List of Abrasive Terms
- 2K
- When two components are mixed to use a material. For example, 2K primer is the primer and a catalyst.
0-9
- ABS
- Abbreviation for “Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene” - A synthetic decorative coating or edgebanding.
- Abrasion Resistance
- The resistance to friction wear.
- Abrasive
- A substance used for abrading, grinding, polishing, lapping, such as the natural materials Emery, Garnet, Flint, and Crocus, and the manufactured or electric furnace materials: Aluminum Oxide, Silicon Carbide, and Alumina Zirconia. One of the three essential components of a coated abrasive product (backing, adhesive, abrasive grain).
- Abrasive Planing
- Rough sanding of glued-up wood panels or lumber prior to intermediate sanding or the application of overlays.
- Acrylic
- A plastic-like material used in the manufacturing of paint to increase gloss and durability.
- Acrylic Coating Cured with Radiation Process
- A coating over particle board.
- Acrylic Urethane
- A coating based on urethane chemistry which also includes acrylic chemistry as part of the cross-linked polymer backbone.
- Additives
- Chemicals added to a paint to improve or create certain specific characteristics, i.e. flex agents.
- Adhesion
- The degree of attachment between a finish step and the underlying material.
- Adhesive
- A substance capable of bonding materials together by surface attachment. It is a general term and includes all cements and glues.
- Adhesive, Cold and Hot Press
- “Cold press” means no heat is applied to the press and will include the use of pinch rollers. “Hot press” means heat is applied at the time the press is in operation.
- Adhesive, Type I Fully Waterproof
- Forms a bond that will retain practically all of its strength when occasionally subjected to a thorough wetting and drying; bond shall be of such quality that specimens will withstand shear and the two-cycle cold soak test specified in ANSI/HPVA HP.
- Adhesive, Type II Water-Resistant
- Forms a bond that will retain practically all of its strength when occasionally subjected to a thorough wetting and drying; bond shall be of such quality that specimens will withstand the three-cycle cold soak test specified in ANSI/HPVA HP.
- Adjustable Shelves
- Generally accomplished through the use of multiple holes with either plastic or metal pins to hold the shelves. Some metal or plastic shelf standards are still in use. The adjustment method is the manufacturer’s option unless otherwise specified.
- Agrofiber
- Refers to core products made from the residual material from a grain crop similar in composition to particle board.
- Air Dried
- Seasoned by controlled exposure to the atmosphere, in the open or under cover, without artificial heat.
- Air-Drying
- The process of drying fully during exposure to air at normal temperatures.
- All-Heart
- Made of heartwood throughout. Free of sapwood.
- Alligatoring
- When paint cracks into large segments resembling alligator skin.
- Alloy
- A mixture, solid solution, or combination of two or more metals (i.e. brass is an alloy of copper and zinc) ; a substance obtained by the mixture or combinations of a metal and a nonmetal; a baser metal combined with a finer one.
- Alumen
- An alloy made of 88% aluminum, 10% zinc, and 2% copper, which can be forged and machined. It is heavier than aluminum and very strong.
- Alumina
- Alternate name for Aluminum Oxide.
- Alumina Zirconia
- A high-performance alloyed abrasive formed by zirconia deposited in an alumina matrix. Works well for grinding of stainless steel, spring steel, titanium, and other hard steels, and for dimensioning wood. An alloy of aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide. Designed for heavy duty stock removal for metal and wood, with self-sharpening characteristic. Belts are normally blue in color.
- Aluminum Oxide
- An abrasive made by fusing the mineral bauxite. A very strong, tough abrasive that is the most commonly used abrasive for sanding and grinding of wood and metal. Normally brown or reddish-brown in color.
- Anchor Strips
- Used to mount woodwork; other names include nailers, mounting cleats, hanging strips and wall cleats.
- Angle Iron
- A rolled-steel member, L-shaped in section.
- Aniline Dye
- A synthetic dye often used to impart enhanced clarity of color to wood.
- Anionic Electro Deposition
- One of the electro coating (E-coat) methods in which the body is charged positively and the paint negatively. Frequently used in OEM primer application.
- Anneal
- To heat a metal piece to its critical temperature and then allow it to cool slowly, thus reducing brittleness and increasing ductility.
- Anodizing
- An electronic surface treatment for aluminum which builds up an aluminum oxide coating to provide better adhesion.
- Anodizing
- A finishing treatment on aluminum metal, similar to plating, which makes the surface of the metal tougher and also used for decorative coloring; an electrical process in a chromic-acid solution which deposits a hard surface film of aluminum oxide on aluminum parts. It serves as an excellent base for paint.
- Antistatic
- Special coated abrasives for woodworking which reduce static electricity buildup and allows sanding dust to be better collected by the dust control system.
- Arbor
- The spindle of the grinding or sanding machine on which the contact wheel, idler puley, or flapwheel is mounted; a shaft, mandrel, spindle or axle; on a milling machine the cutter is often mounted on an arbor – on a lathe the work is sometimes mounted on an arbor.
- Arbor Hole
- The hole in the contact wheel or idler pulley sized to fit the machine arbor.
- Arc Welding
- Welding done using heat produced by an electrical arc between the work, and an electrode/filler metal. Intense heat-approximately 5500°F.
- Arc of Contact
- On a contact wheel, that portion of the circumference of the coated abrasive belt touching the work being ground.
- Architectural woodwork
- Fine custom woodworking, so varied in design and complexity that it becomes difficult to define; specified for special applications and functions by design professionals and created by manufacturers. It includes all exterior and interior woodwork exposed to view in a finished building (except specialty items of flooring, shingles, exposed roof decking, ceiling, siding, structural wood trusses and rafters, and overhead type doors), including all exposed wood, plywood, high and low pressure decorative laminates and wood doors. Items made of other materials are included only if called for in the specifications. Finishing may be included if specified as may site installation.
- Area of Contact
- The total area of the grinding surface of a coated abrasive product in contact with the work being ground.
- Arris
- In architecture, a sharp edge formed by the meeting of two flat or curved surfaces.
- Articulated Joint
- In architectural paneling, joint details that allow for field variations.
- Assemblies
- A term used to describe a section of abrasive used in the loading of a Vonnegut head brush-backed sander. Available with the abrasive strips scored in a "straight" or "staggered" configuration, or could be unscored strips. These cloth specialties are used for fine sanding of contoured wood parts when finishing is required without destroying workpiece detail.
- Assembly 1
- A wall-mounted method of HPDL back and end splash construction.
- Assembly 2
- A deck-mounted method of HPDL back and end splash construction.
- Aught
- See Grit Symbol Scale*
- Automatic Tracking
- A system that ensures the coated abrasive belt runs true on a contact roll or idler. These automatic tracking systems are usually controlled by either electric eyes or air systems, and constantly adjust belts during operation to achieve ideal and consistent tracking.
A
- Back
- The side reverse to the face of a panel, or the poorer side of a panel in any grade of plywood calling for a face and a back.
- Back Priming
- A finish coating typically applied to concealed surfaces of architectural woodwork to minimize moisture penetration.
- Back Putty
- After the glass has been face-puttied, it is turned over and putty is run into any holes that may exist between the glass and the wood parts.
- Back Veneer
- The veneer placed on the semi-exposed or concealed face of a veneered panel construction to balance the construction. Also, the side reverse to the face of a panel, or the poorer side of panel in any grade calling for a face and a back.
- Back-Up Pad
- Usually a rubber or composition type material to which an abrasive disc is attached. The back-up pad supports the disc during the grinding operation and is normally the same diameter or slightly smaller than the disc.
- Backed Out
- Wide, shallow area machined on the back surface of wide solid moldings and some frames which allows the item to span irregular surfaces.
- Backing
- A flexible or semi-rigid material to which abrasive grain is bonded by an adhesive. Paper, cloth, and vulcanized fibre are the major backings used for coated abrasives.
- Backing Sheet
- Backing sheet placed on the underside of high-pressure laminate plastic tops to give dimensional stability and to minimize the absorption of moisture into the substrate.
- Backstand
- One of the most popular industrial abrasive belt machines for offhand grinding and finishing. Preferably floor-mounted, it usually provides tracking and tensioning controls. Work is applied to the contact wheel below the center line.
- Balanced Construction
- To achieve balanced construction, panels should be absolutely symmetrical from the center line; i.e. use materials on either side that contract or expand, or are moisture-permeable, at the same rate. Balanced finishing coats on the back of veneered panels are also highly recommended. Balancing sheet requirements for HPDL fabrication vary with the products. Doors and free-hanging or freestanding panels should have the same laminate on the back as on the face and be applied in the same machine direction. Tops or cabinet members, on the other hand, merely require some form of balancing material.
- Balanced Match
- A common term in book-matching that uses two or more leaves of uniform width on the face of a panel, wherein the two outermost leaves in a panel or face are of the same width.
- Balancing Species
- A species of similar density to achieve balance by equalizing the rate of moisture absorption or emission.
- Baluster
- One of the repetitive vertical members below a handrail or guardrail to provide support and a functional barrier.
- Balustrade
- The assembly of newels, balusters and the rails that make up the safety barrier along balconies and open side of stairways and ramps.
- Banded
- Usually refers to the application of a similar material to the edge of a built-up member to cover or hide the otherwise exposed core, such as on plywood.
- Bands (Abrasive)
- Spirally wound and bonded to an inner liner, these cylindrically-shaped cloth specialties are used on expanding rubber drums for sanding and polishing hard-to-reach corners, grooves, and contoured surfaces. Also called "sprial bands" or "no-lap bands."
- Bar
- A metric measurement of pressure. One bar is approximately equal to 14.5 p.s.i. Used as a pressure measurement on air gauges on European machinery.
- Barber Pole
- An effect in book-matching of veneers resulting from tight and loose sides of veneers causing different light reflections when finished.
- Bark Pocket
- A comparatively small area of bark around which normal wood has grown. May also be a patch of bark partially or wholly enclosed in the wood. They are classified by size, as with pitch pockets.
- Base Block
- A square block terminating a molded baseboard at a doorway; a plinth block.
- Base Moldings or Baseboard
- Moldings used to trim the intersection of a wall or cabinet and the floor.
- Base Shoe
- A small molding combined with a base molding to complete the trimming of the wall and floor intersection.
- Batch System
- In rough lumber sanding, several boards of equal or unequal widths of the same relative thickness, are accumulated side by side into a unit roughly equal to the width of the abrasive belt in use. This "batch" is then fed into the sander and all the boards are sanded simultaneously.
- Bedding in Putty
- Glazing whereby a thin layer of putty or bedding compound is placed in the glass rabbet, and the glass is inserted and pressed onto this bed.
- Belt Joint (Splice)
- The area of an abrasive belt where the two ends are spliced together with an adhesive. See Butt Joint and Lap Joint.
- Belt Joint Marks
- A pattern left on the workpiece at regular intervals. Normally caused by a belt joint specification that is not suitable for the application.
- Belt Tension
- The force or strain put on a coated abrasive belt during use, normally expressed in pounds per square inch (psi) of belt width, or gauge pressure at air tension cylinder.
- Belt and Base Courses
- Horizontal flat members, either decorative or protective, on the exterior of a building. Typically a belt course is approximately mid-range in height and a base course is at the bottom of the siding.
- Bench Grinder
- An offhand grinding machine attached to a bench, usually has either one or two wheels mounted on a horizontal spindle. Common sizes are 1" x 42", 2" x 48", and 6" x 48".
- Bessember Steel
- A mild (soft) steel produced by the Bessemer process and used for girders, rails, boilers etc.
- Bevel
- A machine angle other than a right angle; e.g., a 3◦bevel, which is equivalent to a 1/8” (3.2mm) drop in a 2” (50.8mm) span. Also, in flooring or wall paneling, a V-shaped groove between strips, planks or panels.
- Beveled Edge
- An edge of the door that forms an angle of less than 90◦ with the wide face of the door, such as a 3◦ beveled edge.
- Bird's Eye
- A decorative figure due to small conical depressions in the outer annual rings, which appear to follow the same contour in subsequent growth rings, probably for many years. Rotary slicing cuts the depressions crosswise, exposing a series of circlets called bird’s eyes.
- Biscuit Spline
- A concealed oblong-shaped spline used to joint adjacent members.
- Blackwork
- The work of a blacksmith in contrast to the whitework of the silversmith.
- Bleaching
- A chemical process used to remove color. It is also used to whiten solid wood or wood-veneered panels. This process may be used to lighten an extremely dark wood or to whiten a lighter-colored wood. Most woods do not turn completely white when bleached.
- Bleeding
- When the color of one coating material migrates up through the finishing layer to the succeeding coat, imparting some of its characteristics.
- Blending
- A color change that is detectable at a distance of 6’ to 8’ (1829 mm to 2438 mm) but that does not detract from the overall appearance of the panel.
- Blind Corner
- Space created by abutting cabinets at an approximate 90◦ angle.
- Blistering
- The formation of bubbles on the surface of a coating, caused by trapping air or vapors beneath the surface. An area where veneer does not adhere. A figure resembling an uneven collection of rounded or blister-like bulges caused by the uneven contour of annual growth rings.
- Block-Free
- In finishing, when material has dried sufficiently so that finished items do not stick together when stacked.
- Blocking
- Commonly understood as the wooden support material placed within or upon gypsum board and plaster walls to support casework.
- Blueprint-Matched Panels and Components
- Each panel for walls and components (e.g. desk, doors) is custom-manufactured to the specific size required. All panels are balanced-matched and sequenced-matched to the adjoining panels.
- Blushing
- The whitish, cloud-like haze that occurs in fast-drying finishes, especially lacquer, when they are sprayed in very humid conditions. Blushing is most often due to moisture (water vapor) trapped in the film or to resin precipitating out of solution.
- Board
- A piece of lumber before gluing for width or thickness.
- Board Foot
- A unit of measurement of lumber represented by a board 12” (305mm) long, 12” (305mm) wide and 1” (25.4mm) thick. It may be abbreviated as BF, Bf or bf. When stock is less than 1” (25.4mm) thick, it is usually calculated as if it were a full 1” (25.4mm) thick.
- Board Foot
- A unit of measurement for lumber equal to the volume of a board 12" x 12" x 1", i.e. 144 cubic inches.
- Bond
- The layers of adhesive in the making process of coated abrasives.
- Book Size
- The height and width of a door prior to prefitting.
- Book-Match
- Matching between adjacent veneer leaves on one panel face. Every other piece of veneer is turned over so that the adjacent leaves are “opened” as two pages in a book. The fibers of the wood, slanting in opposite directions in the adjacent leaves, create a characteristic light and dark effect when the surface is seen from an angle.
- Bow
- A deviation, flat-wise, from a straight line drawn from end to end of a piece. It is measured at the point of greatest distance from the straight line.
- Bowed Edge
- A condition affecting one or both edges of a coated abrasive belt or roll. The belt or roll will arc or skew in one direction when laid out on the floor, instead of following a straight line. Normally one edge of the product is longer than the other.
- Box Stringer
- See closed stringer.
- Brashness
- A condition of wood characterized by a low resistance to shock and by abrupt failure across the grain without splintering.
- Brattishing
- An ornamental crest along a top of a cornice or screen, often carved with leaves or flowers.
- Bucks
- Blocking used for the installation of door/window jambs and other woodwork in conjunction with metal framing and/or block walls.
- Bugle-Head Screw
- Similar to countersunk; however, there is a smooth progression from the shaft to the angle of the head, like the bell of a bugle. This term is generally used in referencing drywall screws.
- Bullnose
- A convex, rounded shape such as the front edge of a stair step.
- Bullnose
- See Noseblock. Also refers to a profiled edge on a table; "radiused edge."
- Burl
- A figure created by abnormal growth or response to injury that forms an interwoven, contorted or gnarly mass of dense woody tissue on the trunk or branch of the tree. Burls are usually small and characterized by eye-like markings surrounded by swirls and clusters of distorted tissues. The measurement of the burl is the average of the maximum and minimum dimensions of the burl.
