1. HARDWOOD LUMBER

2. CROSS SECTION OF A TREE

3. GRADING HARDWOODS
Hardwood lumber is graded on the basis of the size and # of cuttings which can be obtained from a board.
What things might limit the number and size of cuttings?
Splits
Knots
Bark
Rot

4. GRADING HARDWOODS
Better grades yield larger proportions of the board in a few large cuttings
Lower grades yield smaller proportions of the board in a large number of small cuttings

5. How Lumber Is Sold Rough S2S (Surfaced two sides)
S4S (Surfaced four sides)
Rough lumber starts at 1” thick
Lumber thickness is expressed in quarters

6. Lumber Expressed in Quarters
Thickness
Rough
Surfaced
AWI 1”
4/4
13/16”
(3/4 “) 11/16”
1 1/4”
5/4
1 1/16”
(1”) /16”
11/2”
6/4
1 5/16”
(1 1/4”) 1 3/16”
1 3/4”
7/4
1 1/2”
(1 3/8”) 1 ¼” 2”
8/4
(1 1/2”) 1 ½”

7. 1” 11/16” 2” 1 ½” 3” 2 ½” 4” 3 ½” 5” 4 ¼” 6” 5 ¼” 8” 7” 10” 9”
NOMINAL WIDTH
FINISHED WIDTHS OF S4S 1”
11/16” 2”
1 ½” 3”
2 ½” 4”
3 ½” 5”
4 ¼” 6”
5 ¼” 8” 7”
10” 9”

8. Physical Characteristics Of Wood
Sapwood – The light colored living wood near the outside of the tree.
Heartwood – The central part of the tree
*An unlimited amount of each allowed in the clear face.
Stains – Allowed if removable by surfacing.
Mineral Streaks – Allowed in the clear face.

9. Physical Characteristics Of Wood
Sticker Stain – Not permitted
Season Checks – Checks in wood not deep enough to be visible in the finished product
Burl – A swirl or twist in grain usually near a knot. Allowable as long as it has a sound center

10. Physical Characteristics of Wood
Warp – Any variation of the true plane of the board
Types of warps
Bow
Crook
Cup
Twist
Kink
The Dreaded Combo

11. Physical Characteristics of Wood
Boards must be flat enough to be surfaced two sides

12. Physical Characteristics of Wood
Boards must be flat enough to be surfaced two sides

13. Physical Characteristics of Wood
Shake – Lengthwise separation of wood along the growth rings
(Not permitted on the clear face)
Pith – Spongy core at the center of the tree (Not permitted on the clear face)

14. Physical Characteristics of Wood
Wane – Bark or lack of wood
(Not permitted on the clear face)
Splits – Lengthwise separations
Decay- Also called rot or dote

15. Grading Hardwood Lumber
Standard Grades
FAS (Firsts and seconds)
FAS 1F (Firsts and seconds one face) #1 common on poor face
Selects
#1 Common
#2 Common
#3 common

16. Grading Hardwood Lumber
Yields needed to make grade
FAS – 83 1/3%
#1Common – 66 2/3%
#2 Common – 50%
#3 Common – 33 1/3%

17. Grading Hardwood Lumber
How do you determine yield?
Determine the species
Determine the surface measure (width” x length’)/12
Determine the poor side of the board
Assign a “trial” grade to the poor face, based on your estimate of clear wood
Determine the number of cuttings permitted in the trial grade
Determine the clear face cuttings needed (SM x the multiplier for the grade)

18. Grading Hardwood Lumber
Calculate the total area of clear-face cutting units on the poor face.
If the board does not yield sufficiently, try the next grade down.

19. Example: Trial Grade FAS
Determine Surface Measure
(12 x12)/12 = 12

20. Example: Trial Grade FAS
2. Assign a “trial” grade to the poor face, based on your estimate of clear wood FAS
3. Determine the number of cutting permitted.
12/4 = 3 cuttings

21. Example: Trial Grade FAS
4. Determine the minimum size of cuttings
4”x 5’
3”x 7’
5. Determine the clear face cutting units needed. 12 x 10 = 120 units. 83 1/3%

22. Example: Trial Grade FAS
Cutting #1 6” x 7’ = 42 cutting units
Cutting #2 6” x 6 ½’ = 39 cutting units
Cutting #3 8” x 5’ = 40 cutting units
Total > 120 ok

23. Example: Trial Grade No 1. Common
Determine SM for board
Determine the clear-face cuttings needed
Determine the minimum size of cuttings
Determine the number of cuttings allowed
Calculate the total area of clear-face cutting units
Compare answer to cutting needed

24. How Lumber & Veneer Is Cut
ROTARY (Panel Products Only) $
PLAIN SLICE $$
RIFT CUT $$$
QUARTER SAWN $$$$

25. HOW LUMBER IS CUT

26. HOW LUMBER IS CUT

27. Break Time

28. PANEL PRODUCTS

29. PANEL PRODUCTS

30. PANEL PRODUCTS

31. PANEL PRODUCTS

32. PANEL PRODUCTS

33. PANEL PRODUCTS

34. PANEL PRODUCTS
Veneer Grade – Describes the natural and other characteristics allowed in the veneer. Appearance defines grade
Face Grade
Back Grade
Veneer Grade

35. PANEL PRODUCTS AA GRADE – The best quality face grade for high end use
A GRADE –Where AA is not required but excellent appearance is important
B GRADE – Where the natural characteristics and appearance of the species are desirable
C, D & E GRADES – Provide sound surfaces but allow unlimited color variation

36. PANEL PRODUCTS BACK GRADES
Back grades are designated by numbers:1, 2, 3 & 4
Requirements of grade 1 are the most restrictive, with grades 2, 3 and 4 being progressively less restrictive.

37. PANEL PRODUCTS VENEER INNER PLY GRADES
Four inner ply grades are within the following letter designations : J, K, L & M
J is the most restrictive allowing minimal size openings. K, L and M are progressively less restrictive.

38. HOW VENEER IS CUT

39. HOW VENEER IS CUT

40. HOW VENEER IS CUT

41. HOW VENEER IS CUT

42. PANEL PRODUCTS
MATCHING

43. PANEL PRODUCTS

44. PANEL PRODUCTS

45. PANEL PRODUCTS
MATCHING WITHIN INDIVIDUAL PANEL FACES

46. PANEL PRODUCTS

47. PANEL PRODUCTS

48. PANEL PRODUCTS

49. OTHER PANEL PRODUCTS INDUSTRIAL PARTICLE BOARD Low Density
Medium Density
High Density
MDF – Medium density fiberboard
MELAMINE – High density particle board or mdf with water based resin sheet covering fused with heat, adhesive and pressure
POLYESTER –Same as melamine except oil based sheet covering

50. OTHER PANEL PRODUCTS Core Types Fir Core Pine Core Wheat Core
Soy Core (New)

51. OTHER PANEL PRODUCTS
VINYL
PAINTED HARDWOOD
MASONITE

52. OTHER PANEL PRODUCTS
THICKNESS
1/4”
3/8”
1/2”
5/8”
3/4” 1”

53. OTHER PANEL PRODUCTS
WIDTH AND LENGTH
4’X8’
8’X4’
4’X10’
4’X12’