Pad Sanding
The process of stacking a number of identical workpieces and sanding the entire stack at one time with the disc sander, belt sander, drum sander or strip sander, or by hand. When performing this operation, all workpieces must be held firmly together with clamps, nails, screws or double-stick tape to ensure the accuracy of the operation.
Pad Sawing
The process of stacking a number of identical workpieces and sawing the entire stack at one time with a scroll saw, bandsaw, or jigsaw. When performing this operation, all workpieces must be held firmly together with clamps, nails, screws or double-stick tape to ensure the accuracy of the cuts.
Panel construction
A type of furniture or cabinet assembly that uses stiles and rails as framing to hold floating panels. The frame pieces are grooved to accept the edges of panels and allow them to expand and contract with temperature and humidity changes. A six panel door is a good example of panel construction.
Particleboard
An inexpensive, strong composite material formed by gluing wood chips and sawdust together under high pressure. Usually produced with non-waterproof glues and therefore easily damaged by dampness or direct contact with water. Readily available in thicknesses and sizes comparable to plywood.
Particleboard-core plywood
Plywood that is made by gluing a thin layer of veneer to a piece of particleboard.
Parting
A term used in lathe turning to signify the act of separating or cutting-away a completed workpiece from its adjoining scrap once the turning process is completed. Parting is usually performed with a parting tool.
Pattern
An established shape or design used as a model. When duplicating with the routing system, the pattern is the paper design used in layingout the plywood or masonite template that guides your fixture blank during the fixture-making process.
Phloem
The inner part of a tree's bark that delivers water and other nutrients.
Photosynthesis
A process that plants use to synthesize nutrients from water and minerals using sunlight.
Phylum
A class or group of plants. Phylum is a botanical term used by botanists to classify plants.
Pilaster
A vertical element of an assembly; usually refers to ornate elements of a doorjamb or mantle.
Pilot Bit (Pilot Bearing) also Piloted Bit
A router bit fitted with a bearing above the cutter which rides on the edge of a board or template keeping the bit a fixed distance from the edge. (see Non-piloted bit)
Pilot hole
A hole in a workpiece pre-drilled for a nail or screw; the purpose is to avoid splitting the workpiece when the fastener is driven.
Pin Router
A router that is fixed above a table with its bit point down. A pin in the table is aligned with the bit and used to route the workpiece.
Pins
The thin protrusions of a dovetail joint. See Dovetail joint.
Pitch
Buildup or deposit left on a cutter, blade or bit after milling resinous wood.
Pitch Pocket
A pocket of resinous sap confined within the grain of many conifers.
Pith
The soft core in the center of a tree trunk.
Plain sawn
Lumber that has been sawn so the growth rings run between 0 and 44 degrees relative to the board's face.
Plain-Sawn Lumber
A method of sawing lumber where the log is cut tangential to the growth rings. Also called flat-sawn when referring to softwoods.
Plane
(verb) the process of removing material in thin shavings in order to make it flat, or (noun) a tool for planing.
Plane iron
cutting part of a hand plane.
Planer
or thicknesser. a machine which reduces the thickness of boards.
Plate Joint
A butt joint that is reinforced with a football shaped "biscuit". The biscuits are usually made from compressed pieces of wood, usually birch. When a biscuit comes into contact with glue in the joint it swells creating a tighter joint. Also called a Biscuit Joint.
Plug
Cylindrical piece of wood (similar to a dowel) used to fill a countersunk hole. Some plugs can be sanded flush with a board's surface. Others have a rounded button-like head and are designed to be left unsanded.
Plumb
The state of being in the true vertical plane.
Plunge Router
A router mounted on a spring loaded base. The router can be turned on and plunged down into the workpiece.
Pocket hole
A hole drilled at an angle to hide a screw and fasten two perpendicular pieces.
Porous Wood
Wood with larger than normal pores and vessels
Positive stops
Manufacturer's preset positions on a tool for cutting at specific angles.
Pounds per square inch (psi)
A rating that expresses the amount of air pressure generated by a compressor or required by a pneumatic tool.
Predrill
Drilling pilot holes for screws before running them, to avoid splitting the work piece.
Profile
The shape of a piece of trim as viewed from an end.
Pulp Trees
Small trees and saplings that will be ground to produce paper. Lumber farmers often over-plant their acreage and remove smaller trees for pulp as the crop matures.
Pumice
A fine abrasive powder that is made from volcanic ash. Pumice is used with a a felt block in woodworking to rub out (polish) a finish. (Pumice is also the gritty additive in Lava soap.)
Push Block
A flat, rubber-bottomed "paddle" with a handle on top that is used as a safety device when guiding a flat piece of stock through an operation on a power tool. Generally used when the wide surface of the workpiece rests flat on the table surface during operations. Can be used in combination with a push stick or feather board.
Push Stick
A 10" to 12" long, narrow stick with a notched end that is used as a safety device when guiding a piece of stock through an operation on a power tool. Can be used in combination with a push block or feather board.