- Burl, Blending
- A swirl, twist or distortion in the grain of the wood that usually occurs near a knot or crotch but does not contain a knot and does not contain abrupt color variation.
- Burl, conspicuous
- A swirl, twist or distortion in the grain of the wood that usually occurs near a knot or crotch. A conspicuous burl can often be associated with abrupt color variation and/or a cluster of small dark piths caused by a cluster of adventitious buds. Burl is also used to describe a figure in wood.
- Burning (of Workpiece)
- A change in the characteristics of the workpiece being ground. Normally detected by a surface discoloration or distinct burning odor.
- Burnishing
- Using coated abrasives to create a special effect on a workpiece (refining the surface). Usually done to develop a smooth, lustrous surface finish on metal, leather, etc. Also refers to a wood surface which in the fibers have become too dense by improper sanding so that stain does not properly penetrate. Not necessarily a problem on some operations, but usually not desired.
- Bushing
- A metal or plastic insert used to alter the size of a center hole (such as flapwheels) to accommodate a smaller mandrel or arbor.
- Butcher Block
- This generally refers to face-laminate hardwoods (usually Maple) forming a work surface in which the edge grain is exposed to wear.
- Butt Joint
- A joint formed by square-edged surfaces (ends, edges, faces) coming together; end butt joint, edge butt joint.
- Butt Joint (Belt)
- Two pieces of coated abrasive "butted" together (with no overlap) to form an endless belt. A very strong, thin, reinforced tape is used on the back of the butt joint to hold it together (KLINGSPOR joints #3 and #4 are both butt joints).
B
- C.A.M.I
- "Coated Abrasives Manufacturers’ Institute." A trade association composed of US coated abrasive manufacturers.
- Cabinet Liner
- In architectural woodwork, this describes 0.020” (.05mm) high-pressure decorative laminate (HPDL).
- Cabinet Room (Furniture)
- The assembly area in a furniture plant where case goods are sanded prior to staining. Involves only bare wood sanding.
- Cant Strip
- A triangular-shaped or beveled strip of material used to ease the transition from a horizontal plane to a vertical plane.
- Cantilever
- A projecting structure that is attached or supported at only one end, such as an extended countertop.
- Carbonization
- The preparation of low-carbon steel for heat treatment by heating for several hours at about 2000 degrees F while it is packed in some carbonizing material, then allowing it to cool slowly.
- Carborundum
- A trade name for certain abrasive products, often misused as a generic name for silicon carbide.
- Casework
- This refers to base and wall cabinets, display fixtures and storage shelves. The generic term for both “boxes” and special desks, reception counters, nurses stations and the like. It generally includes the tops and work surfaces.
- Casing
- Generally, casing is a molding placed around a door frame or window frame.
- Cast Steel
- Steel which has been made into a desired shape by the casting method.
- Catalyzed
- In finishing, it is an ingredient added to a basic product to provide additional performance characteristics.
- Cathedral Grain
- A grain appearance characterized by a series of stacked and inverted “V” or cathedral type of springwood (early wood)/summerwood (late wood) patterns common in plain-sliced (flat-cut) veneer.
- Caulk
- Either the action of making a watertight or airtight seal between two adjacent surfaces by filling the area between the surfaces with a sealant or the sealant itself.
- Center-matched
- A form of book-matching that uses two or more even-numbered leaves of equal width, matched with a joint occurring in the center of the panel. A small amount of the figure is lost.
- Ceramic Aluminum Oxide
- An exceptionally hard, strong, and sharp abrasive made with bauxite and other ingredients that are chemically bonded.
- Chair Rail
- A decorative molding placed at a height on the wall comparable to the place where the back of a chair would impact the wall surface.
- Chalk
- White or other color chalk marks used by the mills for some form of identification to the mill or for marking defects for repair.
- Chamfer
- To cut away the edge where two surfaces meet in an exterior angle, leaving a bevel at the junction.
- Character Mark
- As an element of nature, a distinctive feature in a hardwood surface produced by minerals and other elements that are absorbed as a tree grows.
- Characteristics
- The natural irregularities found in wood, whether solid or veneered. Their acceptance is a function of each particular grade.
- Chatter
- Lines that appear across the panel or board at right angles to the grain, giving the appearance of one or more corrugations resulting from bad setting of sanding equipment or planing knives.
- Chatter or Chatter Marks
- An undesirable, repetitive pattern created on the surface of a workpiece, usually at regularly-spaced intervals, due to an out-of-round or out-of-balance condition in the abrasive machine, or improper belt splice.
- Checking
- Cracks that appear in a finishing film due to lack of cohesion, often caused by too heavy of a coat being applied or a poor grade of finish being used. This may also be called cold-checking.
- Checks
- Small slits running parallel to the grain of wood, caused chiefly by strains produced in seasoning and drying.
- Chicken Tracks
- Small, interrupted indentations or raised areas, appearing as a pattern, on a flat wood workpiece after sanding. Normally associated with wide belt or oscillating drum sander applications.
- Chicken Tracks
- Expression denoting scars that give the particular effect of a chicken’s footprint, caused by air roots or vines. Small sections of chicken tracks appear to be part of the wood when highly dense. Chicken tracks that generally follow the grain and are of an individual line, rather than a series of lines merging on each other, are not considered to be a defect.
- Chip Core
- See Particle Board Core.
- Chip Marks
- Shallow depressions or indentations on or in the surface of dressed lumber caused by shavings or chips getting embedded in the surface during dressing.
- Chipped Grain
- A barely perceptible irregularity in the surface of a piece caused when particles of wood are chipped or broken below the line of cut.
- Chuck
- A device for holding a workpiece being ground. Also a device to hold a cutting tool, drill bit, or spindle-mounted flapwheel.
- Cleats
- In closet and utility shelving, these are the wood members furnished to support the shelf.
- Climb Grinding
- The workpiece is presented to the abrasive belt in the same direction the belt is running. (Versus "conventional" grinding).
- Close Grain and Open Grain
- The size and distribution of the cellular structure of the wood influences the appearance and uniformity. Open-grain hardwoods, such as elm, oak, ash and chestnut are “ring-porous” species. These species have distinct figure and grain patterns. Close-grain hardwoods such as cherry, maple, birch and yellow poplar are “diffuse porous” species. Most North American diffuse-porous woods have small dense pores resulting in less distinct figure and grain. Some tropical diffuse-porous species (e.g. mahogany) have rather large pores.
- Close-Grained Wood
- Wood with narrow, or inconspicuous annual rings, but also can refer to wood with small pores (in this sense, the term "fine-textured" is also used) and/or narrow grain pattern. Examples are maple, cherry, birch and pine.
- Closed Stringer
- In stair work, this refers to a stringer that boxes in the treads and risers.
- Clustered
- When a defect described in the grading rule is sufficient in number and sufficiently close together to appear to be concentrated in one area.
- Coffer
- A sunken, decorative panel in a ceiling.
- Cold-Rolled Steel
- Steel sheets or coils that have been dimensioned with heavy rollers. Identified by a shiny finish, as opposed to hot-rolled steel, which has a black colored mill scale. Not as tough or ductile as hot-rolled steel.
- Comb Grain
- Comb grain is selected from rift for its exceptionally straight grain and closely spaced growth increments. Allowable medullary ray flake is limited.
- Combination Core
- Typically, these cores are constructed of three or five plies of veneer sandwiched between thin laminations of a composite product such as MDF, particle board, hardboard, etc. Another variation utilizes a wafer board (randomly oriented wafer, typically aspen) center. Usually, these cores result in a lightweight, strong, dimensionally stable panel with increased screw-holding ability compared to particle board and superior surface flatness compared to typical veneer core panels.
- Combination Sanding Head
- A wide belt grinding head that offers the option of using the contact roll or platen either individually or in tandem.
- Compatible Edgeband (CE)
- When relating the door edge to face appearance, the edge is not the same species as the face; however, it must be similar in overall color, grain, character and contrast to the face. See self-edge (SE).
- Compatible Species
- For purposes of these standards, it means different species which are able to exist in a harmonious combination of color and grain.
- Compatible for Color and Grain
- For purposes of these standards, it means members shall be selected so that: Lighter-than-average color members will not be adjacent to darker-than-average color members, and there will be no sharp contrast in color between the adjacent members. The grain of adjacent members shall not vary widely or be dissimilar in grain, character and figure.
- Compensator
- An equipment option on wide belt sanders that reduces the feed speed of the work transport system when excessively oversized work enters the machine. This feature improves coated abrasive belt life and reduces machine wear.
- Component (of Face)
- An individual piece of veneer that is jointed to other pieces to achieve a full length and width face. The terms “piece” and “leaf” are used interchangeably with “component” in the context of face.
- Composite Panel
- Man-made wood panels made up of a core material similar to particleboard, with a thin veneer of softwood on each face.
- Composition Face Panels
- A door face panel composed of a wood derivative.
- Concealed Surface
- A surface not normally visible after installation.
- Cones
- Small belt-like specialty items that are cone-shaped and fit over a solid rubber, tapered drum. Used for finishing curved surfaces and recessed areas.
- Conspicuous
- Detectable; readily visible with the naked eye when observed in normal light at a distance stated within these standards.
- Construction Type A
- A frameless construction where the front edge of the cabinet body components are simply edgebanded.
- Construction Type B
- A face-frame construction where the front edge of the cabinet body components is overlaid with a frame.
- Contact Adhesive
- Normally used for bonding high-pressure decorative laminates to a substrate.
- Contact Wheel or Contact Roll
- The wheel (or roll), usually rubber, metal, or felt, over which a coated abrasive belt runs and against which work is applied. Aggressiveness varies with density, angle and depth of serration (if any) and ration of groove-width to land-width.
- Contour Sanding
- The sanding of irregular-shaped parts or compound moldings.
- Contractor
- A general contractor, normally holding the legal agreement for construction of an owner’s building project.
- Conventional Grinding
- The workpiece is presented to the abrasive belt opposite the direction the belt is running. (Versus "climb" grinding).
- Conversion Varnish
- In finishing, this is a class of coatings that are tough and exhibit excellent resistance to household chemicals.
- Conveyor Belt
- Usually an endless belt configuration that positions, holds, moves, and finally clears workpieces through the abrasive heads on a sanding machine.
- Conveyor Machine
- A coated abrasive grinding machine on which the workpiece is moved by a belt under the abrading head of the machine.
- Cope/Coped
- To cut the end of one member to match the profile of another molded member.
- Copy Shape Sander
- A sander which shapes and then sands contoured parts such as chair legs, arms, gun stocks etc.
- Core
- The material (typically veneer, lumber, particle board, medium-density fiberboard or a combination of these) on which an exposed surface material (typically veneer or HPDL) is applied.
- Core, Hollow
- A core assembly of strips or other units of wood, wood derivative or insulation board with intervening hollow cells or spaces that support the outer faces.
- Core, Mineral
- A fire-resistant core material generally used in wood doors requiring fire ratings of ¾ hours or more.
- Core, Solid
- The innermost layer or section in flush door construction. Typical constructions are as follows: Particle board – a solid core of wood or other lignocellulosic particles bonded together with a suitable binder, cured under heat and pressed into a rigid panel in a flat-platen press. Stave – is a solid core of wood blocks or strips. Wood block, lined – is a solid core of two parts; a central wood block core bonded to two core liners of wood or other lignocellulosic materials.
- Cornice
- A finishing detail along the top edge of a piece of furniture or building.
- Cove Moldings
- Moldings similar to crown moldings, though often smaller and less decorative.
- Cratering
- The formation of small depressions in a finish, sometimes called fish eye. It’s often caused by the contamination of the finish material or the substrate with silicone, oil or other substances.
- Crawling
- The tendency of a wet film to creep or crawl away from certain areas of a substrate. Very sharp corners or contamination is often the cause.
- Creasing (of a Belt)
- Folding of the coated abrasive belt on the contact roll or wheel because it has become stretched in service, or is too flexible for the operation. The term is also used to describe a light scoring of the back of the belt so that it will "hinge" and fit into the complex shape of a hand block.
- Creep
- The increase in shelf deflection over time, which fluctuates with temperature, humidity and load stress.
- Critical Temperature
- The temperature at which certain chemical changes take place in metal during heat treatment. This temperature varies with different metals.
- Crocus
- A natural abrasive of iron oxide particles. Used mostly for cleaning and polishing soft metals.
- Crook
- A deviation, edgewise, from a straight line drawn from end to end of a piece. It is measured at the point of greatest distance from the straight line.
- Cross Bar
- An irregularity of grain resembling a dip in the grain running at right angles, or nearly so, to the length of the veneer, caused chiefly by strains produced in seasoning.
- Cross Break
- A separation (break) of the wood cells across the grain. Such breaks may be due to internal strains resulting from unequal longitudinal shrinkage or to external forces.
- Cross Figure
- A series of naturally occurring figure effects characterized by mild or dominant patterns across the grain in some faces. For example, a washboard effect occurs in fiddle-back cross figure; and cross wrinkles occur in the mottle figure.
- Cross Grain
- A term applied to wood in which the grain is not running lengthwise of the material in one direction. The irregularity is due to interlocked fiber, uneven annual rings or to the intersection of branch and stem.
- Cross-Grain Scratch
- Refers to a scratch created by sanding across, or 90 degrees to the direction of the wood grain.
- Crossband
- To place the grain of layers of wood at right angles in order to minimize the shrinking and swelling. Also, plywood of three or more plys, or a layer of veneer whose grain is at right angles to that of the face plies.
- Crossbanding
- A ply placed between the core and face veneer in 5-ply construction, or a ply placed between the back the face of a 3-ply skin in 7-ply construction. When the crossbanding has directional grain, it is placed at right angles to the grain of the face veneer. When used with laminate face doors, crossbanding may consist of more than one ply.
- Crossfire
- A figure extending across the grain such as fiddleback, raindrop and mottle.
- Crotch
- Wood that comes from the portion of a tree just below the point where it forks into two limbs. The grain is crushed and twisted, creating a variety of plume and flame figures, often resembling a well-formed feather. The outside of the block produces a swirl figure that changes to full crotch figure as the cutting approaches the center of the block.
- Crown
- The center of a contact wheel, contact roll, or idler wheel face where the thickness or diameter increases from edge to center. The crowned area is what allows an abrasive belt to track properly.
- Crown Moldings
- Pieces used to accent ceiling intersections and traditional pediments and casework tops.
- Cup
- A deviation in the face of a piece from a straight line drawn from edge to edge of that piece. It is measured at the point of greatest distance from the straight line.
- Curb Stringer
- See closed stringer.
- Curing
- The complete drying of a finish to the ultimate development of its properties.
- Curly
- A figure that occurs when the fibers are distorted, producing a wavy or curly effect in the lumber or veneer. It’s primarily found in maple or birch.
- Custom Grade
- The middle or normal grade in both material and workmanship and is intended for high-quality, conventional work.
- Custom Sequence-Matched Panels
- When all panels are custom manufactured to a uniform width and/or height according to each elevation. All the panels are balanced-matched and sequence-matched to the adjoining panels.
- Cutting Rate
- The amount of material removed by a coated abrasive from the workpiece, per unit of time.
C
- D-A Sander
- "Dual Action," or random orbital sander. Scratch pattern is random and very fine. Can be air or electrically powered, and usually hand held.
- D.S.A.
- A German standards organization, The German Grinding Wheel Committee. Regulates and issues special permits in Germany for manufacturing grinding wheels and discs, including flapwheels and SMT discs.
- Dado Joint
- A rectangular groove across the grain of a wood member into which the end of the joining member is inserted; also a housed joint. Variations include “mortise and tenon” and “stopped or blind dado” joints.
- Dado, Blind or Stopped Joint
- A dado that is not visible when the joint is completed.
- Dart
- A conventionalized arrowhead shape, often alternating with egg or other forms in moldings.
