• Timber denotes wood which is

suitable for building or carpentry

and various engineering and other
purposes.
• Timber is wood that has been
processed into beams and planks, a
stage in the process of wood
production.
• The organic matter obtained from
tree is called wood.

• The hard fibrous material that forms

the main substance of the trunk or
branches of a tree or shrub, used for
fuel or timber.
 TREES

EXOGENOUS ENDOGENOUS

CONIFERS DECIDUOUS
• Trees are classified into two groups:

1- ENDOGENOUS TREES:

• The trees which grow inwards in longitudinal

fibrous mass are called endogenous trees.
• Trees grow inward by depositing every year of
fresh layer internally, instead of on the
outside of tree.
• The stem of this tree are light and tough and
are two flexible.
• Example- bamboo, cane, palm, etc.
2- EXOGENOUS TREES:

• The trees which grow outwards across

horizontal section of stem are called
exogenous trees.
• The trees which grow outside from the
centre by depositing annually a new layer
of material between the previous year
growth in the bark.
• Such trees are bigger in diameter.
• This type of trees are used as timber for
engineering purposes.
2- EXOGENOUS TREES:

• Exogenous trees are again subdivided in

two types:

a. Conifers or evergreen trees: Fir

• They give soft wood

• They have pointed leaves.
• They are light in colour and weight
• These trees are tall and conical in shape.

• Examples: Deodar, Pine, Chir, Kail, etc.

Larch
b. Deciduous or broad leaf trees:

• They have hard wood.

• These have broad leaves.

• Examples: Teak, Sal, Sheesham, etc.

[Link]. ITEM SOFT WOOD HARD WOODS
01. Annual rings Distinct Indistinct
02. Colour Light Dark
03. Density Low High
04. Fire resistance Poor More
05. Weight Light Heavy
06. Strength Strong but less as Strong
compared to hard
wood
• From the visibility aspect, the structure of
a tree can be divided into two categories:

1. Macro structure

2. Micro structure
• The structure of wood visible to the
naked eye are at a small
magnification is called macro
structure.
• The following figure shows the
macro structure of exogenous tree.
(a) Pith: the innermost central portion or core
of the tree is called pith or medulla.
(b) Heart wood: the inner annual rings
surrounding the pith is known as heart
wood.
(c) Sap wood: the cuter annual rings between
heart wood and cambium layer is known as
sap wood.
(d) Cambium layer: thin layer of sap between
sap wood and inner bark is known as
cambium layer.
(e) Inner bark: The inner skin or layer covering
the cambium layer is known as inner bark.
(f) Outer bark: The outer skin or cover of the
tree is known as outer bark.
(g) Medullary rays: The thin radial fibers
extending from pith to cambium layer are
known as medullary rays.
• The structure of wood apparent only
at great magnification is called micro
structure.
• Conductive cells
• Mechanical cells
• Storage cells.
• Appearance: A freshly cut surface of timber should exhibit hard and of shining
appearance.
• Colour: A colour should preferably be dark.
• Defects: A good timber should be free from series defects such as knots,
flaws, shakes, etc.
• Durability: A good timber should be capable of resisting the action of fungi,
insects, chemicals, physical agencies, and mechanical agencies.
• Elasticity: The timber returns to its original shape when load causing its
deformation is removed.
• Fire resistance: A dense wood offers good resistance to fire.
• Hardness: It should be hard.
• Mechanical wear: It should not deteriorate easily due to mechanical wear or
abrasion.
• Shape: It should be capable of retaining its shape during conversion or
seasoning.
• Smell: It should have sweet smell, unpleasant smell indicates decayed timber.
• Sound: It should give a clear ringing sound when struck.
• Strength: It should be sufficiently strong for working as structural member
such as joist, beam, rafter, etc.
• As fresh timber which is obtained from trees contains about 30-40% sap or
moisture. This sap is very harmful for the life of timber.
• Therefore, it is necessary to remove that sap by applying some special
methods.
• All that methods which are used for removing the sap from timber are
collectively termed as seasoning of timber.
• It has reduced weight,
• It has strong and durable,
• It has resistance to decay or rot,
• It is easily polished and gives good finish,
• It is easier to work,
• Its life is more
The main types of timber seasoning are as under:
1. Natural seasoning

