GRADING LUMBER
L umber grading is a way of evaluating the surface quality of a board according to certain standards, taking into account factors such as the number, size and degree of …
CALCULATING BOARD FEET
Ordering lumber by the board foot Because the board foot is a unit of measurement that offers a standard way of totaling the volume of stock regardless of dimensions, it …
. ORDERING LUMBER
SHOP TIP Carrying lumber by car Transport lumber on your car safely and securely with just a few pieces of rope. Tie one rope to a solid structure in the …
. SELECTING LUMBER
Different grades of lumber can vary widely—even in the same stack of boards. There is no more certain way of getting what you want than selecting the stock yourself.
PORTABLE LUMBER MILLS
T he desire to gain a deeper understanding of wood eventually leads some woodworkers out of the shop and lumberyard, into the woods, and back to the tree itself. By …
WOOD IDENTIFICATION KEYS
C orrectly identifying an unfamiliar wood sample out of thousands of possibilities requires close observation, and a thorough knowledge of wood and its properties. But as a practical matter, the …
EXAMINING A WOOD SAMPLE
Three viewing perspectives The lOx magnification provided by a mag - nifer or hand lens allows you to examine three views of wood’s structure, represented by the hardwood log section …
IDENTIFYING WOOD
Whether you are restoring a piece of furniture made from an unfamiliar wood or debating the authenticity of a particular board with a local lumberyard, a knack for identifying a …
WORKING WITH THE GRAIN
Reading the grain Many woodworking tasks, especially planing, require working in the direction of the grain. You can usually tell grain orientation by running your hand along a board face: …
PROPERTIES OF WOOD
A n experienced woodworker pays close attention to the selection of wood for a project. Every species has unique qualities that can make it ideal for one application but unsuitable …
LUMBER CUTTING METHODS
C onverting a log into lumber requires certain compromises. Most logs are sawn in one of three basic ways. The simplest method squares the log and slices it into boards …
In the sawmill
There are two main types of sawmills: those that use a band saw, and those that use a circular saw. A sawmill is often described according to the type of …
FROM LOG TO LUMBER
B etween the standing tree and the boards you pick off