Technical English in Wood Industry: A History of Furniture Styles

Mihai ION
TECHNICAL ENGLISH
IN WOOD INDUSTRY
A distance learning practical course

Part 3
Universitatea Transilvania din Braov

2009
TECHNICAL ENGLISH IN WOOD INDUSTRY Part 3

A distance learning practical course
Contents
Unit 1. The history of furniture I
Unit 2. The history of furniture II
3
8
Unit 3. Terminology related to furniture
13
Unit 4. Technology of furniture manufacturing

Unit 5. Upholsteries
19
25
Unit 6. Veneer, plywood and laminates
31
Unit 7. Manufacturing technology of veneers and plywood

Appendix. Key vocabulary
Bibliography
54
43
38
Introduction
This course addresses primarily YOU, a student of the Wood Industry Faculty,
enrolled in the distance learning programme. No knowledge of wood industry
concepts is assumed, but if you work through the course you will certainly learn
some of the basic notions. All the reading material and part of the follow-up
activities are taken from English for Technical and Business Purposes in Wood
Industry by G. Chefneux et al., a book which I strongly recommend you for
further, in-depth study.
Structurally, the course consists of seven units, an appendix and a bibliography.
Below I give you a brief description of each unit, so that at any point in your
study you will know exactly what you are expected to do and why you are doing
it. The pattern is as follows:
A. UNDERSTANDING A PRINTED TEXT: In this section you are given a
passage to read, sometimes including a picture or table. You should first read it
through, several times if necessary, and then translate it using the key
vocabulary in Appendix.
B. SELF-ASSESSMENT: In this section you are given a set of questions to
check your understanding and several kinds of activity. It is designed to provide
you with practice material so that you can build up your vocabulary and get a
fairly clear idea of the progress you are making through this course.
General objectives
This course is intended:
- to introduce you to the contents of Wood Industry;
- to develop your knowledge of the language typical of the subject.
UNIT 1. The history of furniture I
Time span for study: 2 hours
Objectives
Upon completion of this unit, you should be able:
- to enumerate the most common pieces of furniture;
- to describe the most significant stages in the history of furniture.
A. UNDERSTANDING A PRINTED TEXT

Read the following text carefully, then translate it into Romanian using the
key vocabulary in Appendix.
An accessible, concise history of furniture usually shows how domestic furniture

has developed over a period of 4,500 years, covering furniture styles from the
oldest surviving pieces found in the tombs of ancient Egypt, to what is considered
the highest point of achievement in the history of furniture-making, that of the 18th
century in France, to the Art Nouveau and American Shaker styles of the late 19th
century.
There are many terms used in identifying pieces of furniture, but in the end they
can all be included in five basics: things to sit on, to lie on, to eat, work, write and
play at, to put things in and to take out when needed or to use for display purposes;
in other words, chairs, stools, settees, benches; beds and couches; tables and desks;
chests and cupboards; shelves. One may add for completion the interior decoration,
things like lampstands, clocks, looking glasses and screens.
Ancient Egypt
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The basic pieces of Egyptian furniture were chairs and thrones, beds, boxes, chests,
and stools. The Egyptian chair often had a square seat on four carved wooden
animal legs that all faced forwards and with a carved sloping back supported by
upright stiles. The seat was often made of closely plaited leather strapwork, or
strong fibrous rush strips nailed to the frame.
One widely used item appeared in the Middle Kingdom period (2134-1785 BC),
namely the folding stool. Its seat consisted of a row of straps nailed or glued from
rail to rail, or a removable square of leather stitched so as to fit over the corners of
the frame. The stool legs ended with carved duck beaks inlaid with ivory.
Ancient Greece and Rome
The most attractive ancient Greek piece of furniture is the chair called klismos. Its
sabre legs were gracefully curved and the back members extended upwards to
support a curved cresting rail. The chair back height varied: the lower set variety
let the sitter turn and use the back as an armrest; the higher style was used for more
formal sitting.
Roman furniture makers used a variety of woods, among which were citrus, cedar,
olivewood and oak. They were experts at veneering and inlay work and appear to
have dyed certain woods to get variations in colour. They also inlaid pieces of
furniture with ivory, silver, gold and tortoise shell.
Roman craftsmen were often fine carvers and their metal and stone sculptors
produced work of the highest artistry. Table legs and chair backs and arms,
cupboard friezes and cornices were often very fine.
China and Japan
The earliest furniture of ancient China was that used during the Han dynasty (202
BC-220 AD). An early central piece was the k'ang which was an alcove platform
bed, normally so large that it could be also used during the day as a withdrawing
area, with enough space for two or three people to recline with the use of low
tables.
The oldest stool was a folding X-type. Same as the X-shaped chair, it was seat of
honour for imperial and religious use. Chinese furniture was produced in wood, in
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natural or in lacquered state, or made from bamboo. Camphor wood, which has a
pleasant smell, was particularly suitable for chests. In southern China woods were
usually lacquered, to protect them against insects and to produce a surface that
allowed relief carving and decoration. Chinese lacquerwork was brilliantly
executed, using colours that included vermilion, red-brown, dark-green, black and
gold; chests, cupboards, and some screens were fitted with metal mounts,
lockplates, hinges and corners. The metalwork was often countersunk to make it
flush with the woodwork.
The Japanese had built-in cupboards with sliding doors. There were also some
movable chests and chests-on-chests. One interesting piece was a cabinet with
three or four shelves. It had an opened part, and a part enclosed with small
cupboard-doors, with lacquer decoration and metal mounts.
The Middle Ages in Europe (the Romanesque and Gothic Style)
For centuries, an enormous variety of caskets and chests of many shapes and sizes
have been produced in Europe. In the early Middle Ages, the Romanesque
craftsmen embellished caskets and chests with very fine carving or other
ornaments. Some were banded with decorative iron strapwork and the earliest even
had iron locks and clasps. Lids were flat, domed or gabled.
Gothic chests of the 14th century were usually decorated on the flat surfaces,
particularly on the front, with ecclesiastical motifs, such as: tracery, pointed
arching, linenfold, foliage, finials, figures of knights, coats of arms or shields.
Gothic cupboards were elaborately decorated, being expressly designed to store
and display valuable items like gold pottery and plates.
B. SELF-ASSESSMENT
1. Answer the following questions:
What period is considered to be the highest point of achievement in the

history of furniture-making?
How many categories does furniture mainly fall into? Name them.
What type of legs can be found with klismos chairs?

5
Why were woods usually laquered in southern Ancient China?
Can you describe the ancient Japanese cabinet?
What were Roman furniture makers experts at?
What were the main shapes of Romanesque casket and chest lids?
Can you think of several ecclesiastical motifs used in decorating Gothic

chests?
2. Are the statements below true (T) or false (F), according to the facts in the
passage?
The Egyptian folding stool appeared in the Middle Kingdom period. ___
Chinese lacquerwork used colours such as vermilion, red-brown, darkgreen, black and gold. ___
The ancient Japanese cabinet was completely enclosed with small

cupboard-doors. ___
Objects of great value were stored and displayed in Gothic cupboards. ___
The Egyptian chair often had a round seat on four carved wooden animal
legs. ___
3. Match the words in column A with those in column B to form collocations

