1.6 - Natural wood

• Absorbency - the ability to soak up moisture, light or heat
• Density - how solid/compact a material is: calculated by mass (grams) divided by volume (cm^3)
• Fusibility - the ability to be converted through heat to a liquid state and combined with another material before cooling as one
• Electrical conductivity - the ability to conduct electricity
• Thermal conductivity - the ability to conduct heat
• Working properties -

  Strength - the ability to withstand compression, tension and shear

  Hardness - the ability to withstand impact without damage

  Toughness - materials that are hard to break or snap and can absorb shock

  Malleability - the ability to bend or shape easily

  Ductility - the ability to be stretched

  Elasticity - the ability to be stretched and then return to its original shape
• Hardwoods are used in wide range of applications:

  • Ash is very tough, but also flexible and shock resistant
  • Beech is tough and very durable with a fine finish
  • Oak is tough, hard and durable with a variable grain
• Balsa wood is a soft and lightweight material - hardwood because it comes from a flowering tree

  • Strong in relation to its weight and density
• Desirable hardwood -

  • Mahogany is sought after for its durability, colour and aesthetics
• Useful softwood -

  • Softwood is cost effective and readily sourced, making it an ideal choice for the construction industry
  • Pine is lightweight and easy to work with
  • Larch is durable, tough and has good water resistant
  • Spruce has a high stiffness to weight ratio
  • Cedar contains natural oils which offer natural water resistance
• TONEWOOD -

  • Some woods possess tonal properties that make them ideal for use in stringed instruments
  • Spruce is used as the body of instruments
  • Has high stiffness to weight ratio makes it ideal for the soundboard
  • Mahogany is used for necks and sides of acoustic guitars and sometimes the body of electric guitars