Consolidated jargon buster

jvsteenb

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Oct 26, 2008
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363
I really like this forum, and the fact that the majority of the members - and thus the posts and subjects - are oriented to the NA part of the world doesn't really bother me - it's actually nice to see how things are done on the other side of the pond, and how the regulations in the US and Canada differ completely from the regulations I have to comply with, even though they're all more or less geared towards a common goal.
Although I'm not a native speaker, that doesn't bother me either, for I'm quite certain my English is at least on par with your Dutch, with a few exceptions ofcourse.

But I keep stumbling over some obscure woodworking terms wich I'm sure are very clear to the lot of you, but keep me in the dark most of the times.

I mean: what the h*&% is a window sash as opposed to a window frame ? Or a door jamb ? A newel ?
I have a vague idea what most of these things are, but I guess it's time for some serious jargon-busting.

In my country, we have specific contractor/carpenter/woodworker jargon as well, and as small as this country is, it may even be diversified between different regions. I have little problems with that, I even consider it a piece of tradition that should be preserved - but then again I DO like to know what everyone is talking about.

So I would like to like to pleed for a

"Consolodated list of GC/Carpenters/woodworker terms" in the spirit of the very useful list of Festool Links by Forrest Anderson.
Per term, a small explanation, preferrably with  some sketchup work or maybe a photo would be great.

However useless, I'm willing to supply the accompanying Dutch terms to my knowledge, and I guess there might be members from other countries to chime in as well.

Just a thought.

Regards,

Job

 
Job,

I won't even attempt a complete list, but in general...........

Window frame: mounts to/in the wall,... contains the sash(es)
Window sash: is movable part of the window.

Door jamb is the finished (mounted) frame of a door.
a newel is a railing 'post', which hand rails & bottom rails attach to
 
jvsteenb said:
...I keep stumbling over some obscure woodworking terms wich I'm sure are very clear to the lot of you, but keep me in the dark most of the times.

I mean: what the h*&% is a window sash as opposed to a window frame ? Or a door jamb ? A newel ?
I have a vague idea what most of these things are, but I guess it's time for some serious jargon-busting...

So I would like to like to pleed for a

"Consolodated list of GC/Carpenters/woodworker terms" in the spirit of the very useful list of Festool Links by Forrest Anderson.
Per term, a small explanation, preferrably with  some sketchup work or maybe a photo would be great.

However useless, I'm willing to supply the accompanying Dutch terms to my knowledge, and I guess there might be members from other countries to chime in as well.

I quite agree, and have been thinking of creating a List of Terms/Glossary for some time now.

Not only will it help people living in different countries understand what is meant, it'll also help members who are new to woodworking and who haven't yet learnt the terms that are used in their own country. So as well as listing the various names that are used for the same thing, it'll also have photographs.

I see the list including:

Types of manufactured wood and building materials. For example, MFC is melamine-faced chipboard, so there will be photos to show what it looks like, a few common trade names in various countries (eg Cotiboard), and some links to useful sites.

Various names for architectural terms commonly found in woodworking and DIY. Baseboard is often talked about in the forum, but in the UK I'd never heard of it before I started participating in forums. It turns out that over here it's called skirting board, and is the trim, perhaps 4" to 9" wide and 1/2 to 3/4" thick, that runs along the bottom of walls.

I see the Glossary as having lots of photo (since they are so easily understood and overcome language barriers), so we may well create a special folder in the FOG Gallery to hold them.

I have quite a lot of various materials I can photograph myself, but I would be asking members to submit photos to the Gallery.

Let me have a think about this, and I'll post again with some expanded ideas, and hopefully some instructions so that FOG members can contribute terms and photos from all over the world!

Well done, Job! I think you might have put into motion a very interesting and useful project, and when the time comes, I'll certainly be asking you for some Dutch words!

Forrest

 
Job,

That is an interesting suggestion.  Might be a fun exercise.

 
I've got some Sketchup models that might be helpful to better understand the terms. I'll work on modifying them and post images here as time allows.

Here's the first, Newel: structure, or post, used to support or attach handrails for stairs.

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Baluster/spindle: member that supports handrail.

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You guys are my heroes!

As I promised, I'll fill in the Dutch terms to my knowledge:

Window frame:  raamkozijn
Window sash: raam
Window: venster    Note: though not technically correct, in most cases "raam" is used as a substitute.

Door jamb: deurkozijn ( If I understood it correctly - thats where the pictures come in handy .... )

Newel: (hoofd-) baluster.  Sometimes called hoofdpost or trappost

Ofcourse it's still rather useless in this form, but I suspect there might be something VERY useful sprouting from this...

