Glossary

Arris 

The sharp edge where two surfaces meet at an angle.

Bevel

A surface that meets another at an angle other than a right angle or cutting such a surface (see picture).

Bore

To drill a hole.

Bow

Bend along the length of a piece of sawn timber (as a result of shrinkage).

Chamfer

A 45° bevel along the edge of a piece of wood or to cut such a bevel.

Claw hammer

A hammer with a curved claw which provides leverage for pulling nails.

Compound mitre

A mitre angled in two planes (see picture).

Crosscut

Cutting across the wood grain, e.g., a “crosscut” saw (see picture).

Cup

A bend across the width of a piece of wood, usually determined by the orientation of the growth rings.

Dressed timber

Prepared (planed) timber cut to standard sizes.

Driver, Impact

A high-torque tool used for driving screws and tightening nuts.

Face

The wide surface that’s usually at right angles to the edge of a piece of timber.

Feed

To push a work piece in a control manner towards a moving blade or cutter.

Fence

A straightedge or device mounted parallel to the saw blade to enable a straight cut to be made.

Grain

General direction of the wood fibres. The straw like structures which allowed transport of nutrients up and down the tree.

Grit

The rating size of the abrasive material on the sandpaper.  A low grit rating eg 40 is very coarse. A higher grit eg 420 is very fine.

Gullet

The space between the saw teeth. The tooth tip to the bottom of the gullet is the gullet depth.

Hardwood

Wood cut from broadleaved trees – most of them deciduous – that belong to the botanical group Angiospermae.

Hole saw 

Cuts holes with larger diameter compared to standard drill bit (see picture). 

Hone

To produce the final cutting edge on a blade or cutter (eg chisel) by rubbing it on or with an abrasive stone.

Kerf

Width of the saw cut removed by the saw blade.

Kickback

The throwing back of a workpiece towards the machinist by a moving blade or cutter or the action of a power tool when it jumps backwards as a result of its blade or cutter jamming.

Knot

Portion of a branch that has been surrounded by subsequent growth of the stem.

Mitre

Joint formed between two pieces of wood by cutting bevels at the same angle (usually 45°) at the end of both pieces to create a corner. Eg the corners of a picture frame or to cut such a joint (see picture).

Pilot hole

Small-diameter hole drilled prior to the insertion of a woodscrew to act as a guide for the thread.

Pincers

A type of grasping tool used pinch, cut or pull an object.

Rip cut

A type of cut that runs parallel to the wood grain.

Rough sawn

Timber cut after felling to rough dimensions with no further treatment.

Screw head types (common)

Slot, Phillips and Pozidriv

Softwood

Wood cut from coniferous trees that belong to the botanical group Gymnospermae.

(Source: www.bestadvisor.com)