Question 1

What joints are used in flat-frame construction at National 5?

Accepted Answer

A flat frame (such as a picture or door frame) is built with four or more joints at the corners. Common frame joints are the corner halving (each piece notched to half its thickness so they overlap), the mortise and tenon (a tongue fitting a slot, one of the strongest), the dowel joint (glued dowels in drilled holes) and the corner bridle (an open mortise). These joints resist the frame being racked out of square, unlike a plain butt joint, which is too weak to use alone for a frame corner.

Question 2

What joints are used in carcase construction at National 5?

Accepted Answer

A carcase (a box such as a storage box or small cabinet) is built with four or more joints. Common carcase joints are the housing (a groove that takes the end of a shelf), the rebate (a step cut so corner boards overlap), the corner dovetail (interlocking tails and pins, the strongest corner) and the reinforced butt (a butt joint strengthened with dowels, glue blocks or screws). A base or back panel, often plywood, is set into a rebate or groove to keep it flush and to square and stiffen the box.

Question 3

What machine and power tools are used in National 5 Practical Woodworking?

Accepted Answer

Common powered equipment includes the pillar (bench) drill for accurate vertical holes, the sanding machine (disc or belt) to smooth surfaces, the jigsaw to cut curves, the power or cordless drill to bore holes and drive screws, the router to cut grooves, rebates and housings, and the wood lathe for turnery (shaping round items such as table legs and bowls as the work spins). All powered tools must have guards in place and be used only after training, with the work secured and PPE worn.

Question 4

How is a timber surface prepared before finishing?

Accepted Answer

The surface is first planed (and if needed scraped) flat and smooth to remove saw and machine marks, then sanded with abrasive paper, starting with a coarser grade and working through finer grades. Sanding is always done along the grain, because scratches across the grain show through the finish, and skipping grades leaves marks. Finally all dust is removed with a brush or cloth so the finish goes on cleanly. Good preparation matters because a finish makes every scratch more obvious.

Question 5

Why is a finish applied to a timber product?

Accepted Answer

A finish such as varnish, wax, oil, stain or paint is applied for two main reasons. The first is protection: it seals the surface against moisture, dirt and wear, so the timber does not absorb water, stain or rot and the product lasts longer. The second is appearance: it adds colour, gloss or sheen and brings out the grain, and can make the surface smoother, more hygienic and easier to clean. Protection is the main functional reason and appearance is the second.

Question 6

What is the difference between a flat frame and a carcase?

Accepted Answer

A flat frame is a flat, two-dimensional structure such as a picture frame or door frame, made by joining rails and stiles at the corners with frame joints. A carcase is a three-dimensional, box-like structure such as a storage box, drawer or small cabinet, made by joining boards at their edges and corners with carcase joints and usually fitted with a base or back panel. National 5 requires four or more joints in each, and the joint types chosen differ between the two.

SQA National 5 Practical Woodworking: construction and machining - flat-frame and carcase joints, machine and power tools, and finishing

What this area actually demands

Flat-frame construction

Carcase construction

Machine and power tools

Surface preparation and finishing

How this area is assessed

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