as they appear in the text:
A
1. __ Art
a. door
2. __ looking
b. stool
3. __ folding
c. Nouveau
4. __ sabre
d. motifs
5. __ cresting
e. rail
6. __ sliding
f. arching
7. __ iron
g. legs
8. __ ecclesiastical
h. strapwork
9. __ pointed
i. glass
4. Fill in the gaps in the following text with the words randomly listed below:
frame, carving, back, vermilion, seat, countersunk, strapwork, lacquered, stiles,
mounts.
The basic pieces of Egyptian furniture were chairs and thrones, beds,
boxes, chests, and stools. The Egyptian chair often had a square ____ on four
carved wooden animal legs that all faced forwards and with a carved sloping ____
supported by upright ____. The seat was often made of closely plaited leather
____, or strong fibrous rush strips nailed to the ____.
In southern China woods were usually ____, to protect them against insects
and to produce a surface that allowed relief ____ and decoration. Chinese
lacquerwork was brilliantly executed, using colours that included ____, red-brown,
dark-green, black and gold; chests, cupboards, and some screens were fitted with
metal ____, lockplates, hinges and corners. The metalwork was often ____ to make
it flush with the woodwork.
Summary
In this unit you have learnt the following main issues:
- Basically, furniture can be divided into five categories: 1) things to sit on, 2) to
lie on, 3) to eat, work, write and play at, 4) to put things in and to take out when
needed, and 5) to use for display purposes (e.g. chairs, stools, settees, benches;
beds and couches; tables and desks; chests and cupboards; shelves);
- The basic pieces of furniture in Ancient Egypt were chairs and thrones, beds,
boxes, chests, and stools (particularly folding stools);
- The most attractive ancient Greek piece of furniture is the chair called klismos;
- An early central piece in Ancient China was an alcove platform bed (k'ang);
- An interesting piece in Ancient Japan was a cabinet with three or four shelves,
with lacquer decoration and metal mounts;
- In the early Middle Ages, the Romanesque craftsmen embellished caskets and
chests with very fine carving or other ornaments;
- Gothic chests of the 14th century were usually decorated on the flat surfaces,
particularly on the front, with ecclesiastical motifs.
UNIT 2. The history of furniture II
Objectives
- to enumerate the most common pieces of furniture;
- to describe the most significant stages in the history of furniture.

Italian Renaissance
The intarsia technique originated in medieval Italy, and became highly developed
in the late 15th century, particularly in Florence. Intarsia is a form of wood
marquetry, which is made from blocks of wood, bone, mother-of-pearl, stone or
metal arranged in geometric pattern. A development of intarsia was the "trompe l'
oeil" form, by which the illusion of the three-dimensional picture was created.
Italian furniture displays ancient Greek and Roman motifs such as urns, griffins,
leaves and flowers, elements of the classical orders like Doric, Ionic, Corinthian
and Tuscany capitals, friezes, triangular gables, caryatids, mythological subjects of
Orphaeus, Venus, Cupid, Mars etc.
One of the most precious and impressive pieces of Italian late Renaissance
furniture is a Milanese cabinet of drawers, made of pine and veneered with ebony.
8
The walnut drawers were faced with ebony, with frames embossed steel plaques
damascened in gold with mythological subjects.
The Baroque
In the 17th century Italy became the source of the baroque style of architecture and
then furniture. The restraint of the classical lines in Renaissance furniture was
gradually replaced by exuberant ornaments, with mass foliage, curving contours,
scrollwork, expressive and dynamic forms.
For example, tables and some cabinets began to be supported on painted or gilded
substructures with carved naked figures of naiads, negroes, eagles, lions and
dolphins. Table tops consisted of brilliantly coloured marble slab, marble mosaic
or pietra-dura work.
In France, at Louis XIV's court, Andr Charles Boulle developed special
decorative techniques, especially marquetry, employing tortoise-shell, pewter and
brass.
The inventory of royal furniture included fashionable pieces like chests, consoles,
day beds, armchairs and tables. Tables were made for a wide variety of uses:
folding tables, flat-topped tables supporting a filing cabinet, card-tables, dressingtables.
The Rococo
In France, during the Louis XV period, the Rococo style became popular. The
over-elaborate decoration meant bronze-work with bubbling, flowing forms and
fantastic designs in marquetry.
The last representative piece of the French Rococo furniture seems to be the
commode: a chest with two or three drawers, or, more rarely, two main and two
subsidiary drawers. The fronts were flat or bow-shaped. They were decorated with
marquetry, or parquetry, or lacquerwork, fitted with bronze escutcheons, drawer
handles and corner mounts.
The Neo-classical furniture
Towards the end of the 1750s there was a reaction against the Rococo
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extravagances. Straight lines re-appeared as basic features. More home-grown

woods were employed instead of high-cost tropical varieties.
Louis XVI chairs had straight legs, tapered and sometimes fluted, reeded or
spiralled and descending from a cube, carved with rosettes on their outer faces,
which replaced the Rococo cabriole legs.
New types of chair backs were the oval or medallion kind, and also square backs,
flanked by columns, with upholstered parts within the framework.
British furniture
A summary of the story of British furniture in the late l8th century can be
reasonably made by looking at the designs and works of the leading designers:
Chippendale, Adam, Hepplewhite and Sheraton.
Chippendale was a famous chair designer, combining Rococo designs, Chinesestyle ideas and reviving Gothic styles. He adorned his furniture with exquisite
fretwork in Chinese taste, using it for edging tables, cabinet doors and bed
canopies. He also used widely ribbonwork, fruitswags and exaggerated cabriole
legs, in combination with shell ornament.
The architect Robert Adam introduced a classical revival in British building design
and interior decoration. He used ancient Greek and Roman motifs, featuring strings
of flowers, shell ornament, scrolls of foliage and painted panels in low relief,
swags of corn husks, sphinxes, vases and classical figures, winged lions, griffins,
ram heads, tripods, classical shields, acanthus leaves, anthemions, palmettos, oval
medallions. Symmetry, order and formality predominated in his works.
Until recently, a line used to be drawn between the fine arts painting, sculpture
and architecture and the decorative arts, chiefly represented by furniture.
Research into the fine arts was conducted with sophistication and intelligence,
while the study of decorative arts remained somehow marginal and shallow. In
recent years, however, the situation has changed for the better. Today, the study of
the furniture history has become a complex academic discipline.
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B. SELF-ASSESSMENT
What is intarsia technique? Where did it first appear?
What sort of motifs does the Italian Renaissance furniture display? Name
some of them.
Which are the main features of the Baroque style in furniture?
Name several pieces of furniture to be found at Louis XIV's court?
How would you define the Rococo style?
Which is the last representative piece of the French Rococo furniture? Give
it a short description.
What is the difference between Louis XVI chairs and those in the Rococo
style?
Name several leading designers in the history of British furniture.
passage?
The intarsia technique originated in medieval Italy, and became highly

developed in the early 15th century. ___
A Milanese cabinet of drawers is one of the most precious and impressive

pieces of Italian late Renaissance furniture. ___
Andr Charles Boulle developed special decorative techniques during the

reign of Louis XVI. ___
Robert Adams work is characterised by asymmetry and disorder. ___
Chippendale chairs have exaggerated cabriole legs. ___

A
1. __ intarsia
a. plaques
2. __ triangular
b. shell
3. __ steel
c. relief
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4. __ marble
d. technique
5. __ pietra-dura
e. table
6. __ tortoise
f. work
7. __ folding
g. gables
8. __ bed
h. canopy
9. __ low
i. slab
rosettes, drawers, escutcheons, tapered, bow-shaped, commode, parquetry,
upholstered, cabriole, mounts.
The last representative piece of the French Rococo furniture seems to be
the ____: a chest with two or three drawers, or, more rarely, two main and two
subsidiary ____. The fronts were flat or ____. They were decorated with
marquetry, or ____, or lacquerwork, fitted with bronze ____, drawer handles and
corner ____.
Louis XVI chairs had straight legs, ____ and sometimes fluted, reeded or
spiralled and descending from a cube, carved with ____ on their outer faces, which
replaced the Rococo ____ legs.
New types of chair backs were the oval or medallion kind, and also square
backs, flanked by columns, with ____ parts within the framework.
Summary
- Intarsia is a form of wood marquetry, which is made from blocks of wood, bone,
mother-of-pearl, stone or metal arranged in geometric pattern;
- The Baroque style of furniture is characterised by exuberant ornaments, with
mass foliage, curving contours, scrollwork, expressive and dynamic forms;
- The Rococo style implies over-elaborate bronze-work decoration and fantastic
designs in marquetry;
- Neo-classical furniture is a reaction against the Rococo extravagances; straight
lines become specific and home-grown woods are preferred to the more
expensive tropical varieties;
- The leading designers in the history of British furniture are: Chippendale, Adam,
Hepplewhite and Sheraton.
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UNIT 3. Terminology related to furniture
Objectives
- to use terminology related to furniture;
- to classify furniture pieces according to their purpose, use and functionality;
- to enumerate various sub-assemblies that furniture consists of.

