VCE VET Furnishing key terms

Controlled drying of sawn timber to reduce moisture content so the wood becomes stable, less prone to shrinkage and warping, and suitable for machining and finishing in furniture work.

The amount of water held in wood, usually expressed as a percentage of its oven-dry weight. It affects movement, gluing, machining and the final stability of a finished piece.

Natural expansion and contraction of wood as it absorbs or loses moisture across the grain. Furniture design must allow for this so joints do not fail and panels do not split.

Seasoning timber by stacking it in a heated, ventilated chamber where temperature and humidity are controlled to bring moisture content down quickly and evenly to a target level.

Any natural or drying fault in wood, such as knots, splits, checks, shake or gum pockets, that lowers strength or appearance and must be assessed before the board is used.

The alignment of the wood fibres along a board. It guides planing, sawing and jointing because working against the grain tears the surface and weakens the finished component.

Rough, splintered damage where fibres are ripped away rather than cut cleanly, often caused by cutting against the grain, a blunt cutter or too fast a feed rate.

Timber from broad-leaved trees, generally denser and more durable than softwood. Common furniture examples include eucalypts, oak and walnut, used for structural parts and visible surfaces.

Timber from cone-bearing trees such as pine and fir. It is usually lighter, cheaper and easier to work, making it common for framing, jigs and painted furniture components.

Sheet product made from wood fibres, particles or veneers bonded with adhesive, such as plywood, particleboard and MDF. It is dimensionally stable and widely used for carcases and panels.

A thin slice of timber glued to a cheaper substrate to give a decorative surface. Careful matching, laying and finishing are needed to avoid bubbles, splits and glue bleed-through.

A strip of matching timber, plastic or veneer applied to the exposed edge of a manufactured board to seal it, improve appearance and protect the edge from moisture and impact damage.

A detailed scaled drawing giving dimensions, materials, joints and construction notes for a piece of furniture. It is the reference used to set out and check work during manufacture.

A table listing every component of a job with its quantity, material, finished size and sometimes grain direction. It is prepared from the working drawing before material is ordered or cut.

Extra material left on a component so it can be planed, jointed or trimmed to final size. It compensates for rough sawn surfaces, slight inaccuracy and later fitting adjustments.

Marking dimensions, joint positions and reference faces on material using a rule, square, marking gauge and pencil or knife, so every component is made accurately to the drawing.

Two adjacent surfaces planed flat and square to each other and marked with a conventional symbol. All other dimensions and joints are measured from these reference faces.

A hand tool with a fixed blade set at 90 degrees to a stock, used to check and mark square lines and to test that planed faces and edges are truly square.

A tool with a sliding stock and a pin or knife that scribes a line parallel to a face edge. It is used to mark joint depths and widths consistently across components.

A strong framing joint where a projecting tenon on one component fits into a matching mortise cut in another. It resists racking and is common in chairs, tables and frames.

An interlocking corner joint of flared pins and tails that resists pulling apart in one direction. It is used for drawer boxes and carcases where strength and appearance matter.

A joint formed by cutting a shallow groove across one component so another fits into it. It provides location and support for shelves, rails and dividers in carcase work.

A joint using cylindrical timber pins glued into matching holes in two components. It is simple and strong for edge-to-edge boards and butt joints when accurately drilled.

An edge or butt joint reinforced by an oval compressed-wood biscuit glued into matching slots cut with a plate joiner. It helps align surfaces and adds glue area.

A glue such as PVA or polyurethane used to bond timber and board joints. Correct spread, clamping pressure and open time determine whether the joint reaches full strength.

Holding glued or assembled components under pressure with sash clamps, F-clamps or cauls until the adhesive sets, keeping the joint aligned and closed while it cures.

Assembling all components without glue to check fit, squareness and alignment, and to identify any adjustments needed before adhesive is applied and the job is clamped.

The rotating assembly in a planer, thicknesser or spindle moulder that holds the knives or disposable cutters. Correct setting and guarding are essential for a clean, safe cut.

A dangerous situation where timber is thrown back towards the operator by a rotating cutter or saw blade. It is prevented by correct feed direction, riving knife, push sticks and guards.

A shaped wooden or plastic handle used to feed short or narrow work past a saw blade or cutter while keeping the operator's hands a safe distance from the cutting edge.

Fitting and adjusting machine guards, such as blade covers, riving knives and extractor hoods, so the operator cannot contact moving parts or be struck by flying chips.

A system of hoods, ducting and a collector that captures wood dust at machines. It protects health, reduces fire risk and keeps cuts and finishes clean.

Safety items worn by the operator, such as safety glasses, hearing protection, dust mask and safety footwear, chosen to control the hazards of the task being performed.

A written document that sets out the steps of a high-risk task, the hazards involved, and the controls and supervision required to complete the work safely.

The action taken to eliminate or reduce a hazard, applied in order from eliminating it, substituting, isolating, engineering controls, administrative controls to protective equipment.

Sanding, scraping and filling a surface to remove machining marks, dents and raised grain so that stain and finish adhere evenly and the final appearance is smooth.

The size number of particles on sandpaper or abrasive paper. Lower numbers cut faster and coarser, higher numbers smooth finer, so work progresses through graded grits.

A fast-drying coating applied to prepared timber to stiffen the surface fibres, reduce grain raising and provide a base that topcoats can build on evenly.

A fast-drying clear or tinted coating that forms a protective film on furniture. It is applied by spray or brush and needs suitable ventilation and spray equipment.

The condition of two surfaces or edges meeting exactly at 90 degrees. It is checked with a try square or diagonal measurement and is essential for frames, carcases and doors.

The acceptable range of variation from a stated dimension in a drawing or specification. Working within tolerance ensures components assemble correctly and the finished item meets requirements.