•Timber is available in different

forms.–
1.Converted timber , which is sawn
and cut into suitable commercial
sizes.
2.Rough timber which is obtained
after falling a tree.
3.Standing timber which is
available in a living tree.
 Difference between Wood and Timber
•Wood includes all types of wood which may be
burning wood , structural wood, furniture wood
etc. but when wood suitable for use as a
structural material is called Timber.
•Wood is commonly found in the stems and roots
of the trees. It is natural composite of cello use
fibers.
•Timber is used to refer to any stage of the wood
after the tree has been cut down. This may
include the felled tree, wood processed for
construction , wood pulp for paper production etc.
Timber is also known as LUMBER.
PROPERTIES OF TIMBER
1.Appearance
•Colour, grain, features, smoothness, of surface
•Reflect species, growth patterns, history of tree
•Specification: species, durability, appearance graded
2. Utility
•Dimensional stability (shrinkage, twist, bow, cup, spring), surface
hardness
•Reflect stress changes with moisture loss, creep
•Specification: moisture content (best close to equilibrium moisture
content)
3. Structural
•Strength (tension, compression, bending, shear, bearing) stronger
parallel to grain
•Stiffness – stiffer parallel to grain
•Reflect grain structure, slope of grain, features in timber
•Specification: structural grade and species
INDUSTRIAL TIMBER
 Timber which is scientifically prepared in factory to get the
desired shape, size, appearance, and strength is known as
INDUSTRIAL TIMBER. It is available in various variety such as
Plywood, Veneer, Laminated timber, block board, fiber boards
etc.
 Veneers are thin sheets or slices of wood of superior quality
which are knife cut by various processes. It is used to
produce plywood, batten boards and laminated boards and
this process is called veneering. Thickness – varies from
4mm to as much as 6mm or even more.
 Plywood is prepared by
cementing together thin
boards or sheets or wood into
panels. Three or more
veneers which are always
odd in numbers are placed
one above the other so that
the grain of each layer is at
right angles to the grain in
the adjacent layer. It is used
for interior partition , doors
and paneling. It is generally
manufactured in 3 ply, 5 ply ,
7 ply and so on. Thickness -
varies from 3mm to 5mm.
 Fiber board is rigid board which is prepared after processing
pieces of wood, cane and then pressing them together that’s
why it ia also called pressed wood or reconstructed wood.. It
is available in various forms like laminated boards, hard
boards etc. It is used for wall paneling, suspending ceiling
and partitions, table tops, for flush doors etc. thickness-
varies from 6mm to as much as 25mm.
 Block board has a core made up of strips of wood glued or joined
to form a slab which is further glued between two or more outer
veneers in such a way that direction of the grain of the core
blocks running at right angles to the adjacent outer veneers.
These are of two types: commercial and decorative. It is used for
furniture, paneling, partition. Thickness are 12mm to 50mm
length vary from 1.2mm to2.4mm and width from 90cm to 1.2m.
 Hard board are manufactured from wood wastes
obtained from saw mills, inferior timber or short logs.
Raw material is converted into chips with the help of
machines which are softened with steam and converted
into fibers. The maximum length is 4.75m and thickness
varies from 2mm to 20mm. It is used for interior or
exterior wall panels, ceiling, siding, table and counter
tops etc. It is free from defects like shakes and knots.
 Batten boards are just like laminate boards and
block boards are made from timber blocks of width
of 8cm and 2to 3cm thick. Direction of the grains of
core batten is at right angles to that of adjacent out
ply sheet. There are used for door panels, table top
and other large surfaces.
FORMS OF TIMBER
 BATTENS are small sectioned timber pieces.
 LOGS : Trunks of trees left after removing all the
branches is called log.
 BAULK is roughly squared swan log.
 PLANKS are timber pieces having parallel sides with less
than 5cm thickness and width always more than 5cm.
 BOARD is also timber piece with parallel sides with less
than 5cm thickness and more than 15cm width.
 DEAL is also parallel sided piece , thickness varies from
5cm to10cm and width should not exceed 23cm.
 SCANTLINGS are timber pieces , thickness and breath is
always more than 5cm and length is not less than 20cm.
 POLE OR SPAR is a log having 20cm diameter.
BATTENS
LOGS