According to their various purposes and uses, furniture pieces can be grouped
together into furniture sets for interior decoration, such as: kitchen furniture,
nursery furniture, study furniture, teenage furniture, living-room furniture,
bedroom furniture, hall furniture and dining-room furniture.
Functionally, furniture pieces can be classified as follows:
Storage furniture: bar, bed-side table, book-case, built-in cabinet, China
cupboard, cupboard, kitchen board, linen chest, peg, set of shelves, sideboard,
wardrobe (cabinet), toilet table.
Sitting furniture: armchair, chair, coach, lounge chair, rocking chair, settee,
stool.
Lounge and sleeping furniture: bed, folding settee, rcamier.
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Eating and working furniture: table, small table, overposing tables, working
desk.
Furniture is made up of a series of simple and complex parts, which can combine
into various sub-assemblies and a wide range of assemblies, thus achieving
different shapes and uses.
Accordingly, in the case of storage furniture consisting of several parts, the
following types of sub-assemblies may be used: legged frame; plinth; sliding/
hinged door; top/ bottom/ intermediate panel; sliding panel (table); shelf; side
panel (wall); separating panel (wall); back panel; drawer; single-faced/ doublefaced frame; framed panel; roll.
The following pieces can be added to the lounge and sleeping furniture: bed front;
bed sides, and to the eating furniture: extendable panel (table).
The constituents of the sub-assemblies are simple or more complex parts of the
following type: solid wood panels; veneered panels; edge battens (solid wood
edges); inlaid tongues; inlaid dowels; dollies; slides; mouldings; decorative
baguettes; shelf supporting knobs; wardrobe bars; crown mouldings; legs; arms etc.
The drawers, as sub-assemblies, have the following parts: drawer front; drawer
side; drawer back; drawer bottom; knob.
The framed panels represent sub-assemblies made of the following parts: stiles;
transversal rails; moulded panels.
Representative examples of storing and sitting furniture components are shown in
Fig. 8.1 and 8.2, respectively.
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Fig. 8.1. Storing furniture

Upper part: 1-crown moulding; 2-back top rail; 3-side panel; 4-back panel; 5back centre stile; 6-lower rail; 25-shelf; 26-decorative moulding; 27-top plate.
Lower part: 7-top plate; 8-upper door rail; 9-side panel; 10-upper rail; 11moulded panel; 12-plinth; 13-door stile; 14-lower door rail; 15-knob; 16-bottom
rail; 17-lower plate; 18-back panel; 19-drawer divider; 20-under drawer panel; 21drawer front; 22-drawer side; 23-drawer back; 24-top rail.
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B. SELF-ASSESSMENT
How can you classify furniture, according to its purpose and use?
How can you classify furniture from a functional viewpoint?
What pieces of furniture are used for storage?
Name at least five furniture pieces for sitting.
Which are the most common pieces for lounge and sleeping?
What pieces fall into the category of eating and working furniture?
What sub-assemblies are very common with storage furniture?
Name at least ten constituents of sub-assemblies.
passage?
A sideboard is a piece of sitting furniture. ___
An extendable panel is a sub-assembly of storage furniture. ___
The crown moulding is located at the upper part of a storing furniture. ___
The stretcher is a component part of the drawer. ___
Inlaid dowels are simple constituents of the sub-assemblies. ___
16

A
1. __ nursery
a. tongues
2. __ bed-side
b. chest
3. __ linen
c. desk
4. __ rocking
d. furniture
5. __ working
e. rail
6. __ hinged
f. table
7. __ inlaid
g. chair
8. __ drawer
h. door
9. __ transversal
i. front
battens, sliding, dowels, legged, baguettes, frame, knobs, front, mouldings,
veneered.
Accordingly, in the case of storage furniture consisting of several parts, the
following types of sub-assemblies may be used: ____ frame; plinth; sliding/ hinged
door; top/ bottom/ intermediate panel; sliding ____ (table); shelf; side panel (wall);
separating panel (wall); back panel; drawer; single-faced/ double-faced ____;
framed panel; roll.
The following pieces can be added to the lounge and sleeping furniture: bed
____; bed sides, and to the eating furniture: extendable panel (table).
The constituents of the sub-assemblies are simple or more complex parts of
the following type: solid wood panels; ____ panels; edge ____ (solid wood edges);
inlaid tongues; inlaid ____; dollies; slides; mouldings; decorative ____; shelf
supporting ____; wardrobe bars; crown ____; legs; arms etc.
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Summary
- According to their purpose/use, furniture pieces can be classified as: kitchen
furniture, nursery furniture, study furniture, teenage furniture, living-room
furniture, bedroom furniture, hall furniture and dining-room furniture;
- According to their functionality, furniture pieces can be classified as: storage
furniture, sitting furniture, lounge & sleeping furniture, eating & working
furniture;
- Furniture is made up of a series of simple and complex parts, which can combine
into various sub-assemblies and a wide range of assemblies, thus achieving
different shapes and uses.
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UNIT 4. Technology of furniture manufacturing
Objectives
- to present the processing operations applied to the edge batten;
- to present the processing operations applied to the particleboard panel;
- to present the processing operations applied to veneer sheets;
- to present the manufacturing and processing operations applied to the subassembly veneered and edged particleboard panel.

Furniture can be made exclusively of large solid wood or from sub-assemblies

which incorporate in their structure solid wood, as well as other wood-based
materials, like: particleboards, fibreboards, plywood, veneers etc.
For instance, the structure of a top plate can be illustrated as seen in fig. 8.3 below:
The specific manufacturing operations of such a sub-assembly are:

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a. Processing operations applied to the edge batten (made of solid wood):

- trimming - a crosscutting operation which eliminates timber ends;
- sectioning - a crosscutting operation, carried out to eliminate defects or to
roughly shape the edge;
- ripping - a longitudinal cutting of timber in order to achieve the specified width
of the edge batten, including the necessary oversize;
- straightening - an operation which eliminates the eventual bend (deflection) of
the part due to rotary milling, by means of which a smooth surface is obtained; this
surface represents a reference for further processing operations;
- edge straightening - by using the straightened surface as reference for
positioning the fence bar;
- planing - by which the actual thickness of the edge is obtained, including
tolerances, according to the standard;
- tonguing - an operation based on the rotary milling principle, which cuts the edge
tongue, necessary for assembling it with the particleboard panel; the processing
accuracy should allow of a push fit;
- crosscutting for size and angle - which is the final processing of the edge
length.
b. Processing operations applied to the particleboard panel:
- length and width sizing - considering that the batten edge is to be applied only
on one longitudinal edge of the panel, the particleboard can be cut to its final
length; as far as the width of the panel is concerned, an oversize has to be foreseen;
the final width sizing is to be done only after edging;
- grooving - operation by means of which the sized particleboard panel is grooved
in order to be joined with the edge battens;
- glue spreading (in the groove) carried out by means of some rotary devices,
partly immersed into an adhesive.
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c. Processing operations applied to veneer sheets:

- length veneer sizing, considering necessary oversize;
- width veneer sizing, operation by which the veneer edges are regularised in
order to be joined;
- veneer jointing - by using gummed paper, fusible thread or by gluing;
- sizing and trimming - the final veneer sheet sizing before gluing;
- end consolidation - by applying gummed paper strips on the joined veneer sheet
ends to prevent cracking.
d. Manufacturing and processing operations applied to the sub-assembly
veneered and edged particleboard panel:
- edge batten gluing - operation by which solid wood battens are applied to the
particleboard edges;
- sanding of the edged panel, using abrasive tools, operation which leads to the
levelling of the solid wood edges with the panel, resulting in parallel faces,
adequate roughness of the surfaces and better coating conditions;
- glue spreading on both sides of the bordered and sanded panel, using a roller
glue spreading machine;
- surface veneering - operation by which the "sandwich" formed by the edged
particleboard panel, the face veneer and the back veneer are pressed in a hot-platen
press;
- panel conditioning - operation which ensures their cooling, a more even
distribution of the moisture content on cross-section, as well as the equilibration of
inner stresses;
- width sizing, moulding and rebating - operations by which the veneered panel
is brought to final width, a decorative profile of the solid wood edge is obtained
and the rebate for mounting the back panel on the other longitudinal edge is cut;
- length sizing with edge moulding - operations which allow for obtaining the
21
final panel length, simultaneously with milling a decorative moulding;

- drilling - operation by which cylindrical holes are bored for the dowel joints;
- surface and edge sanding - operations which ensure the final smoothness of
both surface and edges, with a view to coating;
- finishing of the ready assembled product, by spray-coating.
B. SELF-ASSESSMENT
Which are the sub-assemblies that incorporate in their structure solid wood
and other wood-based materials?
Name at least five processing operations applied to the edge batten.
Which are the processing operations applied to the particleboard panel?
Can you enumerate the processing operations applied to veneer sheets?
Name at least five processing operations applied to the sub-assembly.
What do you understand by surface veneering?
What happens during the edge batten gluing operation?
In what operation the veneer edges are regularised in order to be joined?
passage?
Trimming is a crosscutting operation which eliminates timber ends. ___
Defects are eliminated by means of tonguing. ___
By straightening, the eventual bend or deflection of the part due to rotary

milling is removed. ___
The procedure of applying gummed paper strips on the joined veneer sheet
ends to prevent cracking is called end consolidation. ___
Surface and edge sanding is carried out in order to obtain a decorative

profile of the solid wood edge. ___
22

A
1. __ edge
a. fit
2. __ rotary
b. thread
3. __ particleboard
c. spreading
4. __ push
d. milling
5. __ width
e. jointing
6. __ glue
f. panel
7. __ veneer
g. batten
8. __ gummed
h. paper
9. __ fusible
i. sizing
particleboard, moisture, platen, battens, panel, gluing, spreading, abrasive,
veneering, roughness.
Here are some processing operations applied to a sub-assembly:
- edge batten ____ - operation by which solid wood ____ are applied to the
particleboard edges;
- sanding of the edged panel, using ____ tools, operation which leads to the
levelling of the solid wood edges with the panel, resulting in parallel faces,
adequate ____ of the surfaces and better coating conditions;
- glue spreading on both sides of the bordered and sanded panel, using a roller
glue ____ machine;
- surface ____ - operation by which the "sandwich" formed by the edged ____
panel, the face veneer and the back veneer are pressed in a hot- ____ press;
- ____ conditioning - operation which ensures their cooling, a more even
distribution of the ____ content on cross-section, as well as the equilibration of
inner stresses;
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Summary
- Technology of furniture manufacturing includes the following operations:
- Processing operations applied to the edge batten: trimming, sectioning, ripping,
straightening, edge straightening, planing, tonguing, crosscutting for size and
angle;
- Processing operations applied to the particleboard panel: length and width
sizing, grooving, glue spreading;
- Processing operations applied to the veneer sheets: length and width sizing,
veneer jointing, sizing and trimming, end consolidation;
- Processing operations applied to the the sub-assembly veneered and edged
particleboard panel: edge batten gluing, sanding, glue spreading, surface
veneering, panel conditioning, width sizing, moulding and rebating, length sizing
with edge moulding, drilling, surface and edge sanding, finishing.
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UNIT 5. Upholsteries
Objectives
- to classify upholstery materials;
- to describe methods of fixing various filling materials;
- to describe methods of fixing various covering and decoration materials.

According to the construction system, upholsteries can be fixed or dismountable.

According to the nature of the materials used, they can be classical and modern.
The classical upholstery is achieved from traditional materials using manual
methods. Modern upholstery uses semi-products, like felt-type mats, gummed
mats, elastic cores and they are manufactured by mechanical processing.
Upholsteries can be used for sitting furniture (chairs, armchairs) and for lounging
furniture (bed, settee, couch).
The sitting upholstery is mainly manufactured in fixed construction, while the
lounging one is manufactured in dismountable state, as pillows and mattresses,
with or without built-in springs.
Classification of Upholstery Materials
Upholstery materials can be classified as follows:
25
- supporting materials - made of solid wood or metallic frames, plywood,

chipboard or fibreboard panels, etc., their role being to support the upholstery
structure;
- springing materials - which ensure the elasticity of the upholstery, as well as its
long life; they are formed of different types of springs, such as: helical or spiral
springs, horizontal springs (fig. 8.5), sine springs or zigzag springs, spring-wire
nets, fixed in metal frames, elastic spring cores (fig. 8.6), elastic cores of spongy
materials, pillows and mattresses of spongy materials, with or without built-in
springs;
Fig. 8.5. Horizontal springs
Fig. 8.6. Springs and elastic cores:

a - helical spring; b - helical consolidation
spring; c, d - elastic cores.
- consolidation materials such as: hemp twine, short spiral springs, wire staples,
fasteners, clamps, and others.
- filling materials which, according to their source, can be: vegetable materials
(sea grass, palm leaves), animal materials (fur, wool), synthetic materials
(expanded polyurethane, synthetic polyamide fibres, polyester fibres, etc.). They
can be used as such or as semi-products (vegetable fibrous mats, inter-woven mats,
gummed mats, synthetic mats of expended polyurethane, moulded pillows of
polyurethane foams, upholstery cotton);
- covering and decorating materials, such as: the upholstery facing, resistance
linen, back linen, the edge cord, etc.;
- accessories, i.e. materials for upholstery finishing and fixing, such as handles,
staples, rosettes, upholstery nails, fasteners, bitches, decorative nails etc.
26
Fig. 8.7 shows the structure of an upholstery structure with helical springs.
Fixing of Filling Materials

Fixing the filling materials can be done in several ways, according to the
upholstery type. Thus, with fixed upholstery, the filling materials of vegetable,
animal, synthetic or combined nature will be placed on a protection layer made of
sackcloth, felt or felt-type mat, placed over the springs.
With classical upholstery, the filling materials are made of at least two layers: a
sackcloth is stitched over the sea grass, forming the first layer, and the second layer
is of upholstery cotton, with a thickness of 10-20mm, over which a strained cloth is
fixed, which is then stitched to the first and the sackcloth.
Another filling material is expanded polyurethane, which looks like smooth pads,
of various thickness, or pads with a grooved surface, out of which pillows of
various thickness can be obtained by joining and gluing. The polyurethane
residues, obtained while cutting, can be minced and used in the pillow inner
structure for upholstery, providing flexibility and long useful life.
Polyurethane foams, as filling materials, are to be fixed as follows:
- with fixed upholstery, the polyurethane layer will be fixed to the springs or elastic
core by means of gluing, stitching or stapling over the protection layer (sackcloth);
- when fixing it on a rigid frame, the polyurethane layer will be glued with contact
adhesives and the pad will be drilled, so that the air in the polyurethane be
27
discharged during the upholstery compression;

- when using semi-flexible or flexible strapwork as supporting element, the
polyurethane layer will be fixed directly onto the support or over a well-stretched
cloth. In this case, detachable polyurethane pillows of different structures are used.
To increase the flexibility and the comfort of the upholstery with polyurethane
filling, moulded pillows can be manufactured that are sized according to the seat or
the back. Sitting pillows can also have built-in springs, thus increasing their useful
life, reducing the weight and yielding a flexibility degree adjusted to the function
of the piece of furniture.
Fixing of Covering and Decoration Materials
Covering materials such as cloth, leather, or leather substitute, represent the
decorative layer of the upholstery. The drawing, texture and colour of the cloths
need to match the colour, finishing, architecture and style of the furniture piece.
The covering materials will be fixed to the frame or support of the furniture piece,
with upholstery nails or staples, at a distance of 20-30mm. The cloth will be
stretched to avoid any folds, the drawing of the cloth being symmetrically placed
against the upholstery axis.
The edge cord is fastened by means of stitching, gluing or hidden fasteners.
The decorative nails will be fixed at equal intervals of 20-30mm, aligned against
the edge or the contour of the furniture piece.
B. SELF-ASSESSMENT
Which are the characteristics of classical upholstery?
Which are the characteristics of modern upholstery?
What is the difference between sitting and lounging upholstery?
Name several supporting materials.
How many types of springs can you think of?