- DeLappe Discs
- Coated abrasive discs which have radially-cut slits emanating from the center gold or around the disc periphery (can be flutter discs or spool sanding discs). Used primarily in the woodworking industry on felt spools for sanding contoured surfaces and as a flutter sander for machine sanding grooves and routed areas. Also known as flutter discs or wing discs (4 wing, 8 wing, 16 wing, etc.)
- Dead Knots (Open Knots)
- Openings where a portion of the wood substance of the knot has dropped out or where cross checks have occurred to present an opening.
- Deadhead
- See Noseblock.
- Decay
- The disintegration of wood due to the action of wood-destroying fungi; “doze”, “rot” and “unsound wood” mean the same as decay.
- Decorative Composite Panels
- For the purposes of these standards, a thermally fused panel, flat-pressed from a thermoset polyester or melamine resin-impregnated paper (minimum 30%); see low pressure decorative laminates.
- Defect
- A fault that detracts from the quality, appearance or utility of the piece. Handling marks and/or grain-raising due to moisture shall not be considered a defect.
- Defect, Open
- These are open joints, knotholes, cracks, loose knots, wormholes, gaps, voids or other openings interrupting the smooth continuity of the wood surface.
- Deflection
- The measured distance from a straight line that a shelf will deflect under load.
- Delamination
- The separation of plies or layers of wood or other material through failure of the adhesive joint.
- Depth of Cut
- Refers to the amount of stock removed during each pass of a sanding or grinding operation. Usually expressed in the thousandths of an inch, e.g. depth of cut .125", etc.
- Die Casting
- A method of producing castings to finished size by forcing molten metal into a suitable mold. An object or part formed by die-casting.
- Die Cavity
- The hollow space inside a die where the metal solidifies to form a casting.
- Die Stamping
- A piece formed or cut out by a die.
- Dimension Lumber
- Material that is precut in width and thickness to a standard size.
- Dinging Hammer
- A hand hammer used to straighten or remove dents from sheet metal.
- Directional Arrow
- Printed on the back of coated abrasive belts, directional arrows point the direction the belt should be run on the machine. Refers to the lap joints only. Belts manufactured with butt-type joints may be run in either direction but the arrow will only point in one direction. Flapwheels also carry directional arrows signifying proper direction of rotation.
- Disc
- A round, flat-coated abrasive product with or without a center clamping hole. It is affixed to a rotating, oscillating plate, or back-up pad for portable or stationary grinding. The work will be done on the FACE and not the edge of the disc.
- Disc Back-Up Pad
- A support pad designed to back up a coated abrasive disc during grinding. Back-up pads can be made from rubber, foam, or metal.
- Disc Grinder or Sander
- A machine on which abrasive discs are used for grinding or sanding. Usually refers to circular-motion disc machines.
- Disc Nut
- Used to secure disc to backup pad.
- Discolorations
- Stains in wood substances. Common veneer stains are sap stains, blue stains, stains produced by chemical action (caused by the iron in the cutting knife coming in contact with the tannic acid of the wood), those resulting from exposure of natural wood extractives to oxygen and light. Another common stain is from chemical action of vat treatments or the adhesive components and/or to the surface finish.
- Distressing
- In finishing, this is either a mechanical or chemical special effect which tends to make the material appear aged.
- Dog Ear
- A protrusion, usually on one edge of a coated abrasive belt, at the joint, caused by uneven belt cutting or improper joint alignment at belt pressing.
- Dovetail, Blind Joint
- A joint formed by inserting a projecting wedge-shaped member (dovetail tenon) into a correspondingly shaped cut-out member (dovetail mortise); variations include the “dovetail dado” and the “blind dovetail dado”.
- Dowel
- A cylindrical peg or metal screw used to strengthen a wood joint.
- Dowel Screw
- A smooth shouldered screw used in lieu of wood dowels for casework joinery.
- Doweled Joint
- A joint using “dowels” (doweled construction); also “doweled edge joint”.
- Down Grade
- The diminishing of the value of lumber by creating defects during processing. This commonly occurs during rotary knife planing when tearouts, knot loss, and splitting occur.
- Doze
- A form of incipient decay characterized by a dull and lifeless appearance of the wood, accompanied by a loss of strength and softening of the wood substance.
- Draw
- To stretch or shape metal by hammering. To temper steel by gradual or intermittent quenching of the material.
- Drawer Sander
- A special platen-type sander for sanding the dovetails, front and rear, of wooden drawers after assembly.
- Dressing
- Sanding or cutting the face of a wheel, such as a flapwheel, to restore balance to the wheel or to cut a shape into the wheel.
- Drop Forging
- A shaped object formed between dies by the use of a drop hammer. The process for forging with a drop hammer.
- Drum Cover
- Refers to the coated abrasive wrapped on the drums of a multiple-drum sanding machine.
- Dubbing
- The tapering of any of the edges of flat stock which has been processed through a wide belt or drum sander. Most commonly occurs on the leading or trailing edge of the work.
- Ductile
- Capable of being readily pressed, drawn, or otherwise formed into various shapes without fracturing.
- Ductility
- The capability of being hammered into thin layers or of being drawn out into wire, as of certain metals. Also called "pliant".
- Dulling
- The wearing away of the cutting edges of abrasive grains through use. To a certain degree, it occurs during any abrasive operation, and will finally result in the inefficient cutting or abrading. The coated abrasive should be discarded or shifted to lighter work, regardless of its appearance.
- Durometer
- An instrument used to measure hardness of rubber and other materials. Consists of a small drill or blunt indenter point. Relates to the performance characteristics of rubber contact wheels and rolls.
- Durometer Hardness
- The hardness of a material, usually rubber, as measured by a durometer.
D
- Early Wood
- The portion of the annual growth ring that is formed during the early part of the growing season. It is usually less dense and weaker mechanically than latewood.
- Eased Edges
- For the vast majority of work, a sharp arris or edge is not permitted. Such edges are traditionally “eased” by lightly striking the edge with a fine abrasive. Less often, or as a design element, such edges are machined to a small radius.
- Easements
- Short curved segments of handrail that provide for changes in pitch, elevation or direction.
- Economy Grade
- The lowest grade in both material and workmanship and is intended for work where price outweighs quality considerations.
- Edge Cut
- Grooving or rounding of the edges of work caused by excessive stock removal at the coated abrasive belt edge. Also called the edge snipe.
- Edge Foiler
- A machine which applies a decorative foil edge to wood parts. Usually includes one or more mold sanding heads prior to foil applications. See "Foil."
- Edge Grain (EG) or Vertical Grain (VG)
- A piece or pieces sawn at approximately right angles to the annual growth rings so that the rings form an angle of 45◦ or more with the surface of the piece.
- Edge Joint
- When the edges of boards are glued together to increase the width.
- Edge Sander
- A machine used for edge sanding in a furniture plant. Also called a "side stroke."
- Edge Sanding
- The sanding of any furniture components requiring flatness and squareness of integrity, such as frame legs, end boards, etc.
- Edge Shed
- A term used to describe a condition in which the abrasive grain "shells" off the edges of a coated abrasive product (usually a belt) during use. Usually caused by too severe an application of the coated abrasive product.
- Edgeband, Concealed
- When not more than 1/16” (1.6 mm) of the band shall show on the face or edge of the plywood or particle board.
- Edger
- Disc sanding machine used in floor sanding to sand edges next to walls. Sometimes called Edget sanders.
- Effect
- The final result achieved in a finished wood surface after the application of a clearly specified series of finishing procedures or steps have been completed. Successfully achieving a specified “effect” requires the active participation of the design professional and the woodwork finisher.
- Emery
- An abrasive that is a natural composite of Corundum and Iron Oxide. The grains are blocky, cut slowly, and tend to polish the material being abraded.
- End Butt Joint
- When one end is glued to an edge or face of another board to form an angle (e.g. stiles and rails of a face frame). When the end of one board is fastened to the end of another to increase its length (e.g. running trim).
- End Grain
- The grain seen in a cut made at a right angle to the direction of the fibers in a board.
- End Grain
- The end or portion of a cut or sawn piece of wood that has been cut across the grain. It is denser than the "straight" grain. It is also more prone to sanding problems due to heat. End grain absorbs stain more readily than straight grain, and must often be sanded to a finer grit to reduce absorption.
- End Match
- When there’s matching between adjacent veneer leaves on one panel face. Veneer leaves are book-matched end to end as well as side to side. Generally, this is used for very tall panels or for projects in which only short length veneers are available.
- Engineered Veneer
- These are veneers that are first peeled, normally from obeche or poplar logs. The peeled veneer leaves are dyed to a specified color then glued together in a mold to produce a large laminated block. The shape of the mold determines the final grain configuration. The block is then sliced into leaves of veneer with a designed appearance that is highly repeatable.
- Equilibrium Moisture Content
- The moisture content at which wood neither gains nor loses moisture when surrounded by air at a given relative humidity and temperature.
- Escutcheon
- A protective fitting around a keyhole; also a shield-like ornament.
- Evolute
- A design of recurrent waves used for borders or other linear elements.
- Expander Wheel
- A rubber-covered wheel used with abrasive bands (essentially belts) to grind and polish. Centrifugal force expands the rubber and holds the band securely.
- Exposed Exterior Surfaces
- In casework, this means all exterior surfaces are exposed to view.
- Exposed Fasteners
- Are any mechanical fastening devices, filled or unfilled, that can be seen on exposed or semi-exposed surfaces of woodwork.
- Exposed Interior Surfaces
- In casework, means all interior surfaces exposed to view in open casework or behind transparent doors.
- Exposed Surfaces
- Surfaces normally visible after installation.
- Extrusion
- A method of forming metal by forcing it through a die.
E
- F.E.P.A.
- "Federation of European Producers of Abrasives." Normally used to describe a European grading system for abrasive grain to differentiate it from the US A.N.S.I. system. Products graded to the F.E.P.A. system have the letter "P" prior to the grit designation.
- F.P.M.
- Feet per minute.
- Fabrication
- Work done in the shop or factory, as cutting, punching, sub-assembling, riveting or welding rolled sections together, before delivery to the building site. To make by combining parts; assembling.
- Face
- The better side of any panel in which the outer plies are of different veneer grades. It is also either side of a panel in which there is no difference in veneer grade of the outer plies.
- Face Joint
- When the faces of boards are glued together to increase thickness.
- Face To
- To make a flat surface on a metal piece by using a machine tool.
- Face Veneer
- The outermost exposed wood veneer surface of a veneered wood door, panel or other component exposed to view when the project is complete.
- Face-Frame Construction
- See construction style B.
- Fancy Face Veneer
- Elaborate veneer work, which uses many separate pieces of veneer, and often of different wood species. Often seen in table tops, etc.
- Fastener, Mechanical
- The generic term for securing devices that are used in the fabrication and/or installation of architectural woodwork such as dowel, dowel screws, splines, nails, screws, bolts, shot pins, etc.
- Feathered Sheets
- The top outer sheets of some flitches, generally containing sapwood, that do not run full length.
- Feed (Cross)
- On surface type sanding operations (i.e. stroke sanding), the rate of horizontal feed of the coated abrasive across the work.
- Feed (Down)
- On conveyor operations or surface sanding, the distance at which the belt and contact wheel are fed into the work.
- Feed On
- For machine tools in which the work revolves, feed is the rate of travel of the tool in a cutting operation. It is expressed in thousandths of an inch per revolution of the spindle. For machines on which the cutting tool revolves, it is the rate of travel of the work table.
- Feed Rate
- The distance that the stock being processed moves during a given interval of time or operational cycle.
- Felt
- Used in strips or sheets as a soft backing on a platen, underneath the graphite canvas. Reduces the scratches of a sanding belt and allows for more conformability.
- Felt Padding
- Refers to the surface material on drum sanders, vibrating sanders, platen shoes on stroke sanders, etc. Felt offers a resilient surface to reduce unwanted scratching.
- Ferrous Metals
- Metals whose major ingredient is iron.
- Fiber
- One of the long, thick-walled cells that give strength and support to hardwoods.
- Fiber (Backing)
- A very hard, strong, coated abrasive backing material consisting of multiple plies of chemically-impregnated paper. Used primarily for disc products.
- Fiberboard
- See MDF.
- Fiberboard Core
- Material manufactured from wood reduced to fine fibers mixed with binders and formed by the use of heat and pressure into panels.
- Fiddleback
- A fine, strong, even ripple figure as frequently seen on the backs of violins. The figure is found principally in mahogany and maple, but occurs sometimes in other species.
- Figure
- The natural pattern produced in the wood surface by annual growth rings, rays, knots and natural deviations from the normal grain, such as interlocked and wavy grain and irregular coloration.
- Figure (Wood)
- The pattern produced in a wood surface by annual growth rings, rays, knots, deviations from regular grain such as interlocked and wavy grain, and irregular coloration.
- Fill (Putty Repairs)
- A repair to an open defect, usually made with fast-drying plastic putty. It should be well-made with non-shrinking putty of a color matching the surrounding area of the wood, and should be flat and level with the face and panel. It will need to be sanded after application and drying.
- Filler
- In woodworking, any substance used to fill the holes and irregularities in planed or sanded surfaces to decrease the porosity of the surface before applying the finish coatings.
- Filler
- In finishing, ground inert solids specifically designed to fill pores or small cavities in wood as one step in the overall finishing process. In casework, paneling, ornamental work, stair work, frames and some other architectural woodwork applications, an additional piece of trim material between woodwork members or between woodwork and some other material used to create fill or transition between the members.
- Fin
- A thin projecting edge on a casting or other metal surface.
- Finger Joint
- When the ends of two pieces of lumber are cut to an identically matching set. It’s used most commonly to increase the length of the board. A series of interlocking fingers are precision-cut on the ends of two pieces of wood that mesh together and are held rigidly in place with adhesive.
- Finish
- The surface quality of appearance, such as that produced by sanding or polishing.
- Finish Planing
- To remove extruded glue from the surface of glued-up wood panels, and to attain a uniform thickness.
- Finish Sanding or Finish Grinding
- The final operation which produces the desired finish on the workpiece.
- Finishing Paper
- Products manufactured on "A" weight (40 lb paper) or "B" weight (60 lb paper) backings. They are normally in fine grits. Usually used to hand-sand for final finish on wood, metal, etc.
- Finishing Room
- Refers to the area in a furniture plant where the primary sanding operations for finishing furniture are performed, including wash coat, sanding, and sealer sanding.
- Fire Rated
- Fire-retardant particle board is available with an Underwriters’ Laboratory (UL) stamp for class 1 fire rating (Flame Spread 20, Smoke Developed 25). Fire-rated doors are available with particle board and mineral cores for ratings up to 1 ½ hours. It is the responsibility of the specifier to indicate which fire-retardant classification is required for a particular product. In the absence of such a specified rating, the manufacturer may supply an unrated product.
- Fire-Rated Door
- A door that has been constructed in such a manner that when installed in an assembly and tested, will pass ASTM E-152 “Fire Test of Door Assemblies”. Also, it can be rated as resisting fire for 20 minutes (1/3 hour), 30 minutes (1/2 hour), 45 minutes (3/4 hour) (C), 1 hour (B), or 1 ½ hours (B). The door must be tested and carry an identifying label from a qualified testing and inspection agency.
- Fire-Retardant Treatment
- There are only a few species that are treated with chemicals to reduce flammability and retard the spread of flame over the surface. This usually involves impregnation of the wood, under pressure, with salts and other chemicals. White oak is untreatable.
- First-Class Workmanship
- For architectural woodwork, the finest or highest class of workmanship for the grade specified which shall be free of manufacturing and natural defects covered under grading rules in these standards.
- Fish Eyes
- Small bubbles in a wood finish, which are usually caused by contamination by silicon from lubricants or furniture polishes.
- Fixture
- A device which holds the work while cutting tools are in operation. It differs from a jig in that it has no guides or special arrangements for guiding the tools.