Regards,

Job
 
Here are a few more.

Door jamb: frame that door attaches to.

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Stringer: framing members that support stairs.

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Tread:horizontal member of stairs
Riser: vertical member of stairs

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Run: length of stairs
Rise: height of stairs

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This is fun ! Thanks Brice, your sketchups are as superclear - as always.
Dutch translation:

Stringer: keepboom when the threads protrude ( as in the sketchup ), trapboom when they're enclosed.

Thread: trede

Riser: stootbord

Run: val

Rise: traphoogte

The horizontal distance between ( the front of ) two threads: aantrede

The vertical distance between ( the top of ) two threads: optrede

Keep 'm coming !

Regards,

Job
 
How about some roofing terms.

Roof truss: framing members assembled in a triangulated fashion, , used to construct a roof. Trusses are often prefabricated.

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Hip Roof: all side slope downwards towards supporting walls.

Hip: outside intersection of a hip roof.

Valley: Inside intersection of hip roof.

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Hip roof framing.

Ridge rafter or beam: the uppermost point where tow roof planes intersect.

Rafter: sloped framing members.

Common rafter: full length rafter, spans from wall to ridge.

Hip rafter: long rafter that extends from outside corner walls to ridge rafter to form the hip.

Valley rafter: long rafter that extends from inside corner walls to ridge rafter to form the valley.

Jack and valley rafters: these are shorter rafter that extend from supporting wall to the hip or valley rafter.

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Wow! the gloves come off.... [wink]

I'll try to fill in to my knowledge.

Roof truss: dakspant

Hip roof: schilddak

Hip: ? "(buiten)hoek" is used

Valley: ? "binnenhoek" is used

Ridge rafter or beam: nokbalk

Rafter: spoor

Hip rafter: Hoekkeper

Jack and valley rafters: Halfspant, halfspoor.

The central upstanding part in a full truss: koningsstijl or makelaar

Regards,

Job

 
I LOVE THIS THREAD!!!! - Thanks very much guys. I always had an idea that my terminology was right but now I KNOW!
Thanks again, this is great!
 
One i think is unique to Scotland "Dwang"  A horizontal strengthener that is fitted between studs usually half way up between the floor & ceiling.  In England they are called "Noggins".  Jeez, the construction industry comes up with some strange names  [embarassed]

Woodguy
 
Here that is called Blocking.  Usually required if the wall framing is 10 feet tall or taller.  It also serves in interior walls as a way to prevent a fire from using the wall interior - Wall Cavity - as a tunnel.

Blocking is generally short pieces of wood installed inside the walls for a purpose - spacing, attachment of items such as finish hardware, etc.

Peter
 
great idea and tread...

it 's going to get a little chaotic but what the heck.

some (Belgian)Dutch translation

roof:
    Hip: noordboom that would translate back as "north tree"
    Valley: kiel
    The central upstanding part in a full truss: priemstijl

stairs:
    Run: sprong that would translate back as "jump"

windows:
    Window sash: raam vleugel that would translate back as "window wing"

Well then, the tread is already three days old. We have two languages being translate back and forth.  So I think it's fair to conclude that on the whole planet there are only two languages being spoken. Dutch and English!

Or am I jumping to conclusions to fast here? [big grin]
 
Well, you might be...

So far, I see at least 4 language colums : English (NA), English (UK), Dutch (BE) and Dutch (NL) .  But perhaps NA should be divided into CA and US ?
Judging from the posts I read those could easily be expanded with : English (AUS), French, German, Swedish.
And what about Spanish? Rumour has it groups of people exist here and there speaking Spanish.... [cool]

Regards,

Job
 
And California can be divided into Northern and Southern California.

California = freeways, Eastern US =highways
Northern California=101 (as in 101 freeway), I5 (Interstate 5)
Southern California = The 101, The 5 (Interstate 5). For some reason S.Cal folks need an extra "The" in the freeway names

Being totally off the topic

yours etc

Vijay
 
As an Englishman working in France can I put in a request for some French terms please?  Maybe the Canadian Festoolers can help?
I was on site yesterday and asked to make some built in cupboards out of M?l?ze.  No problem I said (thinking what the hell is that)  The helpful guy at the timber merchant where I went to get a quote - 150 euros a cubic metre - looked it up on the internet and told me its Larch.
As for all regular jargon - I seem to forget as many words as I learn.

Richard.
 
Late to the party, but just want to say the glossary is a great idea....
(especially for noobs like me who are still trying to tell our rails from our stiles) :)
 
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