Beginner Woodworking and Carpentry Terminology Part 1

Summary

This video is an essential beginner’s guide to woodworking and carpentry, covering fundamental terminology, materials, and tools. It explains the differences between hardwoods and softwoods, rough and dressed lumber, and highlights common defects to watch for. The video also introduces plywood types and their properties, followed by practical guidance on measuring, marking, and layout techniques. Viewers are shown a variety of hand tools, including saws, chisels, planes, and rasps, with explanations of their uses and associated terms like kerf and offcut. Designed as a clear, structured introduction, this video equips novices with the knowledge needed to start woodworking confidently.

Takeaways

• 😀 Hardwoods come from deciduous trees like oak and maple, while softwoods come from conifer trees like pine and cedar. Hardwoods are denser and stronger, while softwoods grow faster and are generally weaker.
• 😀 Rough cut lumber (Rgh) is lumber that still has visible saw marks and is sold by its thickness in quarters (e.g., 4/4 = 1 inch). It can be used for rustic projects or sized down for finer work.
• 😀 Dressed lumber is sized, shaped, and smoothed for a flat surface. S4S lumber is surfaced on four sides, while S2S is surfaced on two sides with raw edges.
• 😀 Dimensional lumber refers to lumber that is cut to standard sizes like 2x4 or 2x6, but be aware that these sizes are rough measurements and not the actual size.
• 😀 Kiln-dried lumber has been treated in a kiln to reduce moisture content, while pressure-treated (PT) lumber is chemically treated to resist rot and insects, making it suitable for outdoor use.
• 😀 Common defects in lumber include: cupping (curved up face), twisting (one end twists opposite of the other), crooking (bending left or right), bowing (bending along the face), checking (cracking without going through the board), and splitting (crack through the entire board).
• 😀 Plywood is made from multiple layers (plies) of thin wood veneer glued at 90-degree angles to each other. More plies make the plywood stronger and more stable.
• 😀 The term 'square' in carpentry refers to checking the squareness of faces, edges, or ends of boards, as well as verifying equal diagonal measurements in a project.
• 😀 Precision squares, speed squares, combination squares, and framing squares are all essential tools for marking and checking squareness in woodworking and carpentry projects.
• 😀 Handsaws, including traditional saws, pool saws (Japanese), and back saws, are used for different cutting techniques. The 'kerf' is the width of the blade's cut, and 'offcut' is the waste piece of material after a cut.
• 😀 Woodworking tools like chisels, hand planes, and wood rasps are used for shaping wood. 'Honing' refers to the process of sharpening tools like chisels and planes.

Q & A

What is the difference between hardwoods and softwoods?

Hardwoods come from deciduous trees (those that drop their leaves, such as oak, cherry, or maple) and are denser and stronger due to slower growth. Softwoods come from conifer trees (those with needles, like pine, fir, or cedar) and are generally less dense and weaker, growing faster than hardwoods.

What is rough cut lumber, and how is it measured?

Rough cut lumber (RGL) is wood that retains saw marks from the mill, with varying thickness and width. It's sold by the quarter inch in thickness; for example, a 'four-quarter' board is roughly one inch thick. This lumber can be used for rustic projects or resized using jointers and planers.

What is dressed lumber?

Dressed lumber refers to lumber that has been sized, shaped, and smoothed on all surfaces to provide a flat, uniform appearance. It is often labeled as 'S4S' (surfaced on four sides) or 'S2S' (surfaced on two sides).

What does the term 'dimensional lumber' refer to?

Dimensional lumber is wood that has been sized to standard final dimensions, such as 2x4 or 1x6. However, the actual measurements are smaller than the label, so a 2x4 typically measures 1.5 inches by 3.5 inches.

Why is kiln-dried lumber preferable to untreated wood?

Kiln-dried lumber has undergone a controlled drying process in a kiln, which reduces moisture content. This prevents the wood from shrinking and warping over time, producing a more stable and higher-quality product compared to untreated, naturally drying wood.

What is pressure-treated (PT) lumber used for?

Pressure-treated lumber is soaked in chemicals to resist rot and insect damage, making it ideal for outdoor projects like decks and fences where the wood will be exposed to the elements.

What are some common defects found in lumber?

Six common defects in lumber include: cup (curved face), twist (spiraling of the board), crook (bending along the edge), bow (bending along the face), check (a crack not going all the way through), and split (a crack that goes through the entire board).

What is plywood, and how is it made?

Plywood is a man-made wood product composed of multiple thin layers, or 'plies', of wood veneer glued together at 90-degree angles. This structure provides stability and strength. Plywood comes in different grades based on the number of plies and the smoothness of the surface.

What is the function of a speed square in carpentry?

A speed square is a versatile tool primarily used in carpentry to check for squareness, mark angles, and assist in framing projects. It's compact and ideal for quick angle measurements and layout tasks.

What are the differences between a traditional saw, pool saw, and back saw?

A traditional saw cuts on the push stroke and is commonly used for general cutting. A pool saw, or Japanese saw, cuts on the pull stroke, offering greater control and flexibility with less effort. A back saw features a reinforced spine to prevent blade flex, allowing for straighter cuts, often used for precision tasks like cabinet making.