- Flake
- More properly called “fleck” and sometimes referred to as “silver grain.” It is created when the veneer knife of a saw passes through the medullary rays, wood rays, or pit rays to reveal the naturally wavy, pencil-like stripes in the wood.
- Flakeboard
- See Particle Board.
- Flame Spread Classification
- The generally accepted measurement for fire rating of materials. It compares the rate of flame spread on a particular species with the rate of flame spread on untreated red oak.
- Flanges
- Circular metal plates used to support and drive contact wheels, or flapwheels.
- Flapwheel
- Flat pieces of coated abrasive sheets (flaps) arranged and fastened together on a core like spokes of a wheel. The rotational slapping action of the flaps does the abrading and polishing.
- Flash
- A thin projection of excess metal, plastic, or rubber that forms at the seams between dies in casting and forging.
- Flat Grain (FG) or Slash Grain (SG)
- A piece or pieces sawn approximately parallel to the annual growth rings so that all or some of the rings form an angle of less than 45◦ with the surface of the piece.
- Flat Slicing
- See plain slicing.
- Fleck, Ray
- The portion of a ray as it appears on the quartered or rift-cut surface. Fleck is often a dominant appearance feature in oak.
- Flex
- A controlled breaking of the adhesive bond that holds the abrasive grain to the backing of a coated abrasive product. More flexibility is needed for detailed or contoured workpieces.
- Flint
- A natural abrasive not commonly used today. A form of quartz, it is too soft for most types of sanding. Only used for hand sanding.
- Flitch
- A hewn or sawn log made ready for veneer production or the actual veneer slices of one half of a log, kept in order and used for the production of fine plywood panels.
- Flush Construction
- Cabinet construction in which the door and drawer faces are set within and flush with the body members of face frames of the cabinet with spaces between face surfaces sufficient for operating clearance.
- Flush Overlay
- A cabinet construction in which door and drawer faces cover the body members of the cabinet with spaces between face surfaces sufficient for operating clearance.
- Flute
- One of a series of parallel, lengthwise channels or grooves in a column, cornice molding, band or furniture leg.
- Flutter Sanding
- Sanding irregular, intricate shapes or carvings which may be found on furniture frames, legs, chair backs, etc. Normally done with eight-winged DeLappe discs folded into a pinwheel configuration. Also can be done with specially die-cut sheets (called "flutter sheets").
- Foil
- A vinyl film that is bonded to MDF tops or edges. The foil is normally solid colors or has a wood grain appearance. Poor sanding of the board will often be visible through the thin foil layer.
- Forge
- To shape hot metal by hammering or pressing.
- Form 3 Center Hole
- KLINGSPOR code for a fiber disc with a special arbor hole with 4 slots around the hole. Makes the holding nut easier to secure than on a standard arbor hole.
- Foundry
- An establishment in which articles are cast from metal.
- Frameless Construction
- Construction style A.
- Freehand Gripping
- Grinding by holding the work against the coated abrasive by hand; usually called offhand grinding.
- Fretwork
- A repeated, symmetrical, interlaced design of small bars.
- Friable
- Referring to the property of a substance capable of being easily rubbed, crumbled, or pulverized into a powder. Regarding abrasive grain, friability is the resharpening and toughness characteristics of a particular grain type.
- Furring
- Material added to a wall surface to create a true plane.
F
- Gable
- Aside from the traditional usage referring to the end of a building, in casework, it’s the end or side of a cabinet.
- Galvanize
- To coat a metal surface with zinc as protection against corrosion.
- Galvanized Steel
- Steel which has been dipped into a bath of zinc metal. Done to prevent rusting of the steel.
- Gap
- An unfilled opening in a continuous surface or between adjoining surfaces.
- Gapped Joint
- Refers to a belt joint condition in which the two joint ends do not butt tightly together. There is a space or "gap" at the point of contact of the belt ends. Condition may lead to premature product failure.
- Garland
- A sculptural ornament, usually in relief, in the form of a swag or festoon of flower or fruit.
- Garnet
- A very sharp grain that cuts quickly when new. Fractures quickly, keeping it sharp. Perfect for sanding wood end grains or for final-finish sanding of wood. Very economical. A naturally occurring abrasive grain, red in color, made by crushing semi-precious garnet material. Still used occasionally in the woodworking industry.
- Gate
- The opening where molten metal enters the mold cavity.
- Gauge
- A term used to describe the thickness of sheet metal.
- Gel Coat
- A plastic finish sprayed onto fiberglass which gives it the characteristic smooth, glossy look.
- Glaze
- To become glassy, take on a glaze; The spaces between the grit of the grinding wheel becomes filled with metal or other particles, and reduces the abrasive quality of the wheel.
- Glazing
- Belt damage caused by excessive working pressure or speed. The abrasive is prematurely dulled and generates excessive heat.
- Glazing
- In finishing, it is an added step for achieving color or to heighten grain appearance.
- Gloss
- See sheen.
- Glue
- A coated abrasive adhesive produced by the hydrolysis of animal hides. It is gelantinized by water and dries to form a strong adhesive layer, which may be used with or without filler.
- Glue Block
- A wood block, usually triangular in cross-section, securely glued to an angular joint between two members for a great glue bond area.
- Glue Bond
- Coated abrasive products that use animal hide glue in both the maker and sizer adhesive coats. The glue may be used alone or with an inert filler or extender.
- Glue Size
- A method of applying a mixture of glue and water to a wood panel, allowing to dry, and then sanding. This will reduce wood fuzz and allow a smoother finish.
- Glue Spots
- The discolorations or barriers to finish penetration, caused by the bleed-through or un-removed glue, on an exposed or semi-exposed wood surface.
- Glued, Securely
- The bonding of two members with an adhesive forming a tight joint with no visible delamination along the lines of application.
- Grade
- Unless otherwise noted, this term means grade rules for economy, custom and/or premium grade.
- Grading
- The process used to separate abrasive grains into specific size groupings.
- Grading Rules
- Most hardwoods are graded utilizing the rules established by the National Hardwood Lumber Association. Softwoods, on the other hand, are graded by several grading associations. The three primary softwood grading associations are Western Wood Products Association, Southern Pine Inspection Bureau and Redwood Inspection Service. Although lumber must be purchased by the manufacturer according to these grading rules, these rules should not be used to specify lumber for architectural woodwork. Specify the “Grade” of work for the fabricated products under these standards. Softwood plywood is graded by the American Plywood Association (APA, The Engineered Wood Association). Grade markings are stamped on the back or edge of each sheet. Hardwood plywood is made under the standards of the Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association (HPVA). These grades are rarely marked on the panels.
- Grain
- The fibers in wood and their direction, size, arrangement, appearance or quality. When severed, the annual growth rings become quite pronounced and the effect is referred to as “grain”. Flat grain (FG) or slash grain (SG) – a piece or pieces sawn approximately parallel to the annual growth rings so that all or some of the rings form an angle of less than 45◦ with the surface of the piece. Mixed grain (MG) – is any combination of vertical or flat grain in the same member. Vertical grain lumber or veneer is a piece sawn or sliced at approximately right angles to the annual growth rings so that the rings form an angle of 45◦ or more with the surface of the piece. Quartered grain – is a method of sawing or slicing to bring out certain figures produced by the medullary or pith rays, which are especially conspicuous in oak. The log is flitched in several different ways to allow the cutting of the veneer in a radial direction. Rift or comb grain is lumber or veneer that is obtained by cutting at an angle of about 15◦ off of the quartered version. Twenty-five percent of the exposed surface area of each piece of veneer may contain medullary ray flake.
- Grain (Wood)
- The direction, size, arrangement, appearance, or quality of the fibers in wood or lumber.
- Grain Character
- A varying pattern produced by cutting through growth rings, exposing various layers. It is most pronounced in veneer cut tangentially or rotary.
- Grain Figure
- The pattern produced in a wood surface by annual growth rings, ray, knots or deviations from natural grain such as interlocked & wavy grain, and irregular coloration.
- Grain Slope
- The expression of the angle of the grain to the long edges of the veneer component.
- Grain Sweep
- The expression of the angle of the grain to the long edges of the veneer component over the area extending one eighth of the length of the piece from the ends.
- Graphite
- Friction-reducing material which is available in a wax stick for applying directly to the belt backing; a chemically inert variety of carbon with a metallic luster and an oily feel, used as a lubricant, and in the manufacture of electrodes, crucibles, lead pencils, etc. Also known as black lead.
- Graphite Coated Canvas
- Canvas with a layer of graphite adhered to it. Designed to reduce friction on a platen type grinding machine, it is used between the platen and the back of the belt.
- Grinding
- Removing material (other than wood) with a coated abrasive product; usually referring to the use of coarser grit sizes.
- Grit
- Designation of abrasive grain size, reflecting the number of the smallest openings per linear inch in the screen through which the grain will pass. Can be either US "C.A.M.I." grade or European "P" grade.
- Grit Symbol Scale
- Older abrasive grit size scale still used occasionally in the furniture and floor sanding industries. The grit sizes are read as "aught" sizes.
- Groove
- Rectangular slot of three surfaces cut parallel with the grain of the wood.
- Groove
- Refers to the slots in a serrated contact wheel or roll adjacent to the lands. Land-to-groove ratio has significant bearing on the aggressiveness of a contact wheel.
- Ground
- A narrow strip of wood that serves as a guide for plaster as well as a base to which trim members are secured. Grounds are applied to rough interior openings, such as doors and windows, along interior walls at the finish floor line, and wherever wainscot may be installed. The thickness of a ground is that of the combined lath and plaster, while the width varies from 1” (25.4 mm) to 3” (76.2 mm), which is often called plaster grounds (around interior or exterior openings) and base grounds (when used around the base of rooms).
- Growth Rings
- The layer of wood added by a tree in a single growing season, the markings of which contribute to the figure in finished woods.
- Gum Pockets
- Well-defined openings between rings of annual growth, containing gum or evidence or prior gum accumulations.
- Gum Spots and Streaks
- Gum or resinous material or color spots and streaks caused by prior resin accumulations sometimes found on panel surfaces.
G
- HP
- Shorthand for horsepower.
- HPDL
- See high pressure decorative laminate.
- HPDL Compact
- See Solid Phenolic.
- Hairline
- A thin, perceptible line showing at the joint of two pieces of wood.
- Half Lap Joint
- A joint formed by extending (lapping) the joining part of one member over the joining part of another.
- Half Round
- A method of cutting veneers on an off-center lathe that results in a modification characteristic of both rotary and plain-sliced veneers; often used in red and white oak.
- Hand Block Sanding
- Using a flat block when sanding with belts or sheets, usually to finish wood workpieces. Flat hand blocks are used to polish flat stock, while formed blocks are used to sand shaped moldings.
- Hand-Rubbed Finish
- In finishing, this is a manual step performed to smooth, flatten or dull the topcoat.
- Handling Marks
- Scratches, dents, blemishes, mars or scuffs left or created by physical handling or packaging.
- Handrail
- In stair work, this is the member that follows the pitch of the stair for grasping with the hand.
- Hardboard
- A generic term for a panel manufactured primarily from inter-felted lignocellulosic fibers, consolidated under heat and pressure in a hot press and conforming to the requirements of ANSI/AHAA 135.4.
- Hardboard
- Manufactured into pegboard, wall paneling, drawer bottoms, and backs of dressers.
- Hardboard, Tempered
- Hardboard that has been coated or impregnated with oil and then baked to give it more impact resistance, hardness, rigidity, tensile strength and more resistance to scratches or moisture. Tempered hardboard is typically smooth on both sides and may have a dark smooth finish.
- Hardness
- The property of a coating that causes it to resist denting or penetration by a hard object.
- Hardwood
- A general term used to designate lumber or veneer produced from temperate zone deciduous or tropical broadleaved trees in contrast to softwood, which is produced from trees that are usually needle-bearing or coniferous. The term does not imply hardness in its physical sense.
- Hardwoods
- The wood of any broad-leaved tree bearing its seeds in a closed cavity. This term does not relate to the density of the wood.
- Heartwood
- Wood extending from the pit or the center of the tree to the sapwood, usually darker in color than sapwood.
- Heartwood
- The central supporting column of the tree trunk, consisting of matured wood in which little further change will occur.
- Heat Resistance Test
- A sample of the laminated plastic approximately 12” x 12” (305 mm x 305 mm), glued to the substrate for a minimum of 21 days shall be used for this test. A hot-air gun rayed at 14 amperes, 120 volts, with a nozzle temperature of 500◦F or 274◦C shall be directed at the test panel. A thermometer set at the panel surface shall register 356◦F or 180◦C for an exposure time of 5 minutes. The formation of a blister or void between the overlay and the substrate shall constitute a failure of the adhesive. A metal straightedge shall be used to determine if a blister has occurred. This determination shall be made within 30 seconds of heat removal.
- Heel Breaster
- A type of abrasive product used in shoe manufacturing and repair for sanding the curved section of a shoe heel. It is a U-shaped cloth disc (looks like half of a fiber disc), which forms a cone when placed into a special holder.
- High-Density Overlay
- The standard grades of high-density overlay shall be listed as PS 1, latest edition. The surface of the finished product shall be hard, smooth or uniformly textured, although some evidence of underlying grain may appear. The surface shall be of such a character that further finishing by paint or protective coating is not necessary.
- High-Pressure Cabinet Liner
- A liner that conforms to NEMA LD-3 (latest edition), has a color or pattern sheet to enhance its appearance and is intended for use in cabinet interiors.
- High-Pressure Decorative Laminate (HPDL)
- Laminated thermosetting decorative sheets intended for decorative purposes. The sheets consist essentially of layers of a fibrous sheet material, such as paper, impregnated with a thermosetting condensation resin and consolidation under heat and pressure. The top layers have a decorative color or a printed design. The resulting product has an attractive exposed surface that is durable and resistant to damage from abrasion and mild alkalis, acids and solvents, meeting the requirements of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) LD-3.
- Holes, Worm
- Holes resulting from infestation by worms greater than 1/16” (1.6 mm) in diameter.
- Hone
- To sharpen or dress with a hone. A stone or fine grit, used for sharpening cutting instruments or for obtaining a very smooth finish on a metal part.
- Horsepower
- The standard unit of power rating. In mechanics, one horsepower is equivalent to 33,000 pounds lifted one foot in one minute. Also known as HP.
- Hot-Rolled
- A term applied to commercial steel which has been rolled while hot.
- Humidity
- Common term for relative humidity; the amount of moisture in an atmosphere in relation to temperature.
H
- ISO
- International Standards Organization. The organization that establishes standards for a wide range of processes in manufacturing.
- Idler
- A machine part in a belt system (may be adjustable) which provides belt tracking and, in some installations, belt tensioning adjustments.
- In-Line System
- A type of rough lumber sanding system employing belts 14" to 30" wide and running with feed speeds up to 700 FPM. Boards are run generally end-to-end through an abrasive planer.
- Inclusions
- Impurities in metal workpieces.
- Inconspicuous
- To not be readily visible without careful inspection (as a measurement of natural or machining characteristics).
- Indentations
- Areas in the face that have been compressed as the result of residue on the platens of the hot press or handling damage through the factory.
- Indexing
- A programmed progression of grinding or sanding across a surface. To move the "feed" in steps.
- Inlay
- A surface decoration composed of small pieces of contrasting woods or other materials set flush with a wood surface.
- Inner Plies
- Plies other than face or back plies in a panel construction. Crossbands and centers are classed as inner plies (see core).
- Intarsia
- A surface decoration of wood consisting of wood inlays in contrasting colors.
- Intermediate Grinding
- Grinding operations not considered either heavy stock removal or polishing. Some stock removal present, but primary concern is to remove scratch marks from previous coarse grits. Usually refers to operations using grit 60 through 120.
- Intermediate Sanding
- Dimensioning and/or upgrading the finish of flat furniture stock on bare wood (prior to staining) with wide belts.
