This glossary includes specialized tools, advanced techniques, wood species, finishing methods, and safety terms.
A
- Adhesive: A substance used to bond materials together, such as wood glue or epoxy.
- Apron: A horizontal piece of wood that connects the legs of a table or chair, providing structural support.
- Arbor: The shaft on which a cutting tool (e.g., saw blade or router bit) is mounted.
- Ambrosia Maple: A type of maple wood with unique streaks and patterns caused by the ambrosia beetle.
- Aniline Dye: A transparent dye used to color wood without obscuring the grain.
- Abrasive: A material (e.g., sandpaper) used to smooth or shape wood surfaces.
B
- Biscuit Joint: A woodworking joint made by inserting a football-shaped piece of compressed wood (a biscuit) into matching slots in two pieces of wood.
- Board Foot: A unit of measurement for lumber, equal to 144 cubic inches (12″ x 12″ x 1″).
- Burl: A growth on a tree that produces highly figured wood, often used for decorative purposes.
- Butt Joint: A simple joint where two pieces of wood are joined end-to-end or edge-to-edge without overlapping.
- Bandsaw: A power tool with a continuous blade used for cutting curves, resawing, or ripping lumber.
- Bird’s Eye Maple: A type of maple wood with small, circular patterns resembling bird’s eyes.
C
- Chamfer: A beveled edge cut at a 45-degree angle to remove a sharp corner.
- Clamp: A tool used to hold pieces of wood together while glue dries or during assembly.
- Crosscut: A cut made perpendicular to the grain of the wood.
- Curing: The process of allowing finishes or adhesives to harden and reach full strength.
- Curly Grain: A wavy or rippled grain pattern, often found in maple or cherry, prized for its visual appeal.
- Carcass: The main structure or body of a piece of furniture, such as a cabinet or chest.
- Chatter: Vibrations or marks left on wood caused by improper tool use or setup.
D
- Dado: A rectangular groove cut into a piece of wood to receive another piece, often used in shelving.
- Dovetail Joint: A strong, interlocking joint used in drawer construction, characterized by trapezoidal pins and tails.
- Dowel: A cylindrical piece of wood used to reinforce joints or align pieces during assembly.
- Dust Collection System: A setup to remove sawdust and debris from the workspace, improving safety and cleanliness.
- Drum Sander: A power tool used to smooth large surfaces or remove material quickly.
- Dutchman: A small piece of wood used to repair a defect or fill a hole.
E
- Edge Grain: The side of a board where the growth rings are visible as parallel lines, often used for durability.
- End Grain: The grain visible at the end of a board, which absorbs finishes differently than edge or face grain.
- Epoxy: A strong adhesive or filler used for bonding, repairing, or stabilizing wood.
- Extractor: A tool used to remove screws or bolts with stripped heads.
F
- Face Frame: A frame attached to the front of a cabinet to provide structure and a finished appearance.
- Fillet: A narrow strip of wood used to fill gaps or decorate edges.
- Finger Joint: A joint made by cutting interlocking “fingers” into two pieces of wood, often used for long boards.
- Figure: The unique pattern or texture in wood grain, such as quilted, bird’s eye, or tiger stripe.
- French Polish: A traditional finishing technique using shellac and a pad to create a high-gloss finish.
- Featherboard: A safety device used to hold wood against a fence or table during cutting.
G
- Grain: The direction, texture, and pattern of wood fibers.
- Green Wood: Freshly cut wood that has not been dried, often used for turning or carving.
- Grit: The measure of abrasiveness on sandpaper, with lower numbers indicating coarser grits.
- Glue-Up: The process of assembling multiple pieces of wood with adhesive.
- Gouge: A chisel with a curved blade, used for carving or shaping wood.
- Gunstock: A type of wood (e.g., walnut) traditionally used for making firearm stocks.
H
- Hardwood: Wood from deciduous trees (e.g., oak, maple, walnut), typically denser and more durable than softwood.
- Heartwood: The dense, inner part of a tree trunk, often darker and more decay-resistant than sapwood.
- Hollow Grind: A concave bevel on a chisel or plane blade, making it easier to sharpen.
- Honing: The process of sharpening a blade to a fine edge using a honing stone or strop.
- Horsepower (HP): A measure of a power tool’s motor strength.
- Hollow Chisel Mortiser: A tool used to cut square or rectangular mortises.
J
- Jig: A device used to guide tools or hold workpieces in place for consistent results.
- Jointer: A tool used to flatten and straighten the edges of boards before joining them.
- Janka Hardness Scale: A measure of wood hardness, indicating its resistance to wear and denting.
- Japanese Pull Saw: A handsaw that cuts on the pull stroke, known for its precision and thin kerf.
K
- Kerf: The width of a cut made by a saw blade.