28
Define accessories and give some examples.
How is the edge cord fastened to the upholstery facing?
What is the standard distance between upholstery nails or staples?
passage?
Resistance linen is a very important filling material of animal origin. ___
The polyurethane layer is fixed to the springs or elastic core by means of

gluing, stitching or stapling over the sackcloth. ___
Hemp twine and clamps are largely used with a view to ensuring the
elasticity of the upholstery. ___
When using flexible strapwork as supporting element, the polyurethane

layer is fixed directly onto the support or over a well-stretched cloth. ___
The drawing of the well-stretched cloth should be asymmetrically placed

against the upholstery axis. ___

A
1. __ fely-type
a. cord
2. __ elastic
b. staple
3. __ lounging
c. furniture
4. __ helical
d. linen
5. __ hemp
e. material
6. __ wire
f. core
7. __ filling
g. twine
8. __ resistance
h. spring
9. __ edge
i. mat
useful, joining, pads, sackcloth, grass, pillow, grooved, polyurethane, cotton,
filling.
29
With classical upholstery, the ____ materials are made of at least two
layers: a sackcloth is stitched over the sea ____, forming the first layer, and the
second layer is of upholstery ____, with a thickness of 10-20mm, over which a
strained cloth is fixed, which is then stitched to the first and the ____.
Another filling material is expanded ____, which looks like smooth ____,
of various thickness, or pads with a ____ surface, out of which pillows of various
thickness can be obtained by ____ and gluing. The polyurethane residues, obtained
while cutting, can be minced and used in the ____ inner structure for upholstery,
providing flexibility and long ____ life.
Summary
- Upholsteries can be classified as fixed or dismountable, classical or modern,
used for sitting or lounging furniture;
- Upholstery materials include the following: supporting materials, springing
materials, consolidation materials, filling materials, covering and decorating
materials, and accessories;
- Fixing the filling materials can be done in several ways, according to the
upholstery type. Thus, with fixed upholstery, the filling materials will be placed
on a protection layer made of sackcloth, felt or felt-type mat, placed over the
springs;
- Covering materials represent the decorative layer of the upholstery, and will be
fixed to the frame or support of the furniture piece, with upholstery nails or
staples, at a distance of 20-30mm. The cloth will be stretched to avoid any folds,
the drawing of the cloth being symmetrically placed against the upholstery axis.
30
UNIT 6. Veneer, plywood and laminates
Objectives
- to define and classify veneer, plywood and laminates;
- to briefly present each type of veneer, plywood and laminates.

Definition and Classification

The definitions of the main terms referring to veneers and laminates are
standardised. Thus:
a) Veneers are thin wooden sheets having a thickness of less than 6 mm, obtained
by rotary cutting or slicing.
According to the cutting process, we distinguish between:
- sliced veneers, obtained by means of a knife driven in an oscillating movement
parallel to the support surface of the wood flitch;
- rotary-cut veneers, obtained by tangential cutting of a log rotating around its
longitudinal axis, using a knife with its cutting edge positioned parallel to the
rotation axis and which moves towards the log centre by one unit of veneer
31
thickness for each rotation of the log;

- half-rotary-cut veneers, obtained from a log or one of its parts which is rotated
around an axis parallel to the symmetry axis, using a knife whose cutting edge is
positioned parallel to the rotation axis.
According to their use, the following types of veneer can be identified:
- decorative veneers, which have an aesthetic aspect, their thickness ranging from
0.4 to l mm, obtained mainly by means of slicing and used to cover particleboards
for furniture;
- structural veneers, obtained by rotary cutting and used, after gluing and pressing,
to produce plywood and other laminates, packing, window blinds, etc.
b) Plywood is a board obtained by gluing and hot-pressing several veneer sheets
(usually an uneven number), so that the grain direction of one sheet is at an angle
to the grain direction of the sheet above or beneath it (fig. 9.1).
Fig. 9.1. The building of a three-layered plywood structure

The main classification criteria of plywood are: according to structure, use,
surfacing, and the way in which wood is combined with other materials.
Structurally, the following types of plywood are produced:
- standard plywood - where the angle of the grain direction between two
overlapped layers is 90o;
- star-shaped plywood - consisting of at least 5 plies, where the angle between the
grain direction of adjoining layers is of 60, 45 or 30;
- homogenous plywood - made up of veneers of the same species;
32
- mixed plywood - whose inner plies are of a species different from that of the
outer plies.
Functionally, plywood falls into several categories:
- plywood for general use;
- special plywood - with certain special features for specific purposes, such as:
- interior plywood, used only in closed spaces, under normal air-humidity and
temperature conditions;
- exterior plywood, resistant to water and high humidity;
- plywood for railway wagons, glued and protected on both sides with phenolbased, water-resistant adhesives;
- aircraft plywood, etc.
According to the degree of surface processing, plywood panels can be: veneered;
melamine-faced; enamelled; coated with decorative foils; engraved with relief
drawings, etc.
Plywood can also be obtained by combining wood with other materials. Thus, the
following types can be identified:
- reinforced plywood - in which veneer is interwoven with glass fibres, carbon
fibres, textile fibres etc.;
- cased plywood - which has a metal sheet of steel, aluminium, lead, or copper on
one or both sides;
- asbestos plywood - covered with asbestos layers on one or both faces (no longer
manufactured because of serious health hazard that asbestos poses).
c) Blockboard is a board consisting of a core made of softwood strips and covered
with structural veneers on both faces, with the grain perpendicular to the direction
of the strips (fig. 9.2). According to the veneer species used, blockboards can be
produced from beech, lime, alder or poplar.
33
Fig. 9.2. Blockboard: 1 - core strips; 2 - face veneer.

d) Densified laminated boards are panels obtained by gluing and pressing several
veneer sheets, one above the other, so that the grain direction of a veneer sheet
should be oriented in a particular way relative to the grain direction of the sheet
above and beneath it. This type of boards is obtained at high pressure (over 5
MPa). The compression degree ranges from 20% (with low-density laminated
boards) to 45% (with high-density laminated boards).
According to the orientation of the veneer layers, four types of densified laminated
boards are produced (fig. 9.3):
- type A - where all of the veneers are placed with their grain in the same direction
and which have high bending and tensile strengths on this particular direction;
- type B - where a perpendicular layer is placed after 5-10 layers of veneers with
parallel fibres;
- type C - where grain direction alternates at 90 within each pair of adjoining
layers, in a similar way to standard plywood;
- type D - where grain direction alternates at 15-45 within each pair of adjoining
layers, in a similar way to star-shaped plywood.
34
Fig. 9.3. Types of densified laminated boards

