Wood lexiconFoto © by depositphotos.com | Kotenko

Our wood lexicon

Learn important woodworking terms and work with wood more easily! In our wood lexicon, we explain the most important technical terms from the world of woodworking step by step, so you can understand wood better and work with it more easily!

The content of our wood lexicon contains the following information:

  • Definitions of technical terms: All important terms used in connection with wood are defined and explained.
  • Descriptions of types of wood: The most important types of wood in the world are described, including their origin, properties, use and processing.
  • Information on the processing and use of wood: The dictionary explains the most important wood processing methods and shows how wood can be used for different purposes.
  • Illustrations and tables: Pictures and tables illustrate the information in the encyclopedia and make it easier to understand.
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Term Definition
Bending strength

What is bending strength?

Bending strength, also known as flexural strength, describes the ability of wood to resist bending stress without breaking. Bending strength is an important measure for the load-bearing capacity and stiffness of wooden components and is expressed in newtons per square millimeter (N/mm²).

 

Synonyms - Bending tensile strength, bending capacity, strength class
Bog oak

Definition of Bog Oak

Bog oak refers to subfossil oak wood (Quercus spp.) that has been preserved over centuries or millennia in bogs or swampy areas. During this time, the wood undergoes chemical transformations, primarily caused by the reaction of tannins in the wood with iron compounds from the bog water.

The result is a unique material characterized by a dark coloration, increased density, and enhanced hardness. Bog oak is not a separate type of wood but rather a condition of oak wood preserved under specific environmental conditions. It is highly valued in art, craftsmanship, and research due to its rarity and distinctive aesthetics.

Synonyms - subfossil oak
Brinell-hardness

What is Brinell Hardness?

Brinell hardness is a standardized method for measuring the hardness of materials such as metals, plastics, and wood. It indicates how resistant the material is to mechanical indentations and is commonly used in the metal industry and material testing. During the measurement, a steel ball with a specified diameter and constant force is pressed into the material. The resulting indentation is measured and used to calculate the hardness value, known as the Brinell hardness number (HBW), which is given in N/mm².

Synonyms - Brinell-Widerstandswert, Härte nach Brinell, Brinell-Härtegrad
Butt-cut lumber

What is Butt-cut lumber?

Butt-cut lumber, or original log (equivalent to "whole log"), is a type of wood that retains its natural edge or bark (unsurfaced) after being sawn lengthwise from a tree trunk. This process preserves the original thickness and structure of the wood, even after storage, drying, and further processing.

 

Synonyms - slab wood, original log
Cell Collapse

What does cell collapse mean in wood?

Cell collapse describes a defect in wood processing in which the cells in the wood tissue irreversibly collapse during drying or under certain mechanical conditions. Wood affected by cell collapse can exhibit strong deformation, sometimes accompanied by broad, honeycomb-like internal cracks that render it largely unusable. This type of damage is often recognizable by irregularly sunken surfaces that can appear corrugated, along with significant distortions in the cross-section.

Synonyms - Cell collapse, collapse of the cell tissue, cell structure failure, wood collapse
Compressive strength

What is compressive strength?

Compressive strength characterizes the ability of wood to withstand axial compressive loads without failing. It is an indicator of the load-bearing capacity of wooden components subjected to compressive stresses, such as columns, piles, and foundations.

 

Synonyms - Compressive capacity, breaking compressive stress, compressive force
Equilibrium Moisture Content

What is Equilibrium Moisture Content?

Equilibrium moisture content (also known as EMC) refers to the moisture content of wood that stabilizes after a certain period under constant environmental conditions. In this state, the wood neither absorbs moisture from the air nor releases moisture to the air.

Synonyms - Moisture Equilibrium, Equilibrium Moisture, Wood Moisture Content
Flat cut

What means flat cut, crown cut?

Oak sidewood from large logs. In this selection OAK flat cut/crwon cut we take only the side boards of a log. In this form there is no medullary rays shown. No straight grain. The edge of the tree shows a heava wane. The difficult part of drying the flat cut boards is the surface without cracks. A very carefully predrying under roof and the modern vaccumdrying allowes us a gently kiln-dried result. The oak sawn timber produced from the flat cut/crown cut OAK board shows the unique view. The finished piece of furniture, the high-quality floorboards, or the wall cladding in its perfect look.

Synonyms - Tangential cut
FSC®-Label

What is the FSC® Label?

The FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) is an independent, non-profit organization that sets global standards for responsible forest management. FSC-certified forests and wood products must meet strict ecological, social, and economic criteria based on the so-called Principles and Criteria of the FSC. For consumers and companies, the FSC label signifies that the wood used comes from sustainably managed forests and that full traceability along the supply chain is guaranteed.

Synonyms - Forest Stewardship Council
Janka-Hardness

What is the Janka Hardness?

The Janka hardness is a method for determining the hardness of wood, indicating how resistant the material is to indentations. It measures the amount of force required to press a steel ball with a diameter of 11.28 mm halfway into the wood. The required force, measured in kilonewtons (kN), provides information on the wood's resistance to pressure marks. The higher the Janka value, the harder and more resistant the wood.

Synonyms - Hardness test, wood strength test
Live Edge

What is Live Edge?

