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This lesson covers natural timbers — hardwoods and softwoods — as specified in AQA GCSE Design and Technology (8552), Section 3.1.6. Understanding the properties, uses and environmental considerations of timber is essential for material selection in your exam and NEA.
The terms "hardwood" and "softwood" refer to the type of tree the timber comes from, not necessarily the hardness of the wood.
| Feature | Hardwood | Softwood |
|---|---|---|
| Tree type | Broad-leaved, deciduous (usually) | Coniferous (cone-bearing), evergreen (usually) |
| Growth rate | Slow (decades to mature) | Fast (10–30 years to harvest) |
| Cost | Generally more expensive | Generally cheaper |
| Density | Usually denser and harder (but not always — balsa is a hardwood!) | Usually lighter and softer |
| Availability | Less readily available | Widely available, often plantation-grown |
| Examples | Oak, mahogany, beech, balsa, ash, teak | Pine (Scots pine), spruce, cedar, larch |
AQA Exam Tip: The most common mistake is assuming hardwoods are always hard and softwoods are always soft. Balsa is a hardwood but is extremely soft and lightweight. The classification is about the tree type (deciduous vs coniferous), not the physical hardness. This is a frequently tested fact.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colour | Light brown with prominent grain |
| Hardness | Very hard and strong |
| Durability | Extremely durable; naturally resistant to decay |
| Workability | Difficult to work due to hardness; can split when nailing |
| Weight | Heavy |
| Cost | Expensive |
Uses: High-quality furniture, flooring, structural beams, boat building, garden furniture (outdoor use due to durability), whisky barrels.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colour | Reddish-brown, darkens with age |
| Hardness | Medium-hard |
| Durability | Good; resistant to rot and insects |
| Workability | Good — easy to cut, shape and finish |
| Weight | Medium |
| Cost | Expensive (and availability is restricted due to over-logging) |
Uses: High-end furniture, veneers, musical instruments (guitar bodies), window frames, boat building.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colour | Pale cream to pinkish-brown |
| Hardness | Hard and strong |
| Durability | Poor outdoors (susceptible to rot if not treated) |
| Workability | Good — takes stain and finish well; excellent for steam bending |
| Weight | Heavy |
| Cost | Moderate |
Uses: Furniture (chairs, tables), children's toys (food-safe, smooth), tool handles, kitchen utensils, workshop benches.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colour | Pale white to cream |
| Hardness | Very soft — can be dented with a fingernail |
| Durability | Poor — lightweight, weak, susceptible to damage |
| Workability | Very easy to cut with a craft knife |
| Weight | Extremely lightweight (one of the lightest woods in the world) |
| Cost | Moderate |
Uses: Model-making, prototyping, lightweight structural cores in composites (e.g. sandwich panels in boats), surfboards.
| Property | Detail |
|---|---|
| Colour | Pale yellow to reddish-brown; visible knots |
| Hardness | Moderately soft |
| Durability | Moderate — must be treated for outdoor use (pressure-treated pine is common) |
| Workability | Easy to work with hand and machine tools |
| Weight | Light to medium |
| Cost | Cheap — widely available from managed plantations |
Uses: Construction timber (stud walls, roof trusses, joists), fencing, furniture, interior joinery (door frames, skirting boards), DIY projects.
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