BBE 4406 Understanding Wood (2 credits)
| Catalog Description: |
For woodworking professionals and serious craftspersons.
Cellular structure of wood, identification of hardwoods
and softwoods, interaction of water and wood. No prior
technical training in wood properties is needed, although
general experience with woodworking is helpful.
|
| Prerequisites: |
none
|
| Class/Laboratory Schedule: |
TBA
|
| Location: |
TBA
|
| Instructors: |
Dr.
Robert Seavey
|
| Text: |
Text: Hoadley, R. Bruce. Understanding
Wood Taunton Press.
Supplement: Hoadley, R. Bruce. Identifying
Wood: Accurate Results with Simple Tools. Taunton Press.
Other Materials:
•
High quality knife - should be able to hone to very
sharp edge which will not dull readily. Wide, moderately
thick blades generally work better than narrow, thin
blades.
• Package of single edge razor blades.
• 10x (minimum) hand-lens.
|
| Grading: |
Midterm and final examinations and assignments will
be used in determining a grade for the course, with 30%
of the grade being established through the mid-term, 50%
through the final, and 20% through the assignments.
|
Course Objective
The purpose of this course is to provide a basic, introductory
course on the subject area of wood structure and identification,
and the utilization of wood for projects and products. The textbook
for the course is: Understanding Wood, by R. Bruce Hoadley. Wood
identification and wood-moisture relationships are emphasized.
As this course is an introductory course, other areas such as wood
figure in wood, strength, and finishing are also included.
Organization of the Course
This course consists of a combination of lectures and laboratory
study periods. During the lecture periods, group assignments will
be given out. You will be assigned to groups and then asked to
present the findings of your group.
Course Schedule
Period
|
Topic
|
Reading
|
Period 1
|
Introduction to wood structure. Relationship: wood structure
to wood properties. Use and care of tools used for wood
identification. Softwood structure.
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 1
Identifying Wood - Chapters 1 & 2
|
Period 2
|
Anatomy of softwood species:pines, spruce, Douglas fir & Larch
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 3
Identifying Wood - Chapter 3
|
Period 3
|
Anatomy of softwood species: fir, hemlock, redwood,
cypress, Figure in wood
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 2
|
Period 4
|
Identification of softwood species: Atlantic and northern
white cedar, eastern red cedar, incense cedar, western
red cedar
|
Identifying Wood - Chapter 11
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Period 5
|
Anatomy of hardwood species: ring porous species: oaks,
ash, and elm species
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 3
Identifying Wood - Chapter 4
|
Period 6
|
Anatomy of hardwood species: hickory, pecan, butternut
and walnut
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 3
|
Period 7
|
Anatomy of hardwood species Diffuse porous species:
birch, maple, beech, and sycamore
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 3
|
Period 8
|
Anatomy of hardwood species Cherry, Yellow Poplar, Red
Alder, Basswood and Aspen
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 3
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Period 9
|
Introduction to wood and water
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 6
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Period 10
|
Wood cell wall structure, Wood drying, Moisture content
determination
|
Understanding Wood - Chapters 7 & 8
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Period 11
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Specific gravity, Wood strength
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 4
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Period 12
|
Machining and joining wood
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Understanding Wood - Chapters 9 & 10
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Period 13
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Adhesives and gluing
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Understanding Wood - Chapter 11
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Period 14
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Finishing wood: exterior and interior; commercial and
small-scale
|
Understanding Wood - Chapter 12
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Period 15
|
Lumber, plywood and unique properties of wood. Course
Review
|
Understanding Wood - Chapters 5, 13, 14
|
|
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