BAULK PLANKS
BOARDS DEAL

POLE OR SPAR
SCANTLING
QUALITIES OF GOOD TIMBER
 A good timber should be hard ,tough, durable,
heavy, straight and compact fibers, properly
seasoned, elastic, dark and uniform color, sweet
smell and freshly surface and adquate fire
resistance.
 It should be capable of resisting the action of
fungi, chemicals and physical agencies and free
from knots, twists, upsets, burls, shakes etc.
 A clear ringing sound should be emitted by the
timber when struck.
 DEFECTS OF TIMBER WHICH DEVELOPS
DURING THE GROWTH OF TREE
 SHAKES : Cracks which partly or
completely separate the fibers of wood.
Shakes are many types- star shakes,
heart shakes, cup shakes, ring shakes,
radial shakes.

RIND GALLS : Curved swelling on the

body of the tree.

TWISTED FIBERS:
Twisting of young trees
constantly in one
direction under the
action of strong
prevalent winds
 UPSETS OR RUPTURES : This defect changes
in direction of wooden fibers due to felling of
tree or fast blowing wind.

BURLS: Irregular projections appears on

the surface of the tree

KNOTS: These are found at the bases of

branches cut off from the tree. They
may be dead, live loose or tight. It is
very difficult to plane timber at knots.

CALLUS: Soft tissue or skin which covers

the wounds of the tree is called callus.
COARSE GRAIN: Timber having
WIND CRACKS: Cracks on the outer
widened annual rings.
surface of the tree due to atmospheric
agencies.

DRUXINESS: White
decayed spots of
timber remain
concealed under
healthy wood due to
access of fungi.
DEAD WOOD : It is indicated by its reddish
color and light weight.
DEFECTS OF TIMBER WHICH DEVELOPS
AFTER FELLING THE TREES
 BOW : Bow means when planks of converted timber shrink and bend in
curved form in the direction of length.
 CUP : When wooden planks bend in curved form in transverse direction.
 TWIST: Distorted spirally wooden plank along its length.
 CASE HARDENING: Upper surface of timber dries very fast and shrinks.
 HONEY COMBING DEFECTS: Various radial as well as circular cracks develop
in internal portion of the timber due to stresses developed during drying.
 RADIAL SHAKES: Radial cracks on the surface of timber
 CHECK: A crack separating wood fibers. SPLIT: When check extends from
one end to other.
 WANE: Original or natural rounded surface on timber.
 DIAGNOL GRAINS: When timber is improperly sawn then diagonal marks
develops on straight grained surface of timber.
METHODS OF PRESERVING TIMBER
 CHARRING : The timber is
charred to be firstly kept wet TARRING: In this method a
one hours and then burnt to a
depth of about 15mm and later of hot tar is applied on
cooled with water, It is called the surface of timber.
charring. This protects timber
from moisture, fungi, or white
aunts.
Paint : it is applied to timber not only Wolman’s Salts: It is a Mixture of
makes it beautiful look but also acts creosote oil and sodium fluoride. It
as a preservative protects timber from fungi.
Ascu Treatment: It is prepared by mixing
six parts of Hydrated arsenic pent oxide,
Copper sulphate and Potassium
Dichromate with 100 parts of water. It
gives protection from white aunts.
VACCUM PRESSURE PROCESS: It is
considered one of the best method
which is two types
1. Bethel or full cell process– In this
process air and moisture get
removed from the timber cells.
2. Rue ping or Empty cell process
HOT AND COLD PROCESS: In this process
timber is stacked in the tank and cold
preservative solution till timber stacks get
completely submerged , then heated to a
temperature of about 90 degree C and
maintained this temperature for some times. In this method, the timber is placed
in an open tank which contains
preservative solution. This solution
is then heated for few hours at 85 to
95 degree Celsius. Then, the
solution is allowed to cool and
timber gets submerged with this
gradual cooling. This type of
treatment is generally done for sap
wood.

