JCE Woodwork key terms

The orientation of the wood fibres along a board. Cutting, planing, and sanding with the grain produces smooth surfaces, while working against it tears the fibres and leaves a rough finish.

Rough, splintered fibres left on a cut surface when the blade lifts or breaks wood ahead of the cutting edge. It is reduced by sharp blades, light cuts, and cutting with the grain.

The visible pattern on a wood surface created by grain, growth rings, rays, and colour variation. Figure is decorative rather than structural and depends on how the log was sawn.

Controlled drying of timber to bring its moisture content into balance with the surrounding air. Properly seasoned wood is more stable, stronger, and less likely to shrink, split, or distort after assembly.

The mass of water in wood expressed as a percentage of its oven-dry mass. It is measured with a meter and determines how much the timber will shrink or swell in service.

The moisture level at which wood neither gains nor loses water because it matches the temperature and humidity around it. Timber should be brought near this value before installation in its final location.

Shrinking and swelling of wood as it gains or loses moisture after manufacture. Movement is greatest across the grain and is accommodated by allowing clearance in panels, joints, and frame-and-panel construction.

Drying timber in a heated, humidity-controlled chamber on a planned schedule. It is faster than air drying and can bring wood to a lower, more uniform moisture content with fewer drying defects.

A drying defect in which the outer layers of timber dry and set before the core, leaving locked-in stresses. Boards may cup or split when resawn, and the defect is detected by a prong test.

Warping in which a board becomes concave across its width, usually because the face nearer the bark dries differently from the inner face. It is reduced by good seasoning and by orienting growth rings correctly.

Sawing a log so growth rings meet the board face at a shallow angle, producing broad cathedral figure. Flat-sawn boards are economical but move more across their width than quarter-sawn stock.

Sawing a log so growth rings meet the face at roughly right angles, giving straight grain and ray fleck. Quarter-sawn timber is more dimensionally stable and wears more evenly on surfaces such as drawer bottoms.

The inner, older wood of a tree that no longer conducts sap. It is usually darker and more durable than sapwood but can be more brittle and takes preservative treatment less readily.

The outer, living wood of a tree that carries sap and stores nutrients. It is generally lighter in colour, less durable, and more permeable to preservatives than heartwood.

Restoring a keen edge by grinding, honing, and polishing the bevel until the cutting edge is free of rounding or burrs. A sharp edge cuts cleanly, requires less force, and is safer to use.

The angled face ground on a cutting tool to form its edge. The bevel angle is chosen for the work: lower angles cut faster, while steeper angles resist chipping on hard or abrasive material.

Refining a sharpened edge on a fine abrasive stone or plate to remove the burr and polish the bevel. Honing produces a keener, longer-lasting edge than grinding alone.

The angle between the underside of a cutting edge and the surface being cut, allowing the tool to pass without rubbing. Too little clearance causes rubbing and heat; too much weakens the edge.

The angle at which the cutting face of a tooth or blade meets the work. A positive rake cuts aggressively in softwood; negative rake is used for hard materials and for carbide tooling.

Violent throwing back of the workpiece or offcut when a rotating blade or cutter catches it. It is prevented by correct feed direction, a riving knife, anti-kickback pawls, and keeping hands clear of the blade line.

A fixed plate mounted behind a circular saw blade that follows its rise and fall and sits close to the teeth. It prevents the kerf closing on the blade and reduces kickback.

A shaped hand tool used to feed narrow or short stock past a cutter while keeping fingers away from the blade. It should be replaced once worn or notched so control is never lost.

The slot cut by a saw blade, whose width equals the set of the teeth or the plate thickness. Kerf must be allowed for when cutting to a marked line or calculating material yield.

The sideways offset of saw teeth, alternating left and right, so the blade cuts a kerf wider than the plate. Set prevents the blade binding and allows clearance for chips and heat.

A corner joint of interlocking flared pins and matching tails, strong in tension and resistant to pulling apart. It is used for drawer boxes and carcases and is often left exposed as a sign of craftsmanship.

A joint in which a projecting tenon on one member fits a matching mortise cut in another. It resists racking and is the standard frame joint for doors, tables, and chair construction.

A joint formed by cutting a shallow groove, or housing, across a member so a shelf or rail sits into it. It locates and supports the part and resists downward load and sideways movement.

A step or recess cut along the edge of a board so another part can sit into it, as for a cabinet back or glass. It is also called a rabbet and is cut with a rebate plane or router.

A channel cut along the face or edge of a board, usually to take a panel, drawer bottom, or tongue. Grooves run with the grain and are cut with a plough plane or router.

The flat face of a tenon or rebate that bears against the adjoining member and squares the joint. A true shoulder transfers load and closes the joint line cleanly.

A short extension of a tenon, usually above or behind the main tenon, that fills a matching mortise. The haunch prevents the rail twisting and strengthens the joint near the edge of a stile.

Construction in which a solid panel floats inside a grooved frame rather than being glued along its edges. The panel is free to move with moisture changes without splitting the frame.

A sacrificial piece of scrap wood placed behind work being cut or drilled to support the fibres at the exit side. It prevents tear-out and splintering on the far face.

A pair of straight, identical battens placed across the ends of a board and sighted along to reveal twist. They are used when preparing timber square and flat by hand.

A fixed square with a stock and blade used to mark and check right angles and to test whether a face or edge is square. It is a basic setting-out tool in hand woodworking.

An adjustable guide on a machine or bench that keeps the workpiece a set distance from the cutter or reference edge. A correctly aligned fence is essential for straight, parallel, and repeatable cuts.

Worn safety gear such as eye protection, hearing protection, and dust protection. It is the last line of defence behind machine guarding, correct technique, and good housekeeping.

Collection of wood dust and chips at the source using hoods, ducting, and a extractor. It reduces fire risk, keeps the workshop clean, and protects against respiratory harm from fine dust.