Wood cuts

Different ways of cutting wood, across the grain or parallel with it, and radial or tangential to the core. The behaviour of cuts of wood under different circumstances and the optimal cut for a given purpose. Influence of special attributes of the wood, like knots or defects.

wood cut
timber cuts
wood measurements
wood sizes

knowledge

cross-sector

Wood cuts is an essential knowledge of the following occupations:

Table saw operator: Table saw operators work with industrial saws that cut with a rotating circular blade. The saw is built into a table. The operator sets the height of the saw to control the depth of the cut. Particular attention is paid to safety, as factors such as natural stresses within the wood may produce unpredictable forces.
Veneer slicer operator: Veneer slicer operators slice lumber into thin sheets to be used as a cover for other materials, such as particle board or fibre board. Veneer slicers may use various machines to obtain different cuts of wood: a rotary lathe to produce cuts peripendicular to the growth rings, a slicing machine to create plank-like cuts, or a half-round lathe which gives the operator the freedom to make a selection of the most interesting cuts.
Carpenter: Carpenters cut, shape and assemble wooden elements for the construction of buildings and other structures. They also use materials such as plastic and metal in their creations. Carpenters create the wooden frames to support wood framed buildings.
Wood sander: Wood sanders smoothen the surface of a wooden object using various sanding instruments. Each applies an abrasive surface, usually sandpaper, to the workpiece to remove irregularities.
Hardwood floor layer: Hardwood floor layers install floors made of solid wood. They prepare the surface, cut parquet or board elements to size, and lay them in a predetermined pattern, straight and flush.
Cooper: Coopers build barrels and related products made of segments of wood, like wooden buckets. They shape the wood, fit hoops around them, and shape the barrel to hold the product, which contemporarily is usually premium alcoholic beverages.
Debarker operator: Debarker operators operate debarking machines to strip harvested trees of their bark. The tree is fed into the machine, after which the bark is stripped using abrasion or cutting.
Guitar maker: Guitar makers create and assemble parts to build guitars according to specified instructions or diagrams. They work wood, measure and attach strings, test quality of strings and inspect the finished instrument.
Sawmill operator: Sawmill operators work with automated lumber mill equipment which saws timber into rough lumber. They also handle various sawing machines which further process the lumber in various shapes and sizes. These processes are nowadays often computer controlled.
Carpenter supervisor: Carpenter supervisors monitor carpentry operations in construction. They assign tasks and take quick decisions to resolve problems. They pass their skills on to apprentice carpenters.
Band saw operator: Band saw operators work with industrial saws that feature a continuous flexible blade revolving around two or more wheels. Band saws are most effective at producing irregular shapes.
Woodturner: Woodturners use a lathe to remove superfluous material from wood. The lathe turns the workpiece around its axis, as shape tools are used to obtain the desired shape.
Basketmaker: Basketmakers use stiff fibres to manually weave objects such as containers, baskets, mats and furniture. They use various traditional techniques and materials according to the region and the intended use of the object.
Woodcarver: Woodcarvers manually shape wood into the desired shape using equipment like knives, gouges and chisels. Woodcarvers produce wooden products to serve as decoration, to be integrated into a composite product, as utensils or as toys.
Crosscut saw operator: Crosscut saw operators use a manual crosscut saw. Crosscut sawing is used for ‘felling’ and ‘bucking’ trees, or taking off the limbs to obtain logs. Crosscut sawyers may also work with smaller crosscut saws in a workshop to make manual cuts.
Wood router operator: Wood router operators work with industrial routers to cut wood into the desired shape. Routers have a routing head that moves over the wood, going up and down to regulate the depth of the incision. Contemporary industrial wood routers usually are computer controlled for extremely fine and consistent results.

Wood cuts is optional for these occupations. This means knowing this knowledge may be an asset for career advancement if you are in one of these occupations.

Bridge construction supervisor: Bridge construction supervisors monitor the construction of bridges. They assign tasks and take quick decisions to resolve problems.
Stringed musical instrument maker: Stringed musical instrument makers create and assemble parts to create stringed instruments according to specified instructions or diagrams. They sand wood, measure and attach strings, test quality of strings and inspect the finished instrument.
Staircase installer: Staircase installers put in place standard or custom designed staircases between the various levels in buildings. They take the necessary measurements, prepare the site, and install the staircase safely.
Wood technology engineer: Wood technology engineers develop materials and components made of wood, construct production facilities and control and monitor the production. They also examine products and materials and advise customers.
Industrial arts vocational teacher: Industrial arts vocational teachers instruct students in their specialised field of study, industrial arts, which is predominantly practical in nature. They provide theoretical instruction in service of the practical skills and techniques the students must subsequently master for an industrial arts-related profession, working with wood and metal, such as carpenter or sheet metal worker. Industrial arts vocational teachers monitor the students’ progress, assist individually when necessary, and evaluate their knowledge and performance on the subject of industrial arts through assignments, tests and examinations.
Bridge inspector: Bridge inspectors inspect bridge structures for joint break, cracks, rust and other faults. They also carry out or organise the maintenance of the structures.
Wood products assembler: Wood products assemblers put together products from premade pieces of wood. They operate machines, often hydraulic, that bind the various elements of a product together using joints, glue or other fasteners. Assemblers put the elements in place, operate the machine and look out for problems.
Manufactured wooden building assembler: Manufactured wooden building assemblers put together wooden elements for use in construction. The elements, or modules, may consist of walls with windows and doors built-in, or may be as large as whole rooms. The assemblers put together the supporting structure, insulation materials, and covering, and fasten it together to obtain usable modules.
Lumber grader: Lumber graders inspect lumber, or wood cut into planks. They test the lumber, look for irregularities and grade the wood based on quality and desirability of the pattern.
Wood production supervisor: Wood production supervisors monitor processes involved in the conversion of felled trees into usable lumber. They follow the production process and make quick decisions to resolve problems. ​They ensure that production targets, such as quantity and quality of products, timeliness and cost-effectiveness, can be achieved.
Civil engineer: Civil engineers design, plan, and develop technical and engineering specifications for infrastructure and construction projects. They apply engineering knowledge in a vast array of projects, from the construction of infrastructure for transportation, housing projects, and luxury buildings, to the construction of natural sites. They design plans that seek to optimise materials and integrate specifications and resource allocation within the time constraints.
Idiophone musical instruments maker: Idiophone musical instruments makers create and assemble parts to make idiophone instruments to specified instructions or diagrams. They shape, drill, sand and string the parts that are mostly made out of glass, metal, ceramics or wood, clean, test the quality and inspect the finished instrument.

References

1. Wood cuts – ESCO