OAK , a heavy strong colored
hard wood is used to craft
American and English country
designs and mostly used for
sports good Its color is yellowish
brown and possesses straight
silvery grains. Its weights 865kg
and very strong and durable.
MAPLE is so hard and resistant to
smocks that is often used for bowling
alley floors. The bird eye figure in
maple is said to be the result of
stunted growth and is quite rare.
It is used for American colonial
furniture, especially in medium and
lower priced categories. It can also be
stained to simulate cherry wood which
it resembles.
MAHOGANY
•also known as Honduras mahogany and much ten valuable
wood. Being ten strong , not as durable not as beautiful when
finished It has reddish brown color and may display stripe
ribbon , broken stripe, rope ripple, mottle, fiddle back or bristle
figure.
•It is used extensively in the crafting of Georgian empire and
furniture , pattern making cabinet work etc.
• It contains resinous oil to save itself from insects attack.
• Weights 720kg after seasoning.
 WALNUT
CHERRY • is one of the most versatile and
• is sometimes called ‘ fruitwood’ and is popular cabinet making wood. It
grown in the eastern half of U.S.A. It has grows in Europe, America and Asia.
been called New England Mahogany and It is strong , hard and durable
is often used to craft 18th century without being excessively heavy. It
colonial and French provincial designs. has excellent word working
•A moderately hard, strong, closed grain, qualities and takes finishes well. It
light to red brown wood, cherry resists is light to dark , chocolate brown in
wrapping and checking. It is easy to card color with a straight grain in the
and polish and is used in variety of trunk.
styles. •It is used in all types of fine
cabinet work especially 18th
 TEAK
• yellow to dark brown hardwood which i
extremely heavy, strong and durable. Its
ROSEWOOD fibers are straight , fir resistant, acidic
•is a dark reddish brown color hardwood action resistant and white ant resistant,.
,fragrant and has closed grains. It is not •It can be used for any structural or
easy to work and takes high polish. decorative work, such as ship building,
•It is used in musical instrument, piano railway sleepers, railway carriages and
cases, tool handles, art projects, veneers furniture etc.
and furniture. • Its weights 770 kg.
BIRCH is hard, heavy close grained
hardwood with a light brown or
reddish colored heartwood and
cream or light sapwood.
CEDAR is knotty softwood which has been
a red brown color with light streaks. It
aromatic and moth repellent qualities
have made it a popular wood for lining
drawers, boxes, simple cases and storage
closets are also constructed from this light
brittle wood.
REDWOOD
•is rare,
valuable and best
quality of it comes from
the heartwood which is
resistant to
deterioration due to
sunlight, moisture and
insects.
•It is used to craft HEMLOCK
outdoor furniture and •is light in
decorative curving. Its weight , uniformly
burls have ‘ a cluster of texture has law
eyes’ figure. resistance to decay
and non resinous.
• It is used for
construction lumber,
plants, door boards,
paneling, sub flooring
and craft works.
SPRUCE is strong ang
light in weight has
low resistance to
decay, moderate
shrinkage.
It is used for marts
and crates spares for FIR is easy to work
ships and aircrafts, and finishes well,
boxes, general uniform in texture
millworks, ladders and no resinous has
etc. low resistance to
decay.
It is used in
making
furniture, door and
window frames,
veneer, and interior
trim.
PINE
• is a soft white or
pale yrllow wood which is
light weight , straight
grain and lacks figure. It
decays easily when comes
in contact with soil. It is
used in the manufacturing
of matches.
• While other colored pines
are quite hard and
tough.It is used for
pattern making, frames
for doors and windows,
paving materials etc.
•There are more than 100
species of pine.
ASH
• is a heavy ring
porous wood has a
prominent grains that
resembles oak and
white to light brown
color. It burls have a
HICKORY is one of the
twisted interwoven hardest and heaviest
figure. softwood. Pecan is a
•It is widely used for species of hickory some
structural frames and times used in furniture.
steam bent furniture It has close grains
without much figures. It
pieces. is used for structural
parts. Decorative
hickory veneers are also
commonly used.
BEECH
•has tiny pores and large
conspicuous medullar rays and
similar in appearance to maple,
reddish brown heartwood , light
sapwood and relatively
inexpensive.
•It is often used for frames, a
variety of bent and turned parts
quarter sliced and half round cut
beech veneers are commonly
BABUL
•It is strong, hard, tough, durable,
quite strong and difficult to work.
Its color is whitish red which is
turns brown due to exposure and
not available in large length.
Weight is 880kg
• It is used for making the wheels
of bullock cart, tool handles,
agricultural instruments and well
curbs.
CHIR
•is straight long timber and have
conical leaves. Its color is yellow BAKUL is reddish
becomes more and more dark brown in color and
due to exposure. Weight is 560kg used mostly for making
and easy to work. cabinets.
•It is used for railway sleepers, •weight is 880kg.
piles, railway carriages, cheap
furniture etc.
BANYAN is a species whose aerial
roots are utilized for tent polls,
well curbs etc.
• It is strong and durable only
under water . Its color is brown
and weight 580kg.
BAMBOO is used for
a scaffolding, thatch
roofs and temporary
bridges.