- Intumescent Coatings
- Coatings that can be applied to the surface of flammable products to reduce their flammability.
I
- Jig
- (Not the dance) Devices that hold a workpiece in position while it is being machined or assembled.
- Jitterbug
- A reciprocating or oscillating sander that uses a coated abrasive sheet affixed to a felt or rubber back-up for flat sanding of wood. The most common sheet size is 3-2/3" x 9".
- Joint
- See Belt Joint.
- Joint
- The line of juncture between the edges or ends of two adjacent pieces of lumber or sheets of veneer, such as butt, dado (blind, stopped), dovetail, blind dovetail, finger, half lap, lock, miter (shoulder, lock, spline), mortise and tenon (blind-slotted, stub or through), rabbet, scarf, spline and tongue-and-groove joints.
- Joint Angle
- The angle of the belt joint in relation to the edge of the belt. Expressed in degrees. Usually 45 to 75 degrees from the belt edge.
- Joint Hinging
- A condition describing a belt joint that has taken an inward fix (gulled effect) at the point of joining. On lighter weight products, the hinge will pull out under tension. On heavier products, the "hinge" may resist pulling out and could weaken the belt joint and mark the workpiece.
- Joint, Open
- A joint in which two adjacent pieces of lumber or veneer do not fit tightly together.
- Joints Tight, Factory
- Any joints or a combination of joints and/or mechanical fasteners that are used to join two members in the field. Distance between members shall not exceed those set forth in these standards.
- Jumbo Roll
- A large roll of coated abrasive product as it is wound after the manufacturing process. Jumbos are then fabricated into finished shapes (sheets, discs, belts, etc.) for industrial and consumer use.
J
- KCPI
- Stands for “knife cuts per inch”; generally used when describing the result of molded profiles or S4S materials.
- Kerf
- The groove or notch made as a saw passes through wood; also the wood removed by the saw in parting the material.
- Kiln
- A heated drying chamber in which lumber is dried to a specific moisture content, usually 6 to 10%.
- Kiln-Dried
- Lumber whose moisture content has been reduced to a specific percentage by placing it in a heated chamber for a particular length of time. Temperature and humidity are closely controlled during the process.
- Kiln-dried
- Refers to lumber dried in a closed chamber in which the removal of moisture is controlled by artificial heat and usually by controlled relative humidity.
- Knife Marks
- The imprints or markings of the machine knives on the surface of dressed lumber.
- Knocked Down (KD)
- Unassembled, in contrast to assembled.
- Knot
- A portion of a branch/limb whose growth rings are partially or completely inter-grown on the board’s face, with the growth shaped so that it will retain its place in the piece. The average dimension of the exposed knot surface shall be used to determine the size.
- Knot Holes
- Openings produced when knots drop from the wood where they were embedded.
- Knot, Conspicuous Pin
- ound Knots ¼” (6.4 mm) or less in diameter containing dark centers.
- Knot, Open
- An opening produced when a portion of the wood substance of a knot has dropped out, or where cross-checks have occurred to produce an opening.
- Knots, Sound Tight
- Knots that are solid across their face and fixed by growth to retain the place.
- Knots, Spike
- Knots cut from 0◦ to 45◦ to the long axis of limbs.
K
- LPDL
- See also low-pressure decorative laminate. This is a general term referring to a variety of melamine or polyester-enhanced surface papers and foils laminated to a core, typically referred as melamine or polyester overlays.
- Lacquer
- A coating composed of synthetic film forming materials such as nitrocellulose, ethyl cellulose, natural and synthetic resins, which are dissolved in organic solvents and are dried by solvent evaporation.
- Lacquer
- A tough, fast drying finish that is very common with commercial furniture finishing. Contains very strong solvents. Water-based finishes are becoming more common and are environmentally friendly.
- Land
- The surface between successive grooves on a contact wheel or roll. The area of the contact wheel that is in actual contact with the workpiece.
- Land/Groove Ratio
- The ratio of widths of the land to the grooves on a serrated rubber contact wheel or roll.
- Lap Joint
- Coated abrasive belt joints formed by overlapping the two ends of the abrasive material about 3/8" and bonding with adhesive. The abrasive grain must always be removed (skived) from the bottom lap prior to joining (KLINGSPOR joints #1, #2, #5, #6)
- Latewood
- The portion of the annual growth ring that is formed after the earlywood formation has ceased. It is usually denser and stronger mechanically than earlywood.
- Leaf
- The individual pieces of wood veneer that make up a flitch.
- Lifting
- In finishing, the softening of a dried film by the solvents of a succeeding coat, which causes raising and wrinkling of the first coat.
- Lights (Lites)
- In door construction, they are beaded openings used to receive glazing.
- Line Contact
- Point at which the workpiece meets the coated abrasive belt on a contact wheel type operation, as opposed to area contact of the workpiece on a platen type application.
- Linear Foot
- Actual length of lumber and wood products regardless or thickness or width.
- Linenfold
- In decorative woodwork, this is a carved surface that imitates drapery.
- Load Meter
- Another name for an ampmeter. Often found on wide belt sanders to assist in fine tuning the sanding pressure by evaluating the load on the motor.
- Loading
- Filling of the spaces between abrasive grains on a coated abrasive product with grinding swarf, resulting in a decrease in stock removal and rate of cut. Loading can be reduced in many woodworking operations by using an open coat or stearated product.
- Lock Block
- A concealed block with the same thickness as the door stile or core that is adjacent to the stile at a location corresponding to the lock locations, and into which a lock is fitted.
- Lock Joint
- An interlocking machine joint between two members.
- Locking Joint
- A joint that is produced when the adjoining pieces are machined into a locking form. There are many variations of this type of joint.
- Long Scratch
- Scratch pattern (long scratches) exhibited on a workpiece after stroke sanding, as opposed to a short "scratch" from a contact wheel or roll operation.
- Longwood
- Wood produced from the bole or stem, from stump to first branch or fork, where the majority of wood is taken from the tree.
- Loose Side
- The side where a knife cuts veneer and contains cutting checks (lathe checks) because of the bent wood at the knife's edge.
- Louvers
- In door construction, louvers are openings fitted with metal or wood louver panels.
- Low-Pressure Decorative Laminate
- This is a general term referring to a variety of melamine or polyester-enhanced surface papers and foils laminated to a core, typically referred as melamine or polyester overlays.
- Lubricated Aluminum Oxide
- See Multibond Lubricant.
- Lumber
- Pieces of wood no further manufactured than by sawing, planing, crosscutting to length and perhaps edge machining.
- Luster
- See Sheen.
L
- M.S.D.S.
- See Material Safety Data Sheet.
- MDF
- "Medium Density Fiberboard" – a high grade manufactured wood panel product, which is somewhat similar to particleboard, but can be effectively shaped or routed. Very common in furniture and wood products industries.
- MRO
- Maintenance and Repair Operations
- Machine Bite
- A depressed cut of the machine knives at the end of a piece.
- Machine Burn
- Darkening of wood due to overheating by machine knives or rolls when pieces are stopped in the machine.
- Machine Room (Furniture)
- The location at a furniture plant where the rough cut lumber is dimensioned, glued into panels, and machined. The dimensioning portion of this operation is frequently carried out on wide belt abrasive planers.
- Mahogany
- The term “mahogany” should not be specified without further definition. It must be understood that there are different species of mahogany that should be specified. African, Central and South American, or Tropical American, including Honduras Mahogany, are genuine and true mahoganies. True or genuine mahogany varies in color from light pink to light red; reddish brown to golden brown or yellowish tan. Some mahogany turns darker and some lighter in color after machining. The figure or grain in genuine mahogany runs from plain-sliced, plain stripe to broken stripe, mottled, fiddleback, swirl, and crotches. As uniform color is not a natural characteristic of this species, if a uniform color is desired it is recommended that the finishing specification include a statement that toner or tint must be applied so that color variation shall be kept to a minimum. Lauan White and Red, Tanguile and other species are native to the Philippine Islands and are sometimes referred to as Philippine Mahogany. Those species are not true mahogany. When only the word “mahogany” is specified, it usually (but not always) means a true mahogany as selected by the manufacturer unless a specific species is called for in the specifications. When Philippine Mahogany is specified, it nearly always means Lauan, Tanguile and other natural Philippine species of wood.
- Maker (Machine)
- A machine that manufactures coated abrasive products by combining the backing, adhesive, and abrasive grain.
- Making
- The process of producing coated abrasive products.
- Making Coat
- The first adhesive coat which adheres the abrasive grain to the backing of a coated abrasive product, thereby ensuring proper anchoring and orientation of the abrasive grain.
- Malleable
- A property of metals which allows them to be "workable" or shaped, without damage.
- Mandrel
- A metal rod or support used to mount QDCs, disc sets, or loose pieces of coated abrasive product, thereby ensuring proper anchoring and orientation of the abrasive grain.
- Marquetry
- A mosaic of multicolored woods. It is sometimes interspersed with other materials, such as mother of pearl.
- Matching Edgeband
- See Self-Edge.
- Matching within Panel Face
- In this type of matching, individual leaves of veneer in a slice flitch increase or decrease in width as the slicing progresses. Thus, if a number of panels are manufactured from a particular flitch, the number of veneer leaves per panel face will change as the flitch is utilized.
- Material Safety Data Sheet
- An outdated term for Safety Data Sheets (SDS). Health and safety information provided to end users of all types of consumable products which is required by OSHA and EPA. Listed on our web site under the Reference section as Safety Data Sheets.
- Matte Finish
- A dull finish or surface appearance. Same as "satin finish" usually.
- Maximum Operating Speed
- Highest permissible operating speed (RPM) allowed or marked on a coated abrasive disc backup pad or flapwheel.
- Mechanical Fastener
- The generic term used for securing devices that are used in the fabrication and/or installation of architectural woodwork such as dowels, dowel screws, spline, nails, screws, bolts, pinks, shot pins, etc.
- Medium-Density Fiberboard (MDF)
- See Particle Board for a basic description. Whether as MDF alone or as core material, the MDF shall meet the requirements of ANSI A-208.2.
- Medium-Density Overlay (MDO)
- A panel product particularly well-suited for opaque (paint) finishes; most versions are highly weather-resistant.
- Medullary Ray
- A ray that extends radially from the center of a log toward the outer circumference. These rays serve primarily to store food and transport it horizontally. These rays vary in height from a few cells in some species to an excess of 4” (102 mm) in oaks. In oak, it produces the flake effect common to quarter-sawn lumber.
- Melamine
- Resin-impregnated paper used in decorative composite panel products (see thermally fused decorative laminate panel).
- Member
- An individual piece of solid stock or plywood that forms an item of woodwork.
- Metamerism
- An apparent change in color when exposed to differing wavelengths of light; the human perception of color.
- Meters Per Seconds (m/s)
- The metric measurement standard for surface speed. M/s x 200 = sfpm. Also see Surface Feet Per Minute.
- Micron Size
- A unit of measure used to compare abrasive grain, e.g. 1 micron = 0.000039"; grit 320 = approximately 36 microns.
- Mil
- A unit of measurement equal to .001" (one thousandth of an inch).
- Mill Run
- Molding runs to pattern only, not assembled, machined for assembly or cut to length. The terms “material only” and “loose and long” mean the same as “mill run.”
- Mill Scale
- A layer of oxide, black in color, which forms on the surface of hot rolled steel.
- Millwork
- Planed and patterned lumber for finish work in buildings, including items such as sash, doors, cornices, panelwork, and other items of interior or exterior trim. Does not include flooring, ceiling, or siding.
- Mineral Streak
- A discoloration, usually an olive to greenish-black or brown, of undetermined cause in hardwoods.
- Mirror Finish
- A shiny, highly-reflective finish on a workpiece. Distortion-free, without flaw. On metal, it is produced by buffing with very fine abrasive compounds.
- Mirror Polish Finish
- A process in finishing involving several steps of wet sanding, mechanical buffing and polishing.
- Mismatch
- An uneven fit in worked lumber when adjoining pieces do not meet tightly at all points of contact or when the surfaces of adjoining pieces are not in the same plane.
- Miter Joint
- The joining of two members at an angle that bisects the angle of junction.
- Miter, Lock Joint
- A miter joint employing a tongue and groove to further strengthen it.
- Miter, Shoulder Joint
- Any type of miter joint that presents a shoulder, such as a lock miter or a splined miter.
- Miterfold
- A fold made from a single panel in one machining process; includes placement of tape, machining, application of adhesive, folding, glue, clamp and clean.
- Modulus of Elasticity
- Deformations produced by low stress are completely recoverable after loads are removed. Plastic deformation or failure occurs when loaded to higher stress levels.
- Mohs Scale
- An empirical scale consisting of 10 minerals, with reference to which the hardness of all other minerals is measured. It includes softest mineral (designated 1) to hardest (10): talc, gypsum, calcite, flourite, opatite, orthoclase, quartz, topaz, corundum, and diamond.
- Moisture Content
- The amount of water contained in wood, is usually expressed as a percentage of the weight of the kiln-dried wood. Six to eight percent is ideal.
- Moisture Content
- The weight of water in the wood expressed in percentage of the weight of the oven-dry wood.
- Mold Block
- A pre-shaped backup block that is positioned in back of an abrasive belt that will conform to the molding being processed or finished. Blocks can either be held by hand or guided over the straight line molding, or held in a stationary fixture and the operator or sander pushes the molded stock against it. In all cases, the coated abrasive belt is held between the sanding block and the work.
- Mold Sanding
- Sanding and finishing of wood moldings using a mold block and very flexible coated abrasive belts.
- Molded Edge
- The edge of a piece machined to any profile other than a square or eased edge.
- Molding
- A decorative strip, usually having a curved or projecting surface.
- Mortise and Tenon, Blind Joint
- A mortise and tenon joint in which the tenon does not extend through the mortise and does not remain visible once the joint is complete; also “blind tenoned.”
- Mortise and Tenon, Slotted Joint
- A mortise and tenon right-angle joint in which the tenon is visible on two edges once the joint is completed.
- Mortise and Tenon, Stub Joint
- A short tenon inserted in a plow or groove.
- Mortise and Tenon, Through Joint
- A mortise and tenon joint in which the inserted tenon extends completely through the mortise and the end of the tenon remains visible once the joint is completed.
- Mottle
- Broken wavy patches across the face of the wood, giving the impression of an uneven, although smooth, surface. It is caused by a twisted interwoven grain with an irregular cross figure, which is the mottle. The effect is due to reflected light on the uneven arrangement of the fibers. Other terms used to describe variations include bee’s wing, fiddle, peacock, plum, ram, block or stop mottle.
- Mouldings
- Long strips of wood which have been shaped to contours for ornamentation.
- Multibond Lubricant
- A top-coat additive that reduces heat and grinds at cooler temperatures- extending the life of the abrasive on heat sensitive materials.
M
- NGR Stains
- A term that refers to non-grain-raising stains.
- Narrow Belts
- Coated abrasive products made in belt form up to 12" in width, although usually refers to belts 6" or narrower.
- Natural
- A term used when referring to color and matching, veneers containing any amount of sapwood and/or heartwood.
- Natural Abrasives
- Used to differentiate abrasives that occur in nature as opposed to electric furnace type abrasives. Natural abrasives used for coated abrasives are Garnet, Flint, Crocus, and Emery.
- Naumkeag Pad
- A special coated abrasive item used in shoe manufacturing and repair for sanding the soles of shoes, specifically the arch area. It is a pleated disc in the shape of a mushroom.
- Newel Post
- In stair work, an upright post that supports or receives the handrail at critical points of the stair, such as starting, landing or top; the central vertical support of a spiral staircase.
- Nickel
- A silvery-white metal of the iron-cobalt group. Hard, ductile, and malleable. Used to alloy with other metals, and also as a plating metal.
