used in making other manufactured boards like laminated boards
iv)Making flush doors
v)Special plywood are used for marine works
vi)making formworks.
vii)making wall panels and also at times ceiling.
Chipboards (particle boards)
These are made by mixing saw dust and forest droppings with adhesives and then pressed to
produce the board. A facing is then applied to create a smooth surface.
Other chipboards can be made eg, Three layer, graded density, extruded and extruded tubular.
Uses
-furniture making ,-cabinet making, formwork ,decking.
-ceiling -partitioning,-cladding, paneling. Flooring.
Laminated boards
These three boards are made by laminating narrow strips of woods together and sandwiching
them with between two veneers or ply woods. The width of the strips varies with each type of
board. Laminboard-up to 8mmm wide,blockboard-from8-25mm,and batten board from 25-
75mm.The arrangement of these strips makes the laminated boards very strong and stable.

11.
Uses
-Flooring
-Paneling
-Partitioning
-Door making Furniture making.
Fiber boards
These are manufactured from pulped wood or other vegetable fiber, which is then mixed with
adhesive and pressed into a sheet of the desirable thickness.
They include:-Hardboard
-Medium density fiber board (M.D.F)
- Soft boards (insulation boards)
Uses
-Ceiling.
-Formwork.
-Cladding.
-Display boards.
-Furniture making.
-Cabinet making& cupboards.

12.
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