COCONUT is used as poles, piles,
furniture and frame work in
concrete construction.
SAL is a very good variety
of timber and can be used
for any purpose but not
easy to work. Its color is
light brown or yellow .
•It is used for tent pegs,
doors and window frames
and as wooden piles,
bullies etc, but can not
used for decorative works.
SHISHAM
•also called Tali or Sissue , one of the
most useful and high class timber ,
heayy and can be seasoned easily, Its
ARJUN is very strong,
color is dark brown containing golden
heavy and durable
and dark brown colored linings.
timber . Its color is dark
•It is used for furniture's, plywood,
brown.
sports goods , railway sleepers,
• It is used in the form of
bridges piles etc
posts, beams ,rafters
etc.
LAUREL is a hard tough type of
timber and likely to crack and
resist attack of dry rot. Its color is
dark brown.
It is used for house
construction , boat construction,
structural work and railway
sleepers.
MANGO is moderately strong
, easy to work and in deep
grey color.
It is used for making
cheap furniture, packing
boxes, panels for doors and
windows etc.
TAMARIND is a fruit giving tree, very
knotty and durable timber and color
is dark brown.
It is used for well curbs, sugar
mills, carts, brick burning.
Agricultural implements.
CHARACTERISTICS OF TIMBER
 Sapwood contains cells still
used to transport nutrients
 Cells and vessels are open.
 Contains starches used as
“food” for the tree – also used
as food for insects and fungi –
lower durability
 Cell walls increasing in
thickness as tree grows
Heartwood contains blocked
cells and is used for waste
disposal and strength
•Cells and vessels closed
•Contains waste products
from tree growth – extractives
– many are harmful to insects
and fungi – gives natural
durability
•Cell wall thickness stable
CHARACTERISTIC FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF
TIMBER

1Strength
2.Toughness
3.Elasticity
4.Resistance to shear
5.Hardness
6. Fire resistance
7.Retention of shape 8. Durability 9. Workability
DISEASES IN TIMBER

•Dry Rot

•Wet Rot

•Insects
DRY ROT
The turning of timber tissues to
almost dry powder by fungi is called
dry rot. Eg. Of fungi :mushroom,
spongy plant The fungus feed upon
the wood and eats the wood tissue,
thus penetrating the wood fibres from
all direction.
Prevention:
1.well seasoned timber should be used.
2.timber should be used where there is free circulation and
access of air.
Remedy:
1.the timber should be painted with a solution of copper
sulphate.
2.the high temperature of seasoning of kiln helps in killing the
fungi.
WET ROT
The disintegration of tissue of
timber due to alternate wetting
and drying is called wet rot. The
attacks take place through the
wounds in bark by the access of
water.
Prevention:
1. All timber for exterior or underground work should be first
properly seasoned and then coated with tar to keep out
the dampness.
Remedy:
1. The best remedy for treating wet rot is by using a suitable
preservative.
INSECTS
Certain insects such as termites,
larva etc causes decay of timber.
They build up mud tunnels to keep
their movements covered and
continue their activity of eating into
the wood under the surface.
Prevention:
1.damp proof condition
2.cement mortar in joints
3. well seasoned wood
Remedy:
1.suitable preservatives
2.Providing copper bottom to wood which comes in contact
with water.