- Nominal
- The average sizes (width and thickness) of lumber just out of a saw mill before being processed into usable board stock. The sizes are always larger than “finished” dimensions. A term that designates a stated dimension as being approximate and subject to allowance for variation.
- Noseblock
- Refers to the non-turning, fixed surface contact point on abrasive machinery normally found in woodworking plants. Usually installed in place of the idler pulley on edge sanders. Also called a "bullnose" or "deadhead."
- Nosing
- A rounded convex edge, as on a stair step.
N
- OEM
- "Original Equipment Manufacturer." In the abrasives industry, a manufacturer of equipment which uses abrasives.
- OSB
- "Oriented Strand Board." A man-made board in which flakes or "strands" are derived from large logs, and oriented in three directionally alternating layers.
- OSHA
- "Occupational Safety and Health Administration." A United States government agency formed to protect the health and safety of work environments.
- Occasional
- A small number of characteristics that are arranged somewhat diversely within the panel face.
- Offhand Sanding or Grinding
- Applying the workpiece manually to the moving coated abrasive, as when holding it freehand against an abrasive belt. Also called freehand grinding.
- Opaque Finish
- Paint or pigmented stained finish that hides the natural characteristics and color of the grain of the wood surface, and is not transparent.
- Open Coat
- A coated abrasive product in which the abrasive grain covers approximately 50% to 70% of the coated side surface. Helps to retard loading of sticky or gummy materials such as softwoods or paint.
- Open Grain and Close Grain
- The size and distribution of the cellular structure of the wood influences the appearance and uniformity. Open-grain hardwoods, such as elm, oak, ash and chestnut are “ring-porous” species. These species have distinct figure and grain patterns. Close-grain hardwoods such as cherry, maple, birch and yellow poplar are “diffuse-porous” species. Most North American diffuse-porous woods have small, dense pores resulting in less distinct figure and grain. Some tropical diffuse-porous species (e.g. mahogany) have rather large pores.
- Open Grained Wood
- Any wood that has a porous or coarse texture. Examples include oak, walnut, hickory, ash, poplar, chestnut, and mahogany.
- Operating Speed
- The speed of a coated abrasive product in use. Usually expressed in either revolutions per minute or surface feet per minute.
- Orange Peel
- (Not leftovers from eating an orange) A pebble grain pattern that occurs when a metal is stressed beyond its elastic limit. Also refers to a similar pattern that occurs on painted surfaces. Often caused during rolling or forming operations.
- Orange Peel
- The description of a coating that does not flow out smoothly, exhibiting the texture of an orange.
- Oriented Strand Board (OSB)
- An engineered wood product formed by layering strands (flakes) of wood in specific orientations. In appearance it may have a rough and variegated surface with the individual strips lying unevenly across each other.
- Oscillating Sander
- A pad type sander with a fastened coated abrasive sheet, which uses a short, high-speed oscillating stroke, producing fast stock removal.
- Oscillation Belt
- A slight, repetitive lateral movement of a belt on its pulleys. On wide belt machines, it works in conjunction with the automatic tracking mechanisms. In effect, it prolongs belt life and retards premature loading.
- Overlap
- A condition where the veneers comprising plywood are so misplaced that one piece overlaps the other and does not make a smooth joint.
- Overlay
- To superimpose or laminate a wood veneer of various species or a decorative item such as melamine, polyester or high-pressure decorative laminate to one or both sides of a given substrate, such as plywood, particle board or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
- Overspray
- The dry, pebble-like surface caused when the sprayed finish begins to dry in the air before it hits the surface.
- Oxidation
- A corrosion reaction in which corroded metal forms an oxide, usually due to exposure to the oxygen in air. Rust is a form of oxidation.
O
- P Grade
- European grading system of F.E.P.A. for coated abrasive grain.
- PSA
- "Pressure Sensitive Adhesive." An adhesive applied to the backing of coated abrasive products (usually discs) which permits easy product application and removal to and from a backup pad.
- PSI
- "Pounds per Square Inch." A unit of pressure equal to the pressure resulting from a force of one pound applied uniformly over an area of one square inch.
- PVC
- The abbreviation for “polyvinyl chloride,” a synthetic decorative coating or edgebanding.
- PVC Edging
- A polyvinyl chloride edging, usually in seamless rolls, typically applied by edgebanding machines using hot-melt adhesives. Available in a variety of solid colors, patterns and wood-grain designs, in both textured and smooth finish.
- Pad Sander
- A small, handheld machine using coated abrasive sheets fastened to the pad.
- Panel Match
- Establishes the leaf layout in each individual panel.
- Panelwork
- All kinds of flush-panel work made of lumber, panel products and high pressure decorative laminates. It also includes stile-and-rail paneling.
- Particle Board
- A generic term for a panel manufactured from lignocellulosic materials (usually wood). It is primarily in the form of discrete pieces of particles as distinguished from fibers, combined with a synthetic resin or other suitable binder. Then, it is bonded together under heat and pressure in a hot-press by a process in which the entire inter-particle bond is created by the added binder. Other materials may have been added during manufacturing to improve certain properties.
- Particle Board, Fire-Retardant Treated
- Particle board treated to obtain a Class I or Class II fire rating.
- Particleboard
- A manufactured wood panel product which consists of pressed wood panel particles held together with a resin binder. Not as high quality as "MDF".
- Patch
- A repair made by inserting and securely gluing a sound piece of wood of the same species in place of a defect that has been removed. The edges shall be cut clean and sharp and fit tight with no voids. “Boat” patches are oval shaped with sides tapering in each direction to a point or to a small rounded end. “Router” patches have parallel sides and rounded ends. “Sled” patches are rectangular with feathered end.
- Pattern Shop
- A shop or department where wooden parts for mold castings are made.
- Peck or Pecky (Wood)
- Can be a pitted area or channel in wood, often found in cedar or cypress.
- Pecky
- Characteristic consisting of pockets of disintegrated wood caused by localized decay or wood areas with abrupt color change related to localized injury, such as a bird peck. Peck is sometimes considered a decorative effect, such as bird peck in pecan and hickory, or pecky in cypress.
- Pediment
- A triangular ornament above a cornice.
- Penetrating Oil
- In finishing, this is an oil-based material designed to penetrate wood.
- Peripheral Speed
- The speed at which any point on the outside periphery of a rotating tool is traveling when the tool or wheel is revolving. Expressed in surface feet per minute (SFPM) or meters per second (m/s), and determined by multiplying the circumference in feet (or meters) by the wheel or disc revolutions per minute (RPM).
- Phenol Formaldehyde Resin
- Typically used for exterior-type construction. Plywood and doors bonded with this adhesive have a high resistance to moisture. The most common types require high temperature during pressing to aid in the curing process.
- Photodegradation
- The effect on the appearance of exposed wood faces caused by exposure to both sun and artificial light sources. Of course, if an entire face is exposed to a light source, it will photodegrade somewhat uniformly and hardly be noticeable; whereas partially exposed surfaces, or surfaces with shadow line, may show non-uniform photodegradation. Some woods, such as American Cherry and Walnut, are more susceptible than others to photodegradation.
- Pickling
- (Done without cucumbers) Removing surface oxides from steel by chemical means, usually in an acid solution.
- Pillaster
- A fluted or carved, flat, decorative column attached to a building or furniture.
- Pin Holes
- All circular or nearly circular holes in the exposed surface.
- Pinch Rolls
- A set or series of opposed rolls (usually rubber) which apply pressure to the workpiece to maintain proper feed rate and workpiece alignment, during the abrasive grinding process.
- Pitch
- An accumulation of resin that occurs in separations in the wood or in the wood cells themselves.
- Pitch (Wood)
- A resin found in many types of softwoods, especially pine. Loads belts.
- Pitch Pocket
- A well-defined opening between the annual growth rings that contains pitch.
- Pitch Pocket
- A well-defined accumulation of pitch in the wood cells in a more or less regular streak.
- Pith
- The small, soft core occurring near the center of a tree trunk, branch, or log.
- Pith
- A small, soft core occurring in the center of the log.
- Pits
- Small holes in the surface of a metal, usually caused by corrosion or formed during electroplating.
- Plain Slicing
- A cutting method most commonly used for hardwood plywood. The log is cut in half. One half is placed onto a carriage and moved up and down past a fixed knife to produce the veneers. Veneer is sliced parallel to the pith of the log and approximately tangent to the growth rings to achieve flat-cut veneer. Each piece is generally placed in a stack and kept in order. One half of a log sliced this way is called a “flitch”.
- Plain-Sawn
- A hardwood figure developed by sawing a log lengthwise at a tangent to the annual growth rings. It appears as U-shaped or straight markings on the board’s face.
- Planing
- See Abrasive Planing, Finish Planing, or Rough Planing.
- Plank
- A board, usually between 1 ½” to 3 ½” (38.1 mm to 88.9 mm) thick and 6” (152 mm) or more wide, laid with its wide dimension horizontal and used as a bearing surface.
- Plastic Backing Sheet
- A thin sheet, usually phenolic, applied under pressure to the back of a laminated plastic panel to dimension horizontally and used as a bearing surface.
- Plastic Laminate Finish
- See high-pressure decorative laminate.
- Platen
- A flat or shaped support which backs up a coated abrasive belt in the area where the workpiece is applied. Usually metal, the platen may be surfaced with resilient material and a lubricant, such as graphite-covered canvas.
- Platen Sander
- A coated abrasive machine utilizing a platen. The platen provides an area contact to the coated abrasive. Unit pressures are usually low.
- Pleasing-Matched
- A face containing components that provide a pleasing overall appearance. The grain of the various components need not be matched at the joints, but will not be widely dissimilar in character and/or figure. Sharp color contrasts at the joints of the components are not permitted. Members are selected so that lighter-than-average color members are not placed adjacent to darker-than-average members.
- Plow
- A rectangular groove or slot of three surfaces cut parallel to the grain of a wood member, in contrast to a dado, which is cut across the grain.
- Ply
- A single sheet of veneer or several strips laid with adjoining edges that may or may not be glued, which forms one veneer laminate in a glued panel (see layer). In some constructions, a ply is used to refer to other wood components such as particle board or MDF.
- Plywood
- A panel composed of a crossbanded assembly of layers or plies of veneer, or veneers in combination with a lumber core or particle board core, that are joined with an adhesive. Except for special constructions, the grain of alternate plies is always approximately at right angles, and the thickness and species on either side of the core are identical for balanced effect. An odd number of plies is always used.
- Plywood
- A composite panel or board made up of cross-banded layers of veneer only, or veneer in combination with a core of lumber or of particleboard bonded with an adhesive. Generally, the grain of one or more plies is roughly at right angles to the other plies, and almost always an odd number of plies is used.
- Polishing
- Act of smoothing off the roughness or putting a high finish on metal by using a fine grit coated abrasive belt. Also refers to the final finishing of bare wood prior to application of finish such as varnish, etc.
- Polishing Bar or Head
- See Smoothing Bar.
- Polyester
- In finishing, this is a very high solids-content plastic coating, leaving a deep wet look.
- Polyester (Backing)
- A synthetic cloth material used as a backing for coated abrasive products. Very tear-resistant and split-resistant.
- Polyurethane
- A very hard and wear-resistant finish, which is very difficult to repair. It is most commonly used as a two component system, comprising of multifunctional isocyanate or moisture-cured products usually composed of pre-catalyzed urethane.
- Pomele
- A trade term for a small blister figure in mahogany and sapele.
- Poplar
- A hardwood with low to medium density. Closed-pored with open, clear grain. Used on many interior parts of furniture, but can be stained and finished to resemble finer grades of wood such as maple or cherry. Very easily sanded. A good paint grade wood.
- Porous (Wood)
- This term refers to hardwoods only, as all softwoods are non-porous. Most woods are "diffuse porous" because growth is uniform throughout all of the seasons. Oak, however, is "ring porous" since the spring growth is softer and coarser than the summer growth. The pores can be seen without magnification.
- Powder Coating
- A method of spray painting which used a thick "high solids" paint which is then baked in an oven.
- Premanufactured Sets
- When each panel, usually 4’ x 8’ (1219 mm x 2438 mm) or 4’ x 10’ (1219 mm x 3048 mm), is part of a sequenced set of balanced-matched, premanufactured panels to be installed full-width with the sequencing maintained. The panel’s balanced-match becomes unequal at the start, end, and at any other opening or change in plane when trimmed.
- Premium Grade
- The highest grade available in both material and workmanship intended for the finest work. This is the most expensive grade.
- Prequalification
- Prior review and approval of a bidder’s qualifications to perform specified work.
- Prescriptive-based
- Contrast to performance based, this refers to the manner in which regulations are expressed that dictates the technical processes by which the required outcomes are to be achieved.
- Preservative
- A treating solution that prevents decay in wood; (adj.) having the ability to preserve wood by inhibiting the growth of decaying fungi.
- Print Line
- Refers to a special furniture production line in which fibreboard or other wood products are filled, sanded, and printed with a decorative wood grain or other design.
- Profile
- Refers to the surface configuration of a workpiece, namely, details of grinding surface, finish, flatness, etc.
- Profile
- A trim that has a shaped detail along one or more edges. Eased edges are included in profiles. Ends or faces may also have profiles.
- Psychrometer
- An instrument for measuring the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere.
- Pump Drum
- Inflatable drums made of rubber covered with a canvas boot, used for contour sanding chair stock and related parts. The abrasive cloth sleeve is mounted and the drum is inflated to whatever density is required.
- Pump Sleeve
- Coated abrasive product that is made for mounting on a pneumatic pump drum.
- Puttied
- See Fill.
- Putty Smear
- Where putty has been incorrectly placed in a surrounding area of wood as well as into the open defect that the putty was intended to repair. Putty smears are not allowed where the expression “well-puttied” is used.
P
- Quarter Sawn (Quartered Lumber)
- This refers to solid lumber cutting. Available in limited amounts in certain species, this cut yields straight-grain, narrow boards with “flake” or figure in some species (particularly in red and white oak).
- Quarter Slicing
- This produces a striped grain pattern, which is straight in some woods, while varied in others. Veneer is produced by cutting in a radial direction to the pith to the extent that fleck or ray flake is produced and the amount may be unlimited. In some woods, principally oak, fleck results from cutting through the radial medullary rays.
- Quarters
- The commercial thicknesses usually associated with the purchase or specification of hardwoods, such as “five quarter” (5/4’s of 1”), meaning 1 ¼” (31.8 mm) in thickness.
- Quilted
- This refers to a highly figured pattern of folds or waves, somewhat resembling the appearance of rectangular blisters.
- Quirk
- This means a sharp incision in moldings or trim that can hide the use of a mechanical fastener.
Q
- RA
- "Arithmetic Average". A surface finish measurement of the average peaks and valleys of a surface profile. Measured by a profilometer.
- RPM
- Revolutions per minute. Machine speed.
- RTA
- "Ready to Assemble." Furniture that comes in kit form, and can be put together by the customer.
- Rabbet
- A rectangular cut on the edge of a member; a “rabbet” has two surfaces and a “plow” has three.
- Rabbet Joint
- A groove cut across the grain of the face of a member at an edge or end to receive the edge or end thickness of another member.
- Rail
- The cross or horizontal pieces of a stile-and-rail assembly or the cross pieces of the core assembly of a wood flush door or panel.
- Railing
- In stair work, this is the member that follows the pitch of the stair for grasping by hand.
- Raised Grain
- This is the roughened condition of the surface of dressed lumber on which hard summerwood is raised above the softer springwood, but is not torn loose from it.
- Raised Grain
- A roughened condition of the surface of a dressed lumber in which the hard summerwood is raised above the softer springwood but not torn loose from it. This condition can occur when using certain types of stain.
- Raised Panel
- This is a traditional door or wall panel with a bevel edge captured in a stile-and-rail frame.
- Random Match
- When matching occurs between adjacent veneer leaves on one panel face. Random selection in the arrangement of veneer leaves from one or more flitches producing a deliberate mismatch between the pieces of veneer.
