Woodworking Timbers 3 



Beech. Beech is a hard wood, used for making scales, 

 squares, wood and metal working tools, etc., in consequence 

 of its power of retaining its shape, and the general compactness 

 of its fibres. It is a heavy, close-grained wood, singularly free 

 from common blemishes, and fairly easy to work, provided 

 excellent tools are used and they are in excellent condition. 

 In working, beech does not display unexpected irregularities, 

 as is frequently the case with mahogany and bass wood. 

 Beech wood does not " chip " readily, the transverse binding 

 cells being strong ; consequently little fear of its splitting while 

 being worked need be felt. It is specially suitable for any portion 

 of an instrument subject to vibration, or even to heavy blows. 



Teak. This wood is a heavy hard wood, of a dark colour, 

 and of close grain. It has a peculiar odour due to the presence 

 of a volatile oil. This oil renders the wood almost imper- 

 vious to water, hence it is much used for making instruments 

 and fittings likely to come in contact with water: burette 

 stands, filter stands, table tops, etc. The oil in teak also 

 renders it a good insulator, so that switch bases, electrical dis- 

 tributing boards, and other simple electrical appliances are 

 frequently made of this material. 



It is not very easy to work, particularly if the wood be not 

 free from knots, and the oil it contains is very offensive to the 

 workman who has to deal with large quantities of the timber. 

 Teak requires to be worked with very sharp tools, and these 

 need frequent attention. The permanence of any article con- 

 structed of teak, however, recoups one for the extra trouble 

 expended in the making, and the appearance of the wood is 

 in its favour. 



Teak should not, as a rule, be polished ; an occasional rub 

 with a cloth soaked in raw linseed oil is all that is necessary 

 to keep it in excellent condition and appearance. 



Ebony. This is the heaviest of the common woods used 

 in instrument making, the density being greater than that of 

 water. It is used largely on account of its appearance, the 

 black colour and the compactness of the wood making it 

 almost indistinguishable from vulcanite. It is, of course, much 

 more easily worked than vulcanite, hence not infrequently it 



