350 Glossary
medium density fi berboard (MDF): A
manufactured panel made from wood fi bers
and resin that have been processed into fi ne,
uniform particles and bonded together using
adhesive, heat, and pressure. (1)
miter box saw: A type of backsaw usually
used with a miter box, which guides the saw in
making angled cuts. (4)
miter clamp: A type of clamp used for
assembling corner joints. (7)
miter gauge: A device that slides in a slot on
a table saw or other power machine. It is used to
push stock and ensure that a crosscut is made at
the desired angle. (6)
miter joint: A type of joint in which two
pieces that have been cut on an angle are
joined. (5, 7)
miter saw: A type of circular saw designed
for making angled cuts. (5)
model maker: Someone who builds scale
models of products, buildings, bridges, or other
structures. The models are used by architects,
engineers, and designers to show what the fi nal
product will look like. (11)
mortise-and-tenon joint: A joint in which
a rectangular projection (the tenon) fi ts into a
rectangular recess (the mortise). (7)
N
nail set: A small tool with a cup-shaped
tip that fi ts over the head of a nail. Used with a
hammer to drive the heads of fi nish and casing
nails below the surface of the stock. (7)
National Electrical Code (NEC): A set
of standards for the installation of electrical
wiring and equipment. Many communities
include the NEC standards in their building
codes. (2)
National Institute for Occupational Safety
and Health (NIOSH): A federal agency that
conducts research and recommends ways to
prevent work-related injuries and illnesses. (2)
noise reduction rating (NRR): A rating
system for hearing protectors. The higher
the NRR number on the device, the better
protection it will provide. (2)
numerical control (NC): A method of
controlling the movement of machine tools by
instructions stored on tape or some other data
communication medium. (10)
O
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA): A federal agency
that sets and enforces standards for workplace
safety. (2)
on-the-job training: Employee training
done at the workplace while the trainee is
working at the job. (11)
open-coat abrasive: A coated abrasive in
which the abrasive particles cover 60–70 percent
of the backing surface. (8)
open-grained: Wood having fi bers
with holes or pores that are visible without
magnifi cation. (1)
organizational chart: A chart that shows
the various job titles in a business and how they
relate to each other. (10)
oriented strand board (OSB): An
engineered wood product made from thin
strands, fl akes, or wafers of wood. The wood
is mixed with resin and formed into cross-
directional mats. (1)
oscillating spindle sander: A power
sander with a vertical drum that rotates and
also moves up and down. The vertical sanding
drum projects through a horizontal table. (6)
outfeed stand: A stand that supports long
pieces of stock as they leave the table saw or
other machine. Also called a steady-rest or
dead-man. (6)
outfeed table: A table on a jointer or other
machine that supports the workpiece as it leaves
the cutting tool. (6)
ovalhead screw: A screw designed so that
the head is partially recessed into the surface of
the stock. (7)
overarm router: A router fastened into an
arm that extends over a table. The router’s bit
points down. A pin in the table is aligned with
the bit. Also called a pin router. (5)
oxalic acid: A naturally occurring
compound that dissolves in water and is used
to bleach wood. (8)