Lunes, Disyembre 14, 2015

Choosing The Right Materials For Your Workshop: Wood And Its Properties

As there is a specific tool for a specific job, there is a specific material for a specific project. To make sure that your project will be completely worth the while, it is an important skill to be able to determine which material will be most suited for what object. There are various materials to choose from. A material has its own characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Let us take some time to understand one of the most common material used in projects—the wood.

Wood is a material that is easy to manipulate, shape, and resize. Power tools like Milwaukee 18v will have its easy way on this material. It is cheap and flexible for any projects. Wood is also easy to replace and maintain. This makes wood a very popular material for construction. It is also used for making musical instruments, boats, furniture, and sculptures. But for us to fully understand this material and what projects would be fitting for wood, let’s get to know this material more by analyzing its properties.

ADVANTAGES
Physical Properties -- Wood is a tough material. It may be not as strong as steel, but it is more flexible and lighter. Wood is also resistant to squeezing. And unlike plastic, it is difficult to stretch wood out.

Thermal Properties – Unlike other materials, wood does not change in size and volume when temperature seizes. Wood does not expand when expose to heat. On the contrary, it dries out and gains strength.

Acoustic Properties – The lightness of wood makes it an ideal material for musical instruments and concert halls. It reduces echo and absorbs sounds.

Aesthetic Properties – Wood is a highly decorative material. And depending on the tree from where it will be taken from, it can vary in color, design, and smell. The design can be changed depending on how the wood is sliced. It can even be painted and varnished.

Environmental Properties – Since wood is taken from trees, it is a sustainable material. Trees taken down for wood can be replaced by growing new trees. Also, wood can easily be disposed through the natural process of decomposition. Variation – There are more than 5000 kinds of wood in the world. This variety will offer different options for different kinds of projects.

DISADVANTAGES
- Because wood is a natural material, it is also vulnerable to natural conditions.
- Exposing wood to moisture may cause fungi and mold to grow on it.
- Most wood is vulnerable to termites and insects.
- Wood can easily catch fire.

There are several steps on how to strengthen wood and fight these disadvantages. For instance, to prevent termites and fungi from growing on the surface of the wood, the wood can be treated with chemicals or painted. Coating the wood will also strengthen its resistance to weather conditions.

Knowing the properties of your materials and their characteristic will help you decide on how you can utilize it and maximize its potential. So before you start up those Milwaukee 18v and work up a new project, make sure to have a clear visual of the materials that you will be using to save you from possible problems that you might encounter.

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