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Lumber GuideBuying by the Board FootSoftwood Lumber Grades Hardwood Lumber Grades Lumber Grading Terms Milling Our Lumber Buying by the Board Foot:Until the late 1800's, lumber was sold by the pound. Under that system, dry boards were less expensive than green wood. So obviously something had to be done. The system of measurement that evolved centers around the board foot, a measurement that covers all the dimensional variables of cabinet-grade lumber, thickness, width, and length. Today, when you purchase this type of lumber, you buy it by the board foot. To do this and also to help you estimate your lumber needs, we have provided you with the formula to figure board footage, below:A board foot, simply, is equal to 144 cubic inches of wood. Think of it as a piece 1 inch thick and 12 inches square. Since board footage is always calculated in quarters of an inch thickness, starting at no less than 1 inch (even if you order less than an inch), a 5/4 board 6 inches wide and 72 inches long would be figured like this: 1.25 (thickness) x6 (width) x72 (length) = 540. Divide 540 by 144 to determine the number of board feet in the stock. If the board length is stated in feet rather than inches, use the same method but divide your total by 12 instead of 144. Board Foot Conversion The following are formulas for converting surface footage to board footage. Inches Thickness (X) Width (X) Length in inches = total-then divide the total by 144 Feet Thickness (X) Width (X) Length in feet = total-then divide the total by 12 Softwood Lumber GradesMost softwood trees are readily recognized by their excurrent form, having a single, tall, straight trunk with small lateral branches.White Pine - C Select - This is the highest NELMA Pine grade. We put our C Select up 6" & wider, 8' and longer. Allows only one sound, tight pin knot (max. 1/2") per 4 surface feet. White Pine - D Select - This is a finish grade admitting a few sound defects which cover smoothly with a paint finish. Material of this grade is best used for natural or stained finished fine woodworking or interior trim. Allowed one sound, tight pin knot per surface foot. White Pine - Finish Grade - A fine appearance knotty grade calling for sound, tight knots. White Pine - Furniture Grade - This is mill run stock with the selects and industrial pulled out. Sometimes called antique white pine. It contains mostly solid, sound, tight knots, suitable for use in Early American style cabinets and furniture. White Pine - Premium - This is a good appearance knotty grade. It is used where a slightly rougher natural appearance is desired. It will give a fine smooth painted surface. Grade from best face. Reverse face shall permit sound characteristics of standard. White Pine - Standard - This is a highly serviceable, general utility grade used chiefly for construction and industrial purposes. It may be used where a coarser rustic decorative appearence is desired. Aromatic Red Cedar - No. 1 Com & Btr - The trees do not grow large; therefore the lumber is often short and narrow and contains many knots. The boards will be one-half or more usable, admitting sound tight knots. Hardwood Lumber GradesMost hardwood trees tend to be dendritic in form, having a trunk that divides and subdivides.Sapwood: Lumber that comes from the outside or the live part of the tree. Heartwood: Lumber that comes from the inside or dead part of the tree. White: Lumber sorted for the white sapwood - usually Hard or Soft Maple. Unselected: Lumber that has a mix of heartwood and sapwood. Brown: Lumber that has been sorted for heartwood - usually Hard or Soft Maple. Imported: Lumber that doesn't grow in the United States. Domestic: Lumber that grows in the United States. Furniture Grade: Knotty White Pine with solid sound tight knots. Flat Sawn: The grain of the wood runs horizontal. Quarter Sawn: The grain of the wood runs vertical. Sel & Btr - This is the top furniture grade, containing the NHLA grades of Selects and First and Seconds. The lumber will range from clear to pieces which will yield just over 80% clear on the good face. Widths must be 4" and wider and lengths 6' and longer, but most of the lumber will be 6" and wider and 8 to 16 feet long. No. 1 Com - This is the middle grade in hardwoods. It contains more bark and knots than the top grade, but each board is two-thirds or more usable. For small projects or when a variety of sizes are to be cut, No. 1 Common is more economical. Widths must be 3" and wider and lengths 4' and longer. No. 2 Com - This is the lowest grade of hardwoods that is normally kiln dried and sold for furniture and cabinet making. Each board must be one-half or more usable. Widths must be 3" and wider and lengths 4' and longer. Walnut & Butternut grades are lower than those for other hardwoods, due to the scarcity of good timber. The widths and lengths will not be as good and the yield will be lower, so plan accordingly. Stained: Lumber that has mineral discoloration or stain due to improper drying. KD: Kiln dried. Lumber which has had most of the moisture removed from the board. BF: Board Foot. The basic unit of lumber measurement, equal to a 1" board that is 12" wide and 12" long. A 1 x 12-10' long contains 10 board feet,as does a 2 x 6-10' long. When figuring board feet, nominal rather than actual sizes are assumed. The abbreviation MBF means 1,000 board feet. Lumber Grading Terms
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