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Wood Technology Foundations

Entry Level Assessment Blueprint

Specific Competencies and Skills Tested in this Assessment:

Safety

  • Demonstrate knowledge of proper use, storage, and disposal of hazardous materials following OSHA’s proper safety practices for a woodworking facility
  • Demonstrate knowledge of workplace safety procedures
  • Demonstrate knowledge of personal protective equipment (PPE) used in wood technology
  • Describe safety practices of the table saw and miter saw
  • Demonstrate knowledge of safe use and storage of basic hand tools
  • Demonstrate knowledge of safe use and storage of portable power tools

Machines and Tools

  • Identify proper use and maintenance of measuring, layout, and marking tools (e.g., tape measure, combination square, sliding T bevel)
  • Identify proper use and function of portable power tools (e.g., drill, planers, routers)
  • Identify proper use and function of fastening tools (e.g., Phillip head screwdriver, cat’s paw)
  • Identify proper use and function of hand tools (e.g., crosscut saw, coping saw)
  • Identify proper use and function of the table and miter saws

Design, Measurement, and Layout

  • Describe and identify fractional measurements from a basic plan and assembly drawings
  • Describe rough drawings and sketches
  • Explain a cut list or bill of material from a basic plan and assembly drawing
  • Demonstrate understanding of how to measure accurately to a sixteenth of an inch
  • Identify the difference between both nominal and actual dimensions
  • Demonstrate understanding of how to estimate material quantities in both board feet and linear feet
  • Consider the natural characteristics of grain, knots, and checks when laying out a board

Materials

  • Identify characteristics and applications of coniferous softwoods (e.g., pine, cedar)
  • Identify characteristics and applications of deciduous hardwoods (e.g., oak, maple, poplar)
  • Identify characteristics and applications of engineered lumber (e.g., plywood)

Material Processing

  • Identify the proper cutting process based on grain direction
  • Identify how grain direction affects a material’s strength
  • Understanding kerf and its application to cutting and layout operations

Jointery

  • Identify the types of joints (e.g., butt, miter, dado, dovetail)
  • Prepare stock for use

Assembly

  • Identify and describe the purpose and use of woodworking fasteners (e.g., flat head, screws, putty sticks)
  • Identify and describe the purpose of clamping devices (e.g., bar clamp, spring clamp)

Sanding and Finishing

  • Describe the sanding grit numbering grading system
  • Identify various wood finishes for interior and exterior (e.g., latex, spray-on, oil-based)

Written Assessment:

Administration Time: 2 hours
Number of Questions: 87

 

Areas Covered:

  • 22%  Safety
  • 16%  Machines and Tools
  • 21%  Design, measurement, and Layout
  • 11%  Materials
  •   7%  Material Processing
  •    9%  Jointery
  •    6%  Assembly
  •    8%  Sanding and Finishing

Sample Questions:

Determine the size of a drill by its
A. ampere rating
B. horsepower
C. weight
D. chuck capacity

In what order should the dimensions of stock in a material bill be listed?
A. length, width, and thickness
B. width, length, and thickness
C. thickness, width, and length
D. width, thickness, and length

One of the hardest wood species that is often used for heavy-use items, such as dressers and kitchen cabinets, is
A. cedar
B. pine
C. poplar
D. maple

After cabinets are installed, nail holes on the trim are filled with
A. white glue
B. putty stick
C. sawdust and glue
D. wood plugs

On a random orbit sander, a disc with a grit number of 220 is
A. used for rough sanding
B. rougher than an 80-grit disc
C. smoother than a 400-grit disc
D. used for finish sanding