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Basic Board Terms - Woodworking Terminology
If you’re new to woodworking, understanding the basic board terms is essential to kickstart your journey. In this blog, we’ll guide you through the fundamental terminology that every woodworker should know. Let’s dive in and help you build a solid foundation for your woodworking projects!
Basic Board Terms
Below are just a few basic board terms to get you started. Woodworking is a vast field with its own specialised vocabulary, but understanding these terms will help you navigate and communicate within the woodworking community.
Board Foot: A unit of measurement for lumber equal to a piece of wood that is 1 foot long, 1 foot wide, and 1 inch thick.
Rough Lumber: Lumber that is unfinished and has not been planed or sanded.
Dimensional Lumber: Lumber that has been planed and cut to standardized thicknesses and widths, such as 2x4 or 1x6.
Hardwood: Wood that comes from broad-leaved trees and is typically denser and harder than softwood.
Softwood: Wood that comes from coniferous or evergreen trees and is generally less dense and softer than hardwood.
Plywood: A sheet material made by gluing multiple thin layers of wood veneer together, providing strength and stability.
Veneer: Thin slices of wood typically glued onto a substrate to provide an attractive surface or finish.
Knot: A portion of a branch or a burl that becomes embedded in the wood of a tree and appears as a circular or irregularly shaped spot on the board.
Warp: The deformation or curvature of a board due to uneven drying or changes in moisture content.
Crosscut: Cutting a board across the grain or perpendicular to its length.
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If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, keep an eye out for more woodworking articles to develop your knowledge and skill over time.
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