e) Panelled frames consist of a solid wood frame covered with veneer sheets or
various boards (plywood, fibreboard etc.) on both faces, the core of the board
being hollow, or filled with wood strips, cardboard strips or veneers, arranged in
different shapes (as shown in fig. 9.4).
f) Laminated moulded elements are products with a three-dimensional
configuration, obtained by gluing and pressing veneers. They are quite similar to
plywood, the difference consisting in the shape (other than flat) of the product,
obtained by means of membrane presses or special bending jigs.
Fig. 9.4. Panelled doors with: a - grid core; b - honeycomb core; c- spirals core.
35
B. SELF-ASSESSMENT
How can you define veneers?
What types of veneer do you know according to the cutting process?
Can you classify veneers according to their use?
What do you understand by plywood?
What types of plywood are produced, if you were to consider their

structure?
How is reinforced plywood obtained?
What type of boards are obtained at pressures higher than 5 MPa?
What is the difference between laminated moulded elements and plywood?
passage?
Rotary-cut veneers are obtained by tangential cutting of a log rotating

around its longitudinal axis. ___
Decorative veneers are used to produce plywoods and other laminates. ___
Cased plywood has a metal sheet of steel, aluminium, lead, or copper on

one or both sides. ___
Panelled frames are obtained by gluing and pressing several veneer sheets,
one above the other. ___
The shape of a laminated moulded element is obtained by means of

membrane presses or special bending jigs. ___

A
1. __ rotary
a. flitch
2. __ wood
b. plywood
3. __ cutting
c. layers
4. __ structural
d. edge
36
5. __ star-shaped
e. adhesive
6. __ phenol-based
f. frame
7. __ tensile
g. cutting
8. __ adjoining
h. veneer
9. __ panelled
i. strength
alder, membrane, laminated, jigs, grain, sheets, plywood, structural, pressure,
softwoods.
Blockboard is a board consisting of a core made of ____ strips and
covered with ____ veneers on both faces, with the ____ perpendicular to the
direction of the strips. According to the veneer species used, blockboards can be
produced from beech, lime, ____ or poplar.
Densified ____ boards are panels obtained by gluing and pressing several
veneer ____, one above the other. This type of boards is obtained at high ____
(over 5 MPa).
Laminated moulded elements are products with a three-dimensional
configuration, obtained by gluing and pressing veneers. They are quite similar to
____, the difference consisting in the shape (other than flat) of the product,
obtained by means of ____ presses or special bending ____.
Summary
- Veneers are thin wooden sheets having a thickness of less than 6 mm, obtained
by rotary cutting or slicing. According to the cutting process, there are: sliced,
rotary-cut and half-rotary-cut veneers. According to their use, there are:
decorative and structural veneers;
- Plywood is a board obtained by gluing and hot-pressing several veneer sheets, so
that the grain direction of one sheet is at an angle to the grain direction of the
sheet above or beneath it. Structurally, there are: standard, star-shaped,
homogenous and mixed plywoods. Functionally, there are: plywood for general
use and special plywood (interior, exterior, aircraft, for railway wagons, etc.);
- Laminates are divided into: blockboards, densified laminated boards, panelled
frames and laminated moulded elements.
37
UNIT 7. Manufacturing technology of veneers and plywood
Objectives
- to describe the manufacturing process and techniques used in producing
veneers and plywood.

Decorative veneers are produced in Romania from home-grown softwood and

hardwood species, such as: silver fir, larch, spruce, oak, maple, walnut, cherry-tree,
pear-tree, alder, ash, elm, beech, etc., as well as exotic species. Due to their
diversity, these are divided into three classes: red exotic species, walnut
substituting species and various exotic species.
The manufacturing technology of veneers includes several operations. After the
logs have been unloaded, they are quantitatively and qualitatively accepted, then
stored, preserved and prepared for sawing. The preparatory operations consist of:
cutting to length, steaming or boiling, debarking and cleaning (sapwood or rot are
removed), flitch preparation.
Decorative veneers are sawn with vertical or horizontal slicers or with special
rotary cutting machines with Stay Log system, which fixes the log or flitch
eccentrically in the lathe. Thin veneers can also be obtained by means of
38
longitudinal slicing.
After cutting, the veneer sheets are dried in the order in which they were cut.
Therefore, plate dryers can be used, as well as belt or roller dryers. To increase air
velocity, modern drying tunnels have been equipped with a series of air tubes with
slit nozzles, the veneer transport being provided by pairs of rollers placed between
two consecutive nozzle-tubes. This piece of equipment is referred to as "nozzletubes roller dryer".
Dry veneers in packages of 12 or 24 sheets are sized with veneer clippers, then
graded according to quality classes and bundled with hemp twine. After that, they
are stored on platforms in storage rooms with a relative air-humidity of 65% and
an air temperature of about 20C.
Structural veneers are usually produced from beech, lime, poplar and softwoods.
After cutting to length, thermal treatment and debarking, the log is fixed in the
rotary cutting machine, which is provided with a centring unit, and then
transformed into a continuous sheet of veneer, which is reeled on a bobbin.
Undersized veneers obtained from non-cylindrical parts of logs, as well as uncut
spindle cores are chipped and used for manufacturing particleboards or as fuel.
The suitable veneers are cut with clippers, in order to remove defects and to obtain
the desired shapes and dimensions. Drying can be performed after clipping,
similarly to the drying of decorative veneers, or before clipping, when the
continuous veneer sheet is unreeled directly into the dryer. In this case, at the "dry
end" of the tunnel the dried continuous veneer sheet exits onto a conveyor, which
carries it to the clipper.
After grading, the veneer sheets with defects are repaired: the defects are removed
by stamping and replaced with patches of appropriate veneer. End splits are
consolidated with gummed paper strips. The repairing of veneers is labourintensive and can be minimised by eliminating the faults while clipping veneers,
even if this leads to a much smaller quantity of complete sheets and a larger
quantity of faultless veneer strips.
The processing of the veneer strips after drying involves edge straightening, glue
spreading and edge-to-edge veneer jointing, using length or cross feeders. Cross
feed machines are preferred, as they are more productive and generate less wood
39
waste. The disadvantage is that they do not allow of the choice of strips which will
form the entire sheet, and this will lead to a lower quality of the board.
In order to obtain plywood, veneers are glued by means of roller spreaders, curtain
glue spreaders or extruders. Veneer packs are formed corresponding to the
thickness of the structure to be obtained. The glued veneer packs are first coldpressed to consolidate the structure, and then they are introduced in multi-daylight
presses by means of elevators.
After pressing, panels are stored to reach a standard moisture content and
temperature. Then they are sized, sanded, graded and stored, ready for delivery or
further processing as sub-assemblies of various furniture products.
B. SELF-ASSESSMENT
What local species of wood are decorative veneers produced from?
Can you name five operations prior to sawing?
What sort of dryers can be used for drying veneer sheets?
What happens to undersized veneers?
When can the drying process be carried out in the case of structural
veneers?
How are end splits consolidated?
What type of operations are involved in the processing of veneer strips?
What is the main drawback of cross feed machines?
passage?
In order to obtain plywood, veneers are glued by means of roller spreaders,

curtain glue spreaders or extruders. ___
The defects of veneer sheets are removed by stamping and replaced with
patches of appropriate veneer. ___
40
After pressing, panels are stored to reach a standard moisture content and
temperature. ___
Decorative veneers are sawn with vertical or horizontal clippers. ___
Dry veneers are stored in rooms with a relative air-humidity of 85%. ___