The live edge, also known as waney edge, natural edge, bark edge, or by the German term Baumkante, refers in woodworking to the natural edge of a wooden board or log. It replicates the naturally grown line of the tree trunk, thus preserving the original shape of the tree, including the bark and sapwood. The live edge imparts increased naturalness and individuality to the wooden workpiece, which is appreciated in both modern and traditional designs.

Synonyms - Waney edge, natural edge, bark edge
Live edge wood

What does wood with a live edge mean?

Wood with a live edge, also known as "live edge" wood, refers to wood products where the natural shape and contour of the tree trunk are preserved. Unlike fully trimmed wood, live edge wood retains the natural bark and outer form of the tree. This gives the wood a rustic and natural appearance, which is highly valued in furniture making and architectural applications.

Synonyms - Wood with natural edge, Live Edge
Lumber measurement

How is sawn timber measured?

The measurement of sawn timber is an important process in wood processing to determine the dimensions for sale and further processing. There are different methods depending on whether the timber is unedged, partially edged, or fully edged. Each of these categories has specific rules for measuring width, handling wane (bark edges), and accounting for splits.

Synonyms - timber dimensioning, timber measurement, timber measurement, board measurement, dimension determination of sawn timber, timber dimensioning, board measurement, dimension determination of timber, timber dimension determination
Mass density

What is Mass Density?

Mass density or particle density of wood describes the density of the pure wood material without any pores or cavities. It measures how heavy the wood itself is if all voids (lumina) within the wood were compressed to be nonexistent. The mass density is nearly the same across all wood types and is approximately 1.50 g/cm³. This value relates to the chemical components of wood, such as cellulose and lignin, independent of natural pore structures or external factors.

Synonyms - particle density
Rift cut

What is a rift cut?

The rift cut, also called radial cut or mirror cut, is a special way of cutting wood. The rift cut only produces planks with vertical growth rings, which result in high strength and a uniform tensile and shrinkage ratio.

Synonyms - Radial cut, mirror cut
Sapwood and Heartwood

What is sapwood or heartwood?

When people think of wood, they often imagine a uniform material. In reality, however, a tree trunk consists of different zones that vary in their characteristics, depending on the tree species. In general, we distinguish between sapwood and heartwood, each fulfilling important functions in the tree and bringing its own specific properties for woodworking.

Synonyms - alburnum, duramen, brown wood
Sawn veneer

What is a sawn veneer

Sawn veneer is a thin sheet of wood that is obtained by sawing a tree trunk. In contrast to other methods of producing veneer, such as peeling or slicing, sawing produces a rougher surface and a more pronounced wood structure. This method of production preserves the natural beauty and characteristics of the wood, which makes it particularly attractive for high-quality applications.

Synonyms - Cladding, laminated veneer, sawn veneer
Shrinkage and Swelling Measures

What are the Shrinkage and Swelling Measures in Wood?

When we talk about wood, many people first think of warm colors, a pleasant feel, and a sense of nature. But wood can do even more - it “works.” This is precisely where the shrinkage measure and the swelling measure come into play. These two terms describe how much wood changes when it absorbs or releases moisture. And it’s not as complicated as it might seem at first glance.

Synonyms - Shrinkage behaviour, swelling behaviour
Solid wood

What is solid wood?

Solid wood refers to wood that is cut from a single piece of the tree trunk without being broken down into smaller pieces or combined with other materials. This natural form preserves the original structure and grain of the wood and makes it a favoured material in wood processing.

Synonyms - Solid wood, Real wood, Solid wood, Log wood
Square edged

What does "square-edged" mean?

Square-edged refers to a board that has been cut along the grain on both sides, resulting in a consistent width along its entire length. The processor of sawn timber has a significantly more accurate yield calculation when purchasing parallel-edged wood. This makes it easier to estimate costs for molding or furniture production. It's a crucial factor when comparing prices effectively.

Synonyms - planed all round, sawn on four sides, parallel edged, parallel edging, parallel trimming,
Tannic acid

What is tannic acid?

Tannic acid, also known as tannin or tannin, is a fascinating class of polyphenolic compounds found in many plant species, especially trees. This substance is not only an essential component of plant defence mechanisms, but also a key element that contributes significantly to the longevity and robustness of wood.

Synonyms - Tanning agent, tannin
White cloud discoloration

What is white cloud discoloration?

White cloud discoloration is an undesirable phenomenon that can occur when drying wood, especially oak. It manifests itself as uneven, cloud-like light spots on the surface of the wood. This discoloration usually occurs when the wood is dried too quickly or unevenly, resulting in different moisture zones. The risk is particularly high when drying in closed kilns without prior air drying, as the wood cannot release moisture evenly.

Synonyms - Cloud-like discoloration, whitish spotting
Wood Density

What is Wood Density?

The density of wood describes the ratio of its mass to its volume and is given in kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³). It indicates how heavy a specific volume of wood is and plays a key role in assessing properties like strength, hardness, and insulation capacity. Wood density varies depending on the wood type and moisture content and is an important factor in selecting wood for specific applications such as construction or furniture.

Wood moisture

What is wood moisture?

Wood behaves hygroscopically, i.e. it absorbs water from the surrounding air and releases it again. The water content in wood is referred to as wood moisture and is expressed as a percentage of the dry weight. This value has a considerable influence on the usability, durability and workability of wood.

Synonyms - Moisture content, wood moisture,

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