Kinds of wood and the carpenter’s bench

Wood quality is found by observing and testing it. The straighter, longer, more evenly thick and healthier the tree trunk, the better the wood. If many knots and branches grew from the trunk, quality falls. Wood of a trunk that grew bent or twisted is poor for large uses, but may suit small items. Defects include damage from pests (fungi and beetles that rot or eat wood), mistakes in drying and storage (bending, twisting, cracking, rot) and natural defects. Knots may be whitish or dark healthy, starting to rot, rotten or spongy. Chemicals are used against pests; they are poisonous, so such work is done only by adults.