- Random Orbit Sander
- See DA Sander and Oscillating Sander. (Also called ROS Sander.)
- Ray
- One of the radial structures in a tree that stores nourishment and transports it horizontally through the trunk. In quarter-sawn oak, the rays form a figure called fleck.
- Rayon Backing
- A cloth backing material, rarely used, which can be thought of as a cross between cotton and polyester materials. Flexible, and water-resistant. Rayon is a plant- based, synthetic material.
- Red Birch
- The heartwood of the yellow birch tree.
- Red/Brown
- This is used when referring to color and matching, veneers containing all heartwood, ranging in color from light to dark.
- Reglet
- A flat, narrow molding used chiefly to separate the parts or members of compartments or panels from one another.
- Relative Humidity
- Ratio of the amount of water vapor present in the air to that which the air would hold at saturation at the same temperature.
- Relief
- The difference in elevation between the high and the low parts of an area or where a form is raised (or alternatively lowered) from a flattened background without being disconnected from it.
- Repairs, Blending
- Wood or filler insertions similar in color to adjacent wood so as to blend well.
- Resin
- A synthetic adhesive used as bonding coat for coated abrasive products. Much more heat resistant and wear resistant than glue bonds.
- Resorcinol Formaldehyde Resin
- Formulated into highly water-resistant glues for woodworking; normally purple in color and difficult to work.
- Return
- A continuation in a different direction of a molding or projection, usually right angles.
- Reveal Overlay
- A cabinet construction in which the door and drawer faces partially cover the body members or face frames of the cabinet with spaces between face surfaces creating decorative reveals.
- Rift Cut
- This term usually refers to veneers, but can be applied to solid lumber (usually as rift-sawn); this method is similar to quarter slicing, but accentuates the vertical grain and minimizes the fleck of the finished material. It is veneer produced by cutting at a slight right angle to the radial to produce a quartered appearance.
- Ring, Annual Growth
- Layers of circular rings, each signifying a year of growth.
- Riser
- The board at the back of a tread that “rises” to the bottom of the next tread above. In an “open riser” stair, this element is left out and the gap between the treads is open. Open-riser stairs are prohibited by code in many circumstances.
- Risers
- Air passages in a casting mold that must be removed (cut off or ground off) after the metal has solidified.
- Rolls
- A form of coated abrasives (usually in 50 yard or meter lengths) in various widths.
- Room Match
- Refers to the matching of panel faces within a room.
- Rotary Sanding
- Sanding with a rotating disc; as opposed to random orbit sanding.
- Rotary Slicing
- The most common method for preparing veneers for softwood plywood. The log is placed in a lathe and rotated against a stationary knife. This produces a more-or-less continuous sheet of veneer, similar to pulling a long sheet off of a roll of paper towels.
- Rough Lumber Sanding or Rough Planing
- Refers to the first sanding operation on lumber, after the sawing operation. This operation is to remove rough saw marks, and to bring the stock up to a predetermined thickness. Grits 20, 24, or 36.
- Rough Sanding or Rough Grinding
- The first grinding operation for reducing stock rapidly without regard for the quality of the finish.
- Rubber Marks
- Raised or hollowed cross-grain cuts caused by a sliver between the knife and the pressure bar when slicing veneers.
- Rubbing
- The final phase of furniture finishing where the part surface is "rubbed" by machine or hand to give the required luster or polish.
- Running Match
- When each panel face is assembled from as many veneer leaves as necessary. Any portion left over from one panel may be used to start the next.
- Running Trim
- Generally combined in the term “standing and running trim” and refers to random, longer length trims delivered to the jobsite (i.e. baseboard, chair rail, crown molding).
- Runs
- The result of spraying a heavier coat on a vertical or nearly vertical surface, rather than the viscosity of the finish, will allow it to hold without movement; when in close multiples they are also called “sags”.
- Ruptured Grain
- A break or breaks in the grain or between springwood and summerwood, which is caused or aggravated by excessive pressure on the wood by seasoning, manufacturing or natural processes. Ruptured grain appears as a single or a series of distinct separations in the wood, such as when springwood is crushed, leaving the summerwood to separate in one or more growth increments.
R
- S4S
- A term that means “Surfaced Four Sides” and generally refers to the process of reducing nominal-sized rough lumber to finished widths and thicknesses.
- SFPM
- Surface feet per minute. The measurement of the speed of a specific point on a wheel or belt.
- SP
- An abbreviation for Solid Phenolic.
- Sags
- As a finishing term, this refers to partial slipping of finish film, creating a “curtain” effect.
- Sand-Trough
- A defect on the exposed visible surface, such as depressions, bumps, marks or core usually caused by thin veneers or over-sanding.
- Sanded, Cross
- This means sanded across rather than parallel to the grain of a wood surface.
- Sanded, Machine
- This means sanded by a drum or equivalent sander to remove knife or machine marks. Handling marks and/or grain raising due to moisture shall not be considered a defect.
- Sanded, Smoothly
- This means sanded sufficiently smooth so that all machining, machine-sanding marks, cross-sanding and other sanding imperfections will be concealed by the painter’s applied finish work. The proper sanding grit varies with the species of material; however, it generally runs in the 120 – 150 grit range. Handling marks and/or grain raising due to moisture shall not be considered a defect.
- Sanding Room
- Designates a department in a furniture plant that is devoted primarily to machine sanding of dimension stock prior to assembly.
- Sapwood
- The lighter-colored wood growing between the heartwood and bark.
- Sapwood
- The outer layers, or living wood, that is between the bark and the heartwood of a tree. Sapwood is generally lighter in color than heartwood.
- Sash
- A single assembly of stiles and rails into a frame for holding glass, with or without dividing bars, to fill a given opening. It may be either open or glazed.
- Satin Finish
- A smooth but not highly reflective surface to ensure against scratching of soft materials. Normally refers to a metal or a finished wood surface only.
- Scalloped Edge Belt
- A special slitting of narrow belts so that the edges are scalloped (also called serrated). This is done to reduce the likelihood of cutting or marking of the workpiece from a standard, straight belt edge. J-Flex material is the most common material to be scalloped. The belt normally will be slightly wider than the contact wheel. Also used for slack-of- belt operations.
- Scarf Joint
- A joint where the ends of two boards are cut on an angle and glued together to increase the length of the board.
- Scored Rolls
- Coated abrasive roll material with parallel slits evenly spaced in the length direction. Used for making assemblies. Also called "slashed" rolls.
- Scribe
- To mark and cut an item of woodwork so that it will fit an uneven wall, floor, or other adjoining surface.
- Sealer Coat
- A coat of finishing material (generally nitrocellulose in nature) designed to close the pores on wood and promote adhesion of subsequent finishing materials. Sealers are clear coatings which seal the filler or stain, and prevents them from bleeding through after the finish coats are applied.
- Sealer Sanding
- Removing the roughness or surface impurities from the sealer coat surface prior to the finish lacquer coat.
- Sealers
- Compounds that provide a sandable coating and a smooth surface for final topcoat application, provide system toughness and holdout, provide moisture resistance and contribute to build and clarity.
- Securely Attached
- The attachment of one member to another by means of approved joinery, adhesive, mechanical fasteners or by a combination of these means. Members shall not be considered securely attached if they disassemble during standard usage and stress.
- Securely Fastened or Bonded
- See Securely Attached.
- Segmented Belt
- A wide abrasive belt which is wider than the manufactured width of the jumbo roll material. This belt must have more than one joint.
- Select
- A lumber grading term. Also, in architectural specifications, the term “select” is frequently used to describe, clarify or quality specific characteristics of the hardwood lumber being specified. For example, Select White Maple or Select White Birch. By using “select” as a descriptor, Natural, Brown, and Red Maple/Birch are excluded.
- Self Edge
- The application of an edge that matches the face.
- Semi-exposed Surfaces
- Refers to surfaces that are only visible under closer examination.
- Sequence-Matched
- Term used when referring to paneling, the veneer matching of one panel to another.
- Serpentine
- A wave-like design alternating concave and convex lines.
- Serrated Contact Roll or Wheel
- Contact roll or wheel with grooves milled into the face to increase the cutting action of the coated abrasive belt and prolong belt life.
- Serration
- Grooves cut into a contact wheel or contact roll which increase the cutting action of the abrasive belt, and improve belt life and performance.
- Shading
- A term used in finishing that means transparent color used for highlighting and uniform color.
- Shake
- A separation or rupture along the grain of wood in which the greater part occurs between the rings of annual growth (see ruptured grain).
- Sharp Contrast
- A certain detail applied to woodwork, such as veneer of lighter-than-average color joined with the veneer of darker-than-average color. Two adjacent pieces of woodwork should not be widely dissimilar in grain, figure and natural character markings.
- Shedding
- Term used to denote the loss of abrasive grain from a product during the grinding process by means other than attritive wear. Also called "Shelling" or "Stripping."
- Sheen
- Refers to finish shine or brightness; luster, patina and radiance. The sheen or gloss level of a cured finish is traditionally measured with a 60◦ gloss meter. The words used to describe various sheens are not standardized between companies.
- Shelf Deflection
- Shelf deflection is the deviation from true flatness, flay. of a shelf when placed under load.
- Shellac
- A coating made from purified lac, a secretion from an insect (laccifera lacca) that is dissolved in alcohol and often bleached white. It was first used in 1590 and was most popular in 1920’s and 1930’s.
- Shelling
- See Shedding.
- Shim Sheets
- One or more sheets of veneer in a flitch where one side varies significantly in thickness from the other.
- Shoe
- Technically referred to as a platen or smoothing bar. A flat metal support located behind the coated abrasive belt. Frequently faced with felt or vinyl foam tape to provide resiliency. Also refers to devices in a wide belt sander which hold down small parts as they go through on the conveyor belt (see Pinch Rolls).
- Shore Durometer
- A method of rating the hardness of rubber, plastic, or other material. See Durometer.
- Short Scratch
- Generated by a contact roll application, as opposed to a stroke sander or platen type operation which produces long scratches.
- Show-Through
- Irregular surfaces visible on the face of a veneered panel (such as depressions, bumps, mechanical marks, core outlines, or frame outlines).
- Side Stroke
- Another name for an edge sander.
- Silicon Carbide
- An abrasive made from coke and silica sand. Very sharp and hard abrasive. Used for sanding softwoods, painted or otherwise finished surfaces, rubber, plastic, non-ferrous metals and other types of materials. Cuts very well under light pressure. Normally black in color.
- Size Coat
- Second adhesive coat applied to a coated abrasive product. The "size" coat unites with the maker coat insures the final anchoring of the grain and proper total adhesive level to the finished product.
- Sizing
- See Glue Size.
- Skin
- Refers to the hardwood plywood (usually 3-ply), hardboard or composition panel, whether flat or configured, that is used for facings for flush wood doors. It is also used for bending lamination, finished end panels, and similar.
- Skirt Board
- A trim member similar to a base, run on the rake along the wall adjoining a stairway. The skirt board covers the joint between the treads and risers and the wall. It may also refer to the similar member below the treads at the open side of a stairway. A wall routed to receive the treads and risers may replace a skirt board.
- Skive
- Refers to the grain removal and taper operation performed on both laps (ends) of coated abrasive belt prior to joining the two laps necessary in order to achieve adequate joint adhesion and desired joint thickness. KLINGSPOR skived joints include #1, #2, #6, and T.
- Slack of Belt Sander
- A machine configuration in which the workpiece is presented to the coated abrasive belt in the area between the two pulleys. Work applied to unsupported area of the belt.
- Slashed Roll
- See Scored Roll.
- Sleeper, Base
- A support member, usually vertical in placement, between the front and rear members of a non-integral toe base or kick assembly.
- Sliced
- Veneer produced by thrusting a log or sawed flitch into a slicing machine that shears off the veneer in sheets.
- Slight
- A term that means barely perceptible. Not to the extent that it detracts from the overall appearance of the product (as a measurement of natural or machining characteristics.
- Slip-Matched
- When a sheet from a flitch is slid across the sheet beneath and without turning spliced at the joints.
- Slotted Discs
- Coated abrasive discs containing numerous radial slot cuts from the outside periphery. Also called "DeLappe discs," or wing discs.
- Smearing
- Black residue on the workpiece caused by a non woven abrasive product melting onto the workpiece due to excessive heat.
- Smooth, Tight Cut
- Veneer cut to minimize lathe checks.
- Smoothing Bar
- A platen type device backing up the coated abrasive belt at the point of contact with the workpiece. Usually covered with graphite canvas to reduce frictional heat. Used on wide belt machines in woodworking, particleboard, and plywood sanding to promote better finishes. Also called platen bar, shoe, or polishing bar.
- Snakemarks
- "S" shaped streaks on parts, usually in wide belt sanding; any streaking on a wood workpiece, with a snake or serpentine appearance due to the normal oscillation of a wide belt sander.
- Softwood
- The non-porous wood of any cone-bearing, needle-leaved tree, regardless of whether the wood is in fact hard or soft.
- Softwood
- A general term used to describe lumber or veneer produced from needle and/or cone-bearing trees (see Hardwood).
- Solid Phenolic
- A composite of solid phenolic resins molded with a homogenous core of organic fiber-reinforced phenolic and at least one integrally cured surface of compatible thermoset nonabsorbent resins.
- Solid Stock
- Solid, sound lumber (as opposed to plywood), that may be more than one piece of the same species, securely glued for width or thickness.
- Sound
- Refers to the absence of decay.
- Spandrel
- The triangular element in a staircase between the stringer and the baseboard.
- Spanner Wrench
- A "pin wrench" which has two pins which lock into two corresponding holes on a holding nut on a grinding disc or fire disc.
- Spatter
- Residue from welding consisting of small drops of hardened metal on the workpiece surface.
- Specialties
- Coated abrasive forms other than sheets, rolls, belts, and discs. Includes assemblies and flapwheels.
- Species
- A distinct kind of wood.
- Specific Gravity
- The ratio of the weight of a certain volume of a substance to the weight of an equal volume of water, the temperature of which is 39.2◦ F (4◦ C).
- Spindle
- See Arbor.
- Spline
- A thin narrow strip forming a key between two members, usually of plywood, inserted into matching grooves that have been machined in abutting edges of panels or lumber to ensure a flush alignment and a secure joint.
- Spline Joint
- A joint formed by the use of a “spline”. Splines customarily run the entire length of the joint.
- Split
- A separation of the wood due to the tearing apart of the wood cells.
- Split Heart
- A method of achieving an inverted “V” or cathedral type of springwood (earlywood)/summerwood (latewood), plain-sliced (flat-cut) figure by joining two face components of similar color and grain.
- Splits
- Separations of wood fiber running parallel to the grain.
- Spool Sanding
- Sanding convex or concave profiles on curves such as mirror frames, headboards, and other compound shapes. Normally uses 16" wing discs (16 slits) in various diameters. Can be mounted horizontally or vertically.
- Stain
- A variation (normally blue or brown) from the natural color of the wood. It should not be confused with natural redheart. In finishing, stain produces the desired undertone color with proper distribution, depth and clarity of grain. Selection of the type of stain used is governed by the desired artistic result. In natural wood, a variation in the color tending toward blue or brown, but not to be confused with naturally occurring heartwood.
- Staining
- An optional operation in wood finishing to achieve the desired undertone color and complement the wood with proper distribution of color, depth of color and clarity of grain.
- Stairwork
- Wood material to form a stair or to clad stair parts constructed of material other than wood, and that are custom-manufactured to a design for a particular project.
- Standard Lacquer
- In finishing, this refers to a nitrocellulose-based lacquer without additives.
- Standing Trim
- This term is generally combined in the term “standing and running trim” and refers to the trims of fixed length delivered to the jobsite (e.g. door jambs and casings, pre-machined window stools).
- Stapled
- Members secured together with nails, including power-driven nails or staples. On exposed surfaces, staples shall run parallel to the grain.