2. Artificial seasoning
(a) Kiln seasoning
(b) Chemical seasoning
(c) Electric seasoning

3. Water seasoning
• Also called sir seasoning, timber is dried
by direct action of air, wind and sun.
• In this method , timber logs are
arranged one over the other, keeping
some space or distance between them
for air circulation of fresh air.
• This type of seasoning requires few
months to over a year, this I very slow
process.
(a) Kiln seasoning:
In this process timber is placed in a chamber with
some special heating arrangement, keeping in mind
that heating system should be under control,
otherwise timber will be crack.
• Time required for this seasoning is 3-12 days.
• This is quick process.
(b) Chemical seasoning:
In this process, carbon dioxide, ammonium
carbonate or urea are used as agents for
seasoning, those are applied in dry state, the
inter surface of timber dries first than outer
side. This ensures uniform seasoning.
• Time required for this seasoning is 30-40
days.
(c) Electric seasoning:
In this method electric current passed
through the timber logs.
• Time required: 05-08 hours.
• In this process, timber logs are kept
immersed whole in the flowing water.
The sap present in timber is washed
away.
• After that logs are taken out from
water and kept in open air, so water
present in timber would be dried by
air.
• Time required: 2-4 weeks.
Timber is used in:
1. Building construction
2. Construction of house posts
3. Construction of beams
4. Construction of rafters
5. Construction of bridges
6. Construction of piles, poles and railway sleepers
7. For furniture making
8. For packing cases
9. For high packing cases (for machinery and similar stores)
10. For manufacturing of agricultural implements
11. For making toys
12. For manufacturing of veneers and ply woods.
Most common defects in timber are:
• Heart shakes
• Star shakes
• Cup shakes
• Radial shakes
• Rind galls
• Wind cracks
• Knots
• Dead wood
These are splits occurring in the centre of
the tree and running from the pith (inner
most part) to wards the sap wood from the
medullary (vascular tissues) rays.
In some timbers, these splits are hardly
visible an in some timber these are quite
permanent.
• Cause: due to shrinkage of interior parts
due to age. A heart shake straight across
the trunk is not serious defect.
These are splits which radiate from the
centre of the timber or from the
bark(outer side), running in the planes of
medullary rays.
• Cause: occur due to severe frost or
scorching heat of the sun.
These are curved splits which separate
the whole or part of one annual ring
from an other.
• Cause: due to the unequal growth of
the timber.
These are similar to the star shakes and
occur in felled timber when exposed to the
sun during seasoning.
Radial shakes are irregular, fine and
numerous. In this many splits are
appeared.
These are typical enlarged swellings and occur.
• Cause: due to branches cut-off.
These are shakes or splits on the sides of
bark of timber.
• Cause: due to shrinkage of exterior
surface exposed to atmospheric
influence.
• These are the roots of the small
branches of the tree.
Live knot
• These are not harmful.

Dead knot
• It is the deficient in strength and
weight and is the result of trees
being felled maturity.
Protecting the timber from fungi and insects attack so that its life increased. The
following are the widely used:
• Tar
• Paints
• Chemical salt
• Creosote
• ASCU
Hot coal tar is applied to timber with brush. The coating of tar protects the
timber from the attack of fungi and insects. It is a cheapest way of protecting
timber.
• Main disadvantage: Appearance is not good.
Two or three coats of oil paints are applied on clean surface of wood. The paint
protects the timber from moisture. The paint is to be applied from time to time.
• It improves the appearance of the timber.
• These are the preservatives made by dissolving salts in water. The salts used
are copper sulphate, masonry chloride, zinc chloride and sodium fluoride.
After treating the timber with these chemical salt paints and varnishes can be
applied to get good appearance.
• Creosote oil is obtained by distillation of coal tar. The seasoned timber is kept
in an air tight chamber and air is exhausted. Then creosote oil is pumped into
the chamber at a pressure of 0.8-1.0 N/mm sq. at a temp of 50°C. after 1-2 hrs
timber is taken out of the chamber.
• This preservative is developed by the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun.
• It consist of 1 part by weight of hydrated arsenic pent-oxide, 3 parts of copper
sulphate and 4 parts of potassium dichromate or sodium dichromate.
• This preservative is available in powder form. By mixing 6 parts of this powder
with 100 parts of water, solution is prepared.
• The solution is then sprayed over the surface of timber.
• This treatment prevents attack from termites. The surface may be painted to
get desired appearance.
 TIMBER

ENGINEERED
NATURAL
TIMBER
TIMBER
PRODUCTS

PARTICLE
PLY WOODS FIBRE BOARDS BLACK BOARD LAMINATES VENEERS
BOARDS