- Kiln-Dried: Wood that has been dried in a kiln to reduce moisture content, making it more stable.
- Knockdown Furniture: Furniture designed to be easily disassembled and reassembled, often using hardware like bolts or cam locks.
- Kerf Bending: A technique where closely spaced cuts are made on one side of a board to allow it to bend.
L
- Laminate: Thin layers of wood or other materials bonded together to create a strong, durable surface.
- Live Edge: A board edge that retains the natural contour of the tree, often used for rustic furniture.
- Luthier: A craftsman who builds or repairs stringed instruments like guitars or violins.
- Lacquer: A durable, fast-drying finish that provides a hard, glossy surface.
M
- MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard): An engineered wood product made from compressed wood fibers, often used for cabinetry.
- Mortise and Tenon: A strong joint where a projecting tenon on one piece fits into a mortise (hole) on another.
- Miter Joint: A joint made by cutting two pieces of wood at an angle (usually 45 degrees) and joining them to form a corner.
- Marquetry: The art of creating decorative designs by inlaying thin pieces of wood veneer.
- Milling: The process of cutting, planing, and shaping raw lumber into usable pieces.
N
- Nesting: Cutting multiple pieces from a single board to minimize waste.
- Nosing: The rounded edge of a stair tread or countertop.
- Nitrile Gloves: Protective gloves used when applying finishes or handling chemicals.
O
- Ogee: A decorative S-shaped curve, often used in molding or edge profiles.
- Oil Finish: A type of finish (e.g., linseed oil or tung oil) that penetrates the wood to enhance its natural beauty.
- Oscillating Spindle Sander: A power tool used to sand curves and irregular shapes.
P
- Particleboard: An engineered wood product made from wood chips and resin, often used for inexpensive furniture.
- Plane: A tool used to smooth or shape wood by shaving thin layers.
- Plywood: A sheet material made from thin layers of wood veneer glued together, with alternating grain directions for strength.
- Pommel: The rounded end of a tool handle, such as a chisel or gouge.
- Push Stick: A safety device used to guide wood through a table saw or jointer.
Q
- Quarter-Sawn: Wood cut at a 90-degree angle to the growth rings, resulting in a straight grain pattern and increased stability.
- Quilted Grain: A rare and highly figured grain pattern, often found in maple, resembling a quilted fabric.
R
- Rabbet: A recess or groove cut into the edge of a board, often used for joining or fitting panels.
- Rip Cut: A cut made parallel to the grain of the wood.
- Router: A power tool used to hollow out or shape wood, often with interchangeable bits.
- Resawing: Cutting a board into thinner pieces along its width, often done on a bandsaw.
- Rubio Monocoat: A popular hardwax oil finish that provides durable protection with a single coat.
S
- Sapwood: The outer, lighter-colored part of a tree trunk, less durable than heartwood.
- Softwood: Wood from coniferous trees (e.g., pine, cedar, fir), typically lighter and less dense than hardwood.
- Spline: A thin strip of wood inserted into grooves to reinforce a joint.
- Spalting: A decorative pattern in wood caused by fungal growth, often seen in maple or birch.
- Scroll Saw: A power tool used for intricate cutting and detailed work.
T
- Tongue and Groove: A joint where a protruding “tongue” on one board fits into a “groove” on another, often used for flooring.
- Turning: The process of shaping wood on a lathe to create cylindrical or symmetrical objects (e.g., table legs, bowls).
- Tear-Out: Splintering or chipping of wood fibers caused by improper cutting or planing.
- Tung Oil: A natural oil used as a wood finish, known for its water resistance and durability.
U
- Undercut: A recess or groove cut into the underside of a workpiece, often for clearance or decorative purposes.
- UV Finish: A finish that cures under ultraviolet light, providing a durable and fast-drying surface.
V
- Veneer: A thin layer of wood applied to a substrate for decorative purposes or to conserve expensive wood.
- V-Groove: A decorative groove cut into wood at a 45-degree angle, often used for paneling.
- Vise: A mechanical device used to hold workpieces securely during cutting, drilling, or shaping.
W
- Warp: A distortion in wood caused by uneven drying, such as cupping, twisting, or bowing.
- Woodturning: The craft of shaping wood on a lathe to create rounded or symmetrical objects.
- Wane: The presence of bark or missing wood on the edge of a board, often considered a defect.
- Wax Finish: A protective finish that enhances the natural beauty of wood while providing a soft sheen.
X
- X-Acto Knife: A precision cutting tool used for detailed work, such as trimming veneer or marking wood.
Y
- Yoke: A frame or bracket used to hold a workpiece or tool in place during assembly or machining.
Z
- Zebrawood: A tropical hardwood with striking striped grain patterns, often used for decorative purposes.
- Z-Clip: A hardware fastener used to attach tabletops to bases while allowing for wood movement.