3.5.4

Timber: Shape & Form 2

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Sanding

There are many different methods of shaping and forming wood. This variety reflects the range of products that can be made from timber. The processes used for wood are cutting, drilling, sanding, chiselling and planing.

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Sanding

  • Sanding can come in a paper form or a machine form.
  • You can use sandpaper or a sanding block.
  • To sand something you rub a gritty abrasive paper on the surface of a material to reduce its dimensions or to enhance its finish (usually to smooth it).
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Sandpaper

  • Sandpaper comes in many levels.
  • It varies from 60-400 grit.
  • The higher the number the smoother and less abrasive the paper is.
  • It is usual to start with a lower grit and work to a higher grit so that you achieve a full smooth finish.
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Sanding wood

  • Prepare the wood and ensure that the surface is clean and free from dirt.
  • Ensure you work evenly and in a circular or linear motion.
  • A rotary or belt sander can be used to speed this process up.
  • It is important to use an extractor fan or a dust mask to prevent inhaling dust particles.

Planing

The planer is used to shave away wood so that it is smoother, flatter and improved in terms of shape or the thickness reduced.

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Planing

  • Planing can be achieved through:
    • A bench plane.
    • A router plane.
    • An electric planer.
    • A thicknesser.
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Using a planer

  • The planer is used to shave away wood so that it is smoother, flatter and improved in terms of shape or the thickness reduced.
  • The 45-degree angle on the planer can be adjusted so that more wood can be shaved off.
  • Often you will plane a rough sawn piece of wood to square it off.
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Using a thicknesser

  • A thicknesser easily reduces the thickness of the wood and ensure that the wood is ready to use.
  • Once timber has been laminated side by side you can use a thicknesser to make a furniture board.
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Using a chisel

  • A chisel is made up of a steel blade that has a handle on one side and a sharp blade that is honed on the other.
  • The angle of the blade is usually 30 degrees and is used for cutting shapes and patterns out of wood.
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Using a chisel cont.

  • Using a mallet you can hit the top of the chisel so it chips away material to effectively create cuts, patterns or wood joints.
  • As you get more confident you can begin to carve patterns out of wood.
  • Chisels are good for creating carved patterns, housing joints and to chop mortises (recess or cut out in wood).

Jump to other topics

1Core Technical Principles

2Paper & Board: Specialist Technical Principles

3Timber: Specialist Technical Principles

4Metal: Specialist Technical Principles

5Polymers: Specialist Technical Principles

6Textiles: Specialist Technical Principles

7Designing & Making Principles

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