Wood has been utilized and adapted by humans from the first time they realized it was possible to make the most of resources they could find in the vicinity. In the course of using it to satisfy a diverse variety of human needs both in war and peace as well as in agriculture and industry, they gradually came to appreciate the distinctive nature of wood.
Its characteristics were first realized through experience, and later through systematic research and refined observation. Wood is still a fundamental part of the human condition, but has evolved over time from a basic, easily accessible natural material to an advanced engineering and industrial material with the ability to enrich the lives of humans in both a material that is suitable for use as well as an essential component within the nature of the forest.
THE HISTORY OF WOOD USE
The wood and the tree have played an important part in the lives of humans throughout the ages. Wood was one of our primary building materials since early Paleolithic times in both construction and for the production of tools as well as weapons and furniture. From the very beginning using wood was based on its quality, price, and availability, and also the intended usage and purpose. The shortage of quality wood led to cautious and efficient usage.
Boards were meticulously fit and matched; any imperfections were eliminated and filled. The practices that were developed centuries ago still carry through, with refinement in the present use of wood for top-quality applications.
Early people used wood because it was readily available and no tools were required to work with it. In the beginning, however, the quality of the product was more in the high-quality of the timber as well as the skills of the worker rather than the tools that were available to work with wood. The invention of tools made of copper around 5000 BC provided new possibilities for craftsmen – possibilities that continue to be a source of inspiration to the present day.
The History of European Wood in the Past
From the tenth through the 18th century from the tenth to 18th centuries in Europe, it was wood that was the most commonly used material to build tools, buildings mills, machines, carts as well as buckets, shoe furnishings, as well as barrels to mention some of the many varieties of wood products from the period.
The first printing presses were constructed out of wood, and these presses were made out of wood for more than 100 years. A majority of the equipment and inventions that enabled the age of machines were made out of wood in the period. In Europe, the use of wood was at its peak in the 16th century.
However, it decreased, not because of the inherent limitations on the wood’s use, however rather due to the limitations on its availability because of the growing demand for fuel and other materials and the expansion of agriculture into previously forest areas. The use of wood across North America continued to expand in the years following the decline in usage in Europe and is continuing to grow to this day as part of the global trend toward increasing usage of wood. A lot of the applications now are different in response to new demands for products and the advancement of technologies.
Wood as transportation
Wood has played historically played an important part in the transport of individuals and their belongings in both the form of a fuel source and also as a material. Sleds made from wood were utilized in northern Europe from as early as 7700 BC. Since the invention of wheels was around 3-4000 BC and this led to the invention of carts.
In the 19th century in North America, railroads used wood to fuel their engines and also for bridges, sleepers, trestles, and automobiles. Railroads’ use of fuel contributed to the wood industry being the principal power source of energy for North America in the middle of the 19th century. The wood used for transport on water evolved from the barges of the early days and hollowed-out logs from around 4500 BC up to sleek, sail-powered clipper ships that were built in the middle of the nineteenth century. Steam to power the ship as well as the steel used for vessel building was no longer economically viable towards the end of the century.
A Wood Used For Construction Materials
Wood has proven to be a versatile and valuable construction material over the past countless years and continues to be used more frequently than any other material for construction. The design and strength of buildings constructed at different dates and locations have depended on the kind and quality of the timber that was available, as well as the conditions under which it was used, and also the customs and lifestyle of the people who lived there.
In forests in which timber was abundant wall constructions were made from tree trunks or large timbers. Timber-built houses constructed in Neolithic Europe were frequently made by splitting logs and placing them horizontally in the ground or on a sill plate that was placed on the surface. Additionally, thousands of years older is the idea of the building using logs horizontally as in the log cabin.
The log cabins were constructed mostly in northern central, middle, and mountainous regions that are located in Europe in addition to North America where there have abundant supplies of huge straight trees. When construction using concrete and stones became popular the use of wood was to form concrete forms as well as supplementary structural components like roof supports and trusses. The construction of wood has seen an interesting change throughout North America because of the plentiful timber resources and the uneven growth of the country.
Furniture Made Of Wood
It has long been the most popular material used for furniture building since the beginning of time. The design and decoration of furniture have changed with the cultural, artistic, and technological development of society. Design and sophistication were significantly improved by the invention of copper-based tools. The effectiveness and efficiency of the wood they used were increased due to the depletion of furniture-grade woods and the growing international trade in furniture and the woods from which it was constructed.
The Introduction To Plywood And Veneer
Plywood and its veneer, along with many other types of wood, can be traced back as far as around 3000 BC. The goal until fairly recently was to expand as far as possible the use of beautiful decorative woods. They were highly valuable products that were traded internationally and the supplies were pricey and uncertain. Egypt, Greece, and Rome all developed techniques in veneered wood products. In comparison to the earlier techniques of decorative plywood mostly made of hardwoods, softwood plywood is comparatively recent in its development.
The production of softwood plywood started around 1900 in the USA and the industry continues to be active in that country, but has also expanded into other parts of the globe. It was created as a substitute for lumber by gluing thin slices of wood cut with a knife (cut usually using a lathe rotary) using the grain of the layers that are at right angles to each one.
The industry grew quickly after World War I and was further stimulated by the demands from World War II and the creation of weather-resistant adhesives. The production of plywood panels has dramatically increased across the majority of the globe over the last few decades.
The Development Of Fiberboard
The Wet Process Fiberboard was created around the turn of the century and was extensively used for panels for interior use, sheathing as well as roof insulation at the beginning of the 20th century. Particleboard was developed during the early 20th century, resulting from attempts to make use of sawdust, shavings, or even small wood particles to make panel material, and production significantly increased following World War II. Modern composites made of flakes or strands made of timber are being used for various structural purposes.
The field of composites is growing rapidly in both volume and variety of products. Medium-density fiberboard to make furniture core stock mineral bonded products made of cement and wood wool to create structural panels, products made from wood particles, as well as composites of wood and other materials are expanding the wood resource and increasing its value as well as providing cost-effective and practical products for all kinds of construction.
The Nature Of Wood
Wood is the natural product of the tree’s growth. It is comprised of hollow, long spindle-shaped cells which are placed in a manner that is more or less in parallel fashion to one another along the tree’s trunk. It is therefore essentially flexible in its nature. The properties of these fibrous cells as well as their placement in the tree greatly affect the properties of the wood, such as stiffness and strength, and their grain patterns of wood.
Conclusion
Wood products play a significant part in the history of our world and, at this moment wood has been one of the most important materials used in various industries. The supply of wood is declining because of the seasoning process prior to. The process of maturing wood takes time and if we don’t use the process of seasoning, it can affect the amount of wood available. This is why Shuowei developed the kiln-drying machine that can season wood to the perfect degree. If you have a query, you can contact us.