- Staved Core
- This term typically refers to a core used in flush doors made up of end and edge glued wood blocks.
- Stearate
- An additive that prevents loading when sanding soft resinous woods, after sealer coats and when working with soft ferrous or non-ferrous metals. Not an abrasive grain. See Zinc Stearate.
- Sticking
- A term used to describe shaped or molded solid wood members.
- Stile and Rail Construction
- A technique often used in the making of doors, wainscoting and other decorative features for cabinets and furniture. The basic concept is to capture a panel within a frame. In its most basic form, it consists of five members: the panel and the four members that make up the frame. The vertical members of the frame are called stiles, while the horizontal members are known as rails.
- Stiles/Vertical Edges
- The upright or vertical pieces of stile-and-rail assemblies; the vertical members of the core assembly of a wood flush door.
- Stops
- Generally refers to a molding used to “stop” a door or window in its frame.
- Straight Line Sanding
- Refers to a simple reciprocating type hand sander as opposed to a sander employing orbital motion. Creates best possible finish on wood.
- Streaks, Mineral
- Natural colorations of the wood substance.
- Stretcher
- An upper support member of base cabinet fabrication used in lieu of a solid top to space the end panels.
- String Sander
- See Variety Sander.
- Stringer
- A diagonal element supporting the treads and risers in a flight of stairs.
- Stringer Turnout
- In stairwork, the portion of a stringer that curves or angles away from the basic run. It is typically used at the beginning tread.
- Stripe
- A stripe figure is a ribbon grain.
- Stripped Grain
- See Shedding.
- Stripping
- The process of removing an old or existing finish from a surface.
- Stroke Sander
- A machine that makes sanding contact by "stroking" the back of a moving coated abrasive belt with a backup block or pad. Essentially, these machines consist of two or more pulleys over which the coated abrasive belt travels, a table which supports the workpiece, and means for applying pressure and movement along the belt.
- Structural Composite Lumber (SCL)
- A man-made composite that utilizes stranded wood fibers from a variety of tree species, providing an alternative to dimension lumber. The material is engineered for strength and stability. While not really “lumber”, it is marketed as a lumber substitute to be used in place of stave lumber core materials.
- Sub-front
- A front drawer box member over which another front is placed.
- Substrate
- A term generally used to describe a panel product (also see core) upon which a decorative finish material is applied.
- Subtop
- A separate support member for countertops.
- Sueding
- Refers to the process of producing a velvet finish on the flesh side of leather or cloth.
- Sugar
- Colored streaks or spots attributed to discoloration involving sap in Maple veneer.
- Surface Check
- The separation of a wood, normally occurring across the rings of annual growth; usually as a result of seasoning and occurring only on one surface of the piece.
- Surface Conditioning
- Cleaning, deburring, and smoothing sharp grit lines on metal. Normally uses non woven abrasives or wire brushes. Does not remove any metal (or very minute amounts) in this process.
- Surface Finish
- The quality of a workpiece finish expressed in RMS (for metal finishes only) or other quantifiable or subjective measure.
- Swirl
- A figure obtained from that part of a tree where the crotch figure fades into the figure of the normal stem.
- Swirl Marks
- Grinding marks or scratch pattern left by rotational type tools such as disc sanders.
S
- Tail
- To unload parts from wide belt sander.
- Tambour
- A rolling top or front in casework enclosing a storage space. It consists of narrow strips of wood fastened to canvas or a similar material.
- Tannin Bleed
- The tendency of waterborne coatings to turn maple and red oak pink. Naturally occurring tannic acids are water soluble and the higher pH of waterborne coatings will tend to create this problem. One can get tannin bleed with solvent-based coatings as well, but it is more prevalent with the waterborne products.
- Tape
- Strips of gummed paper or cloth sometimes placed across the grain of large veneer sheets to facilitate handling and sometimes it’s used to hold the edges of veneer together at the joint prior to gluing.
- Telegraph or Telegraphing
- In veneer or laminate work, the variations in surface refraction as a result of the stile, rail, core, core laps, glue, voids, or extraneous matter show through to the face of a panel or a door. The selection of high-gloss laminates and finishes should be avoided because they tend to accentuate natural telegraphing.
- Tempering
- A heat treatment to metal or glass to decrease hardness, but increase toughness.
- Tenon
- The projecting tongue-like part of a wood member to be inserted into a slot (mortise) of another member to form a mortise-and-tenon joint.
- Tensile Strength
- The maximum stress a material can withstand without breaking when subject to a stretching load. Usually expressed in p.s.i.
- Tension
- The condition of a coated abrasive belt that is stretched between two points on a sanding machine (under tension); the force exerted by the coated abrasive belt on a support.
- Tensioning Cylinder
- A method or apparatus for supplying continuous tension to a coated abrasive belt during use. Usually air operated.
- Texture
- A term used to describe relative size and distribution of the wood elements. Coarse texture in veneer is associated with fast growth and harder, more difficult wood to cut. Soft or fine texture in veneer is associated with slower growth and with less summerwood, resulting in wood fibers that are easier to cut.
- Thermally Fused Decorative Laminate Panel
- A polyester or melamine resin-impregnated paper, thermally fused under pressure to a composite core.
- Thermosetting Resin
- A resin characterized by a state which remains hard even if subjected to additional heating. Most resin abrasive bonds are thermosetting.
- Thick Phenolic
- See Solid Phenolic.
- Tight
- To set together so that there is no opening between members.
- Tight Side
- In knife cut veneer, that side of the leaf that was farthest from the knife as the veneer was being cut and contains no cutting checks (lathe checks).
- Titanium
- An exotic metal used extensively in aerospace applications. It is very lightweight, yet as strong as steel. Titanium is also very corrosion and temperature resistant. Dull gray in color.
- Tolerances
- The permissible variations in the dimensions of machine parts or the permissible deviation from a specified value in a manufacturing specification or procedure.
- Toners
- The transparent or semi-transparent colors used in wood finishing to even out the color or tone of the wood.
- Tongue
- A projection on the edge or end of a wood member that is inserted into the groove or plow of a similar size to form a joint.
- Tongue and Groove Joint
- A joint formed by the insertion of the “tongue” of one wood member into the “groove” of the other.
- Top Coat
- A transparent surface coating for wood, varnish, lacquer, shellac, wax, Danish oil, etc. Varnishes and shellacs are often sanded between coats.
- Top Flat Surface
- The flat surface that can be sanded with a drum sander.
- Topcoat
- The final protective film of a finish system. There are various topcoats with different properties.
- Torn Edge Belt
- A coated abrasive belt fabricated with one belt edge torn lengthwise and joined along a warp thread to ensure straight tearing of subsequent narrower belts when they are ripped. Using the torn edge of the original belt as a starting point, narrower width belts can be ripped in succession across, until the original belt is used up. Normally used for mold sanding applications.
- Torn Grain
- A roughened area caused by machine work in processing.
- Tracking
- The act of adjusting the idler pulley in a coated abrasive belt system so that the belt is properly aligned on the contact wheel.
- Transparent Finish
- A stain or a clear finish that allows the natural characteristics and color of the grain of the wood surface to show through the finish.
- Tread
- The horizontal surface of a staircase step.
- Tread Return
- A narrow piece of tread stock applied to the open end of a tread so that the end grain is not exposed. The leading corner of the return is mitered to the leading edge of the tread with a shoulder miter.
- Treenail
- A hardwood pin, peg or spike used to fasten beams and planking, usually made of dry compressed lumber so that it will expand when moistened; sometimes pronounced and spelled “trunnel”.
- Truing
- The procedure used to restore flat surface to a contact wheel or platen.
- Tumbling
- An operation for deburring, breaking sharp edges, finishing, or polishing in which abrasive, water, and the work pieces are "tumbled" in rotating or vibrating barrels.
- Twist
- A distortion caused by the turning or winding of the edges of the surface, so that the four corners of any face are no longer in the same plane.
T
- Undressed
- Refers to lumber that is not planed smooth.
- Urea Formaldehyde Resin
- Commonly used for Type I assemblies; relatively water-resistant. Often requires curing by heat, but will cure at room temperature over time.
U
- V-Grooved
- The characteristic of narrow and shallow V or U shaped channels machined on a surface to achieve a decorative effect. V-grooving is most commonly encountered in mismatched or random-matched wall panels as the grooves fall on the edge joints of the pieces of veneer, making the face appear as planking.
- Vacuum Disc
- A PSA disc which has holes punched in a pattern which correspond to vacuum inlet holes on special dust-free sanders.
- Variety Sander
- A belt sander for sanding small parts on either the slack-of-belt, stationary platen, or contact wheel methods. Usually consists of a drive wheel, one or more idler wheels, and a contact wheel or platen. Uses long, narrow abrasive belts. Sometimes called a string sander.
- Varnish
- An oil-based finish used to coat a surface with a hard, glossy film.
- Veneer
- A thin sheet or layer of wood, usually rotary cut, sliced or sawn from a log or flitch. Thickness may vary from 1/100” (0.3 mm) to ¼” (6.4mm).
- Veneer
- Thinly sliced sheets of wood used to cover a base wood, particleboard or MDF. Usually used for decorative purposes.
- Veneer Core
- Plywood constructed using a core of an odd number of veneer plies, with face and back veneers of overlays, and adhered together.
- Veneer Tape
- Strips of gummed paper used to hold the edges of veneer together at the joints prior to gluing.
- Veneer, Rift Cut
- Refers to veneer in which the rift or comb grain effect is obtained by cutting at an angle of about 15◦ off of the quartered position. 25% of the exposed surface area of each piece of veneer may contain medullary ray flake.
- Veneer, Rotary Cut
- Veneer in which the entire log is centered in a lathe and is turned against a broad cutting knife that is set into the log at a slight angle.
- Veneer, Sliced
- Veneer in which a log or sawn flitch is held securely in a slicing machine and is thrust downward into a large knife that shears off the veneer in sheets.
- Veneering
- Veneering and laminating thin pieces of wood dates back to the Egyptian pyramid-building era. Since that period, this area of woodworking has become a highly technical business. Veneering is still common today, but production techniques have changed considerably. Modern adhesives, for example, are used instead of hard to handle glues. See rotary slicing, plain slicing, rift cut, quarter slicing and half round.
- Verge Board
- An exposed member attached along the rake of a gable-end roof open cornice; also implies the larger rake member of an exterior cornice; sometimes referred to as a “barge board”.
- Vertical Grain
- Produced by cutting perpendicular to a log’s growth rings, where the member’s face is no more than 45◦ to the rings. This produces a pleasing straight grain line. Vertical grain is defined as having no less than an average of five growth rings per inch on its exposed face.
- Vine Mark
- Bands of irregular grain running across or diagonally to the grain, which are caused by the growth of climbing vines around the tree.
- Vinyl
- A heavy film, minimum of 4 mils in thickness, opaque or reverse printed.
- Vinyl Lacquers
- In finishing, this refers to catalyzed lacquers with a plastic rather than a nitrocellulose base.
- Viscosity
- Refers to the properties of a fluid that cause it to resist flowing.
- Vitrified
- A bonded abrasive produced under extremely high temperatures in a kiln. Uses a "clay bond" or ceramic bond, rather than a resinoid bond. Our mounted points are vitrified.
- Volute
- The spiral decorative element terminating the lower end of a stair rail.
- Vonnegut Assembly
- See Assemblies.
- Vonnegut Wheel
- A brand name for brush-backed wheels containing a loading of coated abrasive strips. Used to sand contoured workpieces. Also called a "Wolf Head."
V
- Waferboard
- A type of man-made board composed of relatively large, thin chips of hardwood which are bonded together with resin. Used for exterior sheathing and decorative covering.
- Wainscot
- A lower interior wall surface that contrasts with the wall surface above it. Unless otherwise specified, it shall be 48” (1219 mm) in height above the floor.
- Wane
- A defect in lumber defined as bark or lack of wood from any cause on the edge or corner, except eased edges.
- Warp
- Any deviation from a true or plane surface, including bow, crook, cup, twist or any combination thereof. Warp restrictions are based on the average form of warp as it occurs normally, and any variation from this average form, such as short kinks, shall be appraised according to its equivalent effect. Pieces containing two or more forms of warp shall be appraised according to the combined effect in determining the amount permissible. In passage doors, any distortion in the door itself and not its relationship to the frame or jamb in which it is to be hung, measured by placing a straight edge or a taut string on the concave face.
- Wash Coat
- A very light coat of finishing material primarily adding depth to the color of furniture after staining. The solution is sprayed on and requires light scuffing with coated abrasives.
- Wash Coats
- Thin solutions applied as a barrier coat to wood. Used prior to wiping stains for color uniformity.
- Water Solutions
- Coolants of water plus rust and corrosion inhibitors, or wetting agents. Normally used to wet grind on steels.
- Water-Repellent
- A wood treating solution that deposits waterproof or water-resistant solids on the walls of wood fibers and ray cells, thereby retarding their absorption of water. Having the quality of retarding the absorption of water by wood fibers and ray cells.
- Waterboard
- See Particle Board.
- Wavy
- Refers to the characteristic of curly grain with large undulations; sometimes referred to as “finger roll” when the waves are about the width of a finger.
- Wax Finish
- Wax finishes are designed for cosmetic purposes only and provide no long-term protection. They are commonly used for low-performance, low-abuse parts and in some areas for pine furniture as a specialty appearance. No test data has been established.
- Well Hole
- In stairwork, this refers to the open space in which the stair is set.
- Well-matched for Color and Grain
- In architectural woodworking, this means that the members that make up the components of an assembly and components of an adjacent assembly are: Similar and nearly uniform in color; Have similar grain, figure, and character. Adjacent members must be of the same grain type whether flat grain (plain-sliced), vertical grain (quarter-cut), rift grain or mixed grain.
- White
- When referring to color and matching, white means veneers containing all sapwood ranging in color from pink to yellow.
- White Birch
- A term used to specify the sapwood of the yellow birch tree.
- Whitewood Sanding
- Refers to the sanding of bare, unfinished wood. Also called wood-in-the-white.
- Wide Belts
- Coated abrasive products made in belt form with widths 12" or wider.
- Wild Grain or Scratch
- A random, deep scratch; usually intermittent. Caused by contamination of the belt or workpiece, or a defective abrasive belt.
- Windows
- This term refers to all frames and sashes for double-hung, casement, awning sidelights, clerestory and fixed windows. Stock and name-brand units are not included.
- Wing Discs
- See DeLappe Discs.
- Wiping Stains
- Refers to the pigmented oils or solvents applied to wood.
- Wolf Head
- See Vonnegut Wheel.
- Wood Filler
- An aggregate of resin and strands, shreds or flour of wood which is used to fill openings in wood and provide a smooth durable surface.
- Wood Flush Door
- An assembly consisting of a core, stiles and rails and/or edge bands with two or three plies of overlay on each side of the core assembly. All parts are composed of wood, wood derivatives or high-pressure decorative laminates.
- Wormholes
- Refers to holes resulting from infestation of worms, or marks caused by various types of wood attacking insects and beetle larvae. Often appears as sound discolorations running with or across the grain in straight to wavy streaks. They are sometimes referred to as “pith flecks” in certain species of maple, birch and other hardwoods because of the resemblance to the color of pith.
- Wrought Iron
- Iron which has had most of its carbon removed. Very workable, not brittle like most other irons.
W
- Zinc Stearate
- A dry lubricant added to the surface of coated abrasives (usually sheet or disc goods) which prevents loading of soft materials such as paint and other finishes. Normally white-gray in color.
- Zirconium
- See also Alumina Zirconia. A high-performance alloyed abrasive formed by zirconia deposited in an alumina matrix. Works well for grinding of stainless steel, spring steel, titanium, and other hard steels, and for dimensioning wood. An alloy of aluminum oxide and zirconium oxide. Designed for heavy duty stock removal for metal and wood, with self-sharpening characteristic. Belts are normally blue in color.