A
1. __ decorative
a. core
2. __ home-grown
b. slicer
3. __ horizontal
c. veneer
4. __ plate
d. tunnel
5. __ drying
e. species
6. __ veneer
f. treatment
7. __ thermal
g. straightening
8. __ spindle
h. clipper
9. __ edge
i. dryer
feeders, extruders, sheet, spreading, cold, waste, multi-daylight, jointing, roller,
plywood.
The processing of the veneer strips after drying involves edge straightening,
glue ____ and edge-to-edge veneer ____, using length or cross ____. Cross feed
machines are preferred, as they are more productive and generate less wood ____.
The disadvantage is that they do not allow of the choice of strips which will form
the entire ____, and this will lead to a lower quality of the board.
In order to obtain ____, veneers are glued by means of ____ spreaders,
curtain glue spreaders or ____. Veneer packs are formed corresponding to the
thickness of the structure to be obtained. The glued veneer packs are first ____pressed to consolidate the structure, and then they are introduced in ____ presses
by means of elevators.
41
Summary
- The manufacturing technology of veneers includes several operations. After the
logs have been unloaded, they are quantitatively and qualitatively accepted, then
stored, preserved and prepared for sawing. The preparatory operations consist of:
cutting to length, steaming or boiling, debarking and cleaning, flitch preparation;
- Decorative veneers are sawn with vertical or horizontal slicers or with rotary
cutting machines. Thin veneers can also be obtained by means of longitudinal
slicing. After cutting, the veneer sheets are dried in the order in which they were
cut. Therefore, plate dryers can be used, as well as belt or roller dryers;
- Structural veneers are usually produced from beech, lime, poplar and
softwoods. After cutting to length, thermal treatment and debarking, the log is
fixed in the rotary cutting machine and then transformed into a continuous sheet
of veneer, reeled on a bobbin;
- The processing of the veneer strips after drying involves edge straightening, glue
spreading and edge-to-edge veneer jointing, using length or cross feeders;
- In order to obtain plywood, veneers are glued by means of roller spreaders,
curtain glue spreaders or extruders. Veneer packs are formed corresponding to
the thickness of the structure to be obtained.
42
APPENDIX
KEY VOCABULARY
Unit 1. The history of furniture I

alcove platform bed
pat cu alcov
armrest
bra (la fotoliu, scaun)
band (with)
a lega (cu)
bed
pat
bench
banc
built-in
nzidit
carved
sculptat
casket
caset
chair
scaun
chest
lad
chest-on-chest
scrin
clasp
aplic metalic
coat of arms
blazon
cornice
corni
couch
canapea
countersunk metalwork
accesorii ngropate
craftsman
meseria, meteugar
cresting rail
legtura orizontal a sptarului
cupboard
bufet
desk
birou
domed
boltit
duck beak
cioc de ra (ornament picioare scaun)
embellish
a nfrumusea
finial
extremitate decorativ
fitted with
prevzut cu
folding stool
taburet pliant
foliage
frunzi
frame
ram, cadru
43
frieze
friz
furniture
mobil
gabled
n dou ape
glued
ncleiat
hinge
balama
inlaid
ornat, ncrustat
inlay work
ncrustare
iron strapwork
armtur de fier
ivory
filde
lacquered
lcuit
lacquerwork
lemn lcuit
lampstand
lampadar, sfenic
leather strapwork
mpletitur din curele de piele
lid
capac
linenfold
pliseu
lock
ncuietoare
lockplate
paftal
looking glass
oglind
make flush with
a aduce la acelai nivel cu
metal mounts
accesorii metalice
nailed
btut n cuie
pointed arching
ogiv
rail
travers (de mobil)
recline
a sta ntins, a se odihni
relief carving
sculptur n relief
rush
trestie
sabre legs
picioare nsbiate
screen
paravan
seat
ezut
settee
banchet
shelf (pl. shelves)
poli, raft
shield
scut
sliding door
u culisant
sloping back
sptar uor nclinat

44
stile
montant
stitched
cusut
stool
taburet
strap
ching
strip
fie
table
mas
tortoise shell
baga (carapace de estoas)
tracery
motiv decorativ
veneering
furniruire
vermilion
purpuriu
Unit 2. The history of furniture II

acanthus leaves
frunze de acant
adorn
a orna
anthemion/ palmette
ornament de forma unei frunze de palmier
armchair
fotoliu
bed canopy
baldachin de pat
bone
os
bow-shaped
arcuit
brass
alam
cabriole legs
picioare arcuite
capital
capitel
card-table
mas de joc
caryatid
cariatid
commode
comod
console (table)
consol (msu sprijinit de perete)
corn husks
pnui de porumb
corner mounts
aplice de col
drawer
sertar
dressing-table
mas de toalet
ebony
abanos
edge
a tivi
escutcheon/ medallion
medalion
filing cabinet
cartotec, fiier, dulap de acte

45
fluted
canelat
folding table
mas pliant
fretwork
traforaj
fruitswags
ghirlande de fructe
gable
fronton
gilded
aurit
griffin
grifon
intarsia
intarsie
low relief
basorelief
marble slab
lespede de marmur
marquetry
marchetrie
mother-of-pearl
sidef
parquetry
ornamentaie cu parchet
pewter
aliaj de cositor i plumb
pietra-dura work
ornamentaie cu piatr dur
ram head
cap de berbec
reeded
cu rizuri
restraint
reinere
ribbonwork
ornamentaie cu panglici
scroll
cartu
scrollwork
ornamentaie cu cartue
shell
cochilie
table top
tblie de mas
tapered
conic
tripod
trepied
upholstered
tapiat
urn
urn
winged lion
leu naripat
Unit 3. Terminology related to furniture

back panel
panou spate
bed front
capt de pat
bed side
lateral de pat
bed-side table
noptier
46
book-case
bibliotec
bottom panel
plac inferioar
brace
colar (la scaun)
China cupboard
vitrin
crown moulding
coroan (la mobil)
dolly
opritor
double-faced frame
ram dublu placat
drawer
sertar
edge batten
bordur
extendable panel
tblie pentru mas extensibil
framed panel
tblie cu ram
hinged door
u cu balamale
inlaid dowel
cep aplicat
inlaid tongue
lamb aplicat
intermediate panel
plac intermediar
knob
buton trgtor
legged frame
cadru cu picioare
linen chest
lad de aternut
lounge chair
ezlong
moulded panel
panou profilat
moulding
lezen, ipc profilat
overposing tables
mese suprapuse
peg
cuier
plinth
soclu
rcamier
divan
rocking chair
balansoar
roll
rulou
separating panel (wall)
perete despritor
shelf supporting knob
buton suport polie
side panel (wall)
perete lateral
sideboard/ cupboard
bufet
single-faced frame
ram simplu placat
slide
glisier, ghidaj
sliding door
u culisant
47
solid wood panel
tblie din lemn masiv
stile
montant
stretcher
legtur picioare
toilet table
mas de toalet
top panel
plac superioar
transversal rail
travers (la mobil)
veneered panel
tblie furniruit
wardrobe
dulap de haine
Unit 4. Technology of furniture manufacturing

coating
finisare; acoperirea suprafeelor
crosscutting
retezare; tiere transversal
dowel joint
mbinare cu cepuri cilindrice
drilling
burghiere
edge
cant
edge batten
bordur
edge straightening
ndreptare a cantului
edged panel
panou bordurat
edging
tivire
end consolidation
consolidare capete
fence bar
rigl de ghidaj
fibreboard
plac din fibre de lemn (PFL)
finishing
finisare
fusible thread
fir fuzibil
glue spreading
aplicare adeziv
gluing
ncleiere
grooving
frezare uluc
gummed paper
hrtie gumificat
hot-platen press
pres cald
length sizing
debitare la lungime
moulding
profilare
oversize
supradimensiune
particleboard
plac din achii de lemn (PAL)
planing
rindeluire
48
plywood
placaj
push fit
ajustaj cu frecare
rebating
frezare fal
ripping
spintecare
roller glue spreading machine
main de aplicat adeziv cu valuri
rotary milling
frezare cilindric
roughness
rugozitate
sanding
lefuire
sectioning
secionare
shape
a decupa
sizing and trimming
formatizare
smoothness
netezime
straightening
ndreptare
tonguing
frezare lamb
trimming
retezare
veneer
furnir
veneer jointing
mbinare a furnirelor
veneer sheet
folie de furnir
width sizing
debitare la lime
Unit 5. Upholsteries
back linen
pnz pentru dos
bitch
cui scoab
built-in
ncorporat
chipboard
plac din achii de lemn (PAL)
clamp
clem
decorative nail
int cu cap decorativ
dismountable
demontabil
edge cord
nur pentru canturi
elastic (spring) core
miez elastic
fastener
agraf
felt
psl
felt-type mat
covor mpslit
fibreboard
plac din fibre de lemn (PFL)

49
gummed mat
covor gumificat
handle
mner
helical spring
arc elicoidal
hemp twine
sfoar de cnep
horizontal spring
arc orizontal
inter-woven mat
covor interesut
mattress
saltea
mince
a toca
pad
plac spongioas
pillow
pern
plywood
placaj
polyurethane foam
spum poliuretanic
resistance linen
pnz de rezisten
rosette
rozet
sackcloth
pnz de sac
sine spring
arc sinusoidal
spiral spring
arc spiralat
spongy material
material spongios
spring
arc
spring-wire net
plas din srm de arc
staple
caps
stitch
a coase
upholstery
tapierie
upholstery cotton
vat pentru tapierie
upholstery facing
faa tapieriei
upholstery nail
cui pentru tapierie
vegetable fibrous mat
covor din fibre vegetale
wire staple
caps de srm
zigzag spring
arc n zigzag
Unit 6. Veneer, plywood and laminates

adjoining layers
straturi alturate
aircraft plywood
placaj de aviaie
asbestos plywood
azboplacaj
50
bending jig
ablon de curbare
bending strength
rezisten la ncovoiere static
blockboard
panel
cardboard
carton
cased plywood
placaj blindat
decorative veneer
furnir estetic
densified laminated board
plac din lemn stratificat densificat
enamelled
emailat
engraved
gravat
flitch
prism (de lemn)
grain
fibr
half-rotary-cut veneer
furnir derulat excentric (furnir semiderulat)
laminated moulded element
element mulat din furnire
laminates
produse stratificate
melamine-faced
melaminat
membrane press
pres cu membran
overlapped layers
straturi suprapuse
panelled frame
plac celular
ply
strat (de furnir)
plywood for railway wagons
placaj pentru vagoane de marf
reinforced plywood
placaj armat
rotary cutting
derulare
rotary-cut veneer
furnir derulat centric
sliced veneer
furnir tiat plan
slicing
tiere plan
star-shaped plywood
placaj stelat
structural veneer
furnir tehnic
tensile strength
rezisten la traciune
Unit 7. Manufacturing technology of veneers and plywood

belt dryer
instalaie de uscare cu band
bobbin
bobin (de nfurare a furnirului derulat)
boiling
fierbere
clipping
tiere cu foarfeca-ghilotin)
51
cold-press
a presa la rece
conveyor
transportor
curtain glue spreader
main de aplicat adeziv prin turnare
debarking
cojire
dry end (of the tunnel)
capt uscat (al tunelului de uscare)
drying tunnel
tunel de uscare
edge straightening
ndreptare a cantului
edge-to-edge veneer jointing
mbinare cap la cap a furnirelor
extruder
main de extrudat; extruder
feeder
alimentator; mecanism de avans
flitch
prism (de lemn)
glue spreading
aplicare adeziv
grade
a sorta
gummed paper
hrtie gumificat
hemp twine
sfoar de cnep
horizontal slicer
main de tiat plan orizontal
lathe
strung
log
butean
multi-daylight press
pres multietajat
nozzle-tubes roller dryer
instalaie de uscare cu role i duze
plate dryer
instalaie de uscare cu plci
reel
a nfura (pe bobin)
roller dryer
instalaie de uscare cu role
roller spreader
main de aplicat adeziv cu valuri
rot
putregai
rotary cutting machine
derulor
sand
a lefui
sapwood
alburn
sawing
ferstruire
size
a formatiza
slit nozzle
duz
spindle core
rol (de la derulare)
stamping
matriare; tanare
steaming
aburire
52
undersized
subdimensionat
unreel
a desfura (de pe bobin)
veneer clipper
foarfec-ghilotin pentru furnire
veneer strip
fie de furnir
vertical slicer
main de tiat plan vertical
53
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Chefneux, G. et al.
(2000) English for Technical and Business Purposes in Wood Industry.

Braov: Editura Universitii Transilvania.
Ene, N.
(1993) Tehnologia cherestelei. Braov: Universitatea din Braov.
Ene, N., M. Bularca
(1996) Fabricarea cherestelei. Tehnologii moderne, proiectare, utilaje

i exploatare. Bucureti: Editura Tehnic.
Jackson, A., D. Day
(1996) Collins Complete Wood Workers Manual. London: Harper

Collins Publishers.
Pescru, P.
(1982) Studiul lemnului. Vol I. Braov: Universitatea din Braov.
***
(2004) Dicionar tehnic englez-romn. Bucureti: Editura Tehnic.
54

Technical English in Wood Industry: A History of Furniture Styles

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Technical English in Wood Industry: A History of Furniture Styles

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Mihai ION

A distance learning practical course

Universitatea Transilvania din Braov

TECHNICAL ENGLISH IN WOOD INDUSTRY Part 3

Unit 3. Terminology related to furniture

Unit 4. Technology of furniture manufacturing

Unit 6. Veneer, plywood and laminates

Unit 7. Manufacturing technology of veneers and plywood

UNIT 1. The history of furniture I

Time span for study: 2 hours

A. UNDERSTANDING A PRINTED TEXT

An accessible, concise history of furniture usually shows how domestic furniture

What period is considered to be the highest point of achievement in the

What type of legs can be found with klismos chairs?

Why were woods usually laquered in southern Ancient China?

Can you describe the ancient Japanese cabinet?

What were Roman furniture makers experts at?

Can you think of several ecclesiastical motifs used in decorating Gothic

The ancient Japanese cabinet was completely enclosed with small

3. Match the words in column A with those in column B to form collocations

UNIT 2. The history of furniture II

Time span for study: 2 hours

A. UNDERSTANDING A PRINTED TEXT

extravagances. Straight lines re-appeared as basic features. More home-grown

What is intarsia technique? Where did it first appear?

Which are the main features of the Baroque style in furniture?

Name several pieces of furniture to be found at Louis XIV's court?

How would you define the Rococo style?

Name several leading designers in the history of British furniture.

The intarsia technique originated in medieval Italy, and became highly

A Milanese cabinet of drawers is one of the most precious and impressive

Andr Charles Boulle developed special decorative techniques during the

Robert Adams work is characterised by asymmetry and disorder. ___

Chippendale chairs have exaggerated cabriole legs. ___

3. Match the words in column A with those in column B to form collocations

UNIT 3. Terminology related to furniture

Time span for study: 2 hours

A. UNDERSTANDING A PRINTED TEXT

Fig. 8.1. Storing furniture

How can you classify furniture from a functional viewpoint?

What pieces of furniture are used for storage?

Name at least five furniture pieces for sitting.

What sub-assemblies are very common with storage furniture?

Name at least ten constituents of sub-assemblies.

A sideboard is a piece of sitting furniture. ___

An extendable panel is a sub-assembly of storage furniture. ___

The stretcher is a component part of the drawer. ___

Inlaid dowels are simple constituents of the sub-assemblies. ___

3. Match the words in column A with those in column B to form collocations

UNIT 4. Technology of furniture manufacturing

Time span for study: 2 hours

A. UNDERSTANDING A PRINTED TEXT

Furniture can be made exclusively of large solid wood or from sub-assemblies

The specific manufacturing operations of such a sub-assembly are:

a. Processing operations applied to the edge batten (made of solid wood):

c. Processing operations applied to veneer sheets:

final panel length, simultaneously with milling a decorative moulding;

Name at least five processing operations applied to the edge batten.

Which are the processing operations applied to the particleboard panel?

Can you enumerate the processing operations applied to veneer sheets?

Name at least five processing operations applied to the sub-assembly.

What do you understand by surface veneering?

What happens during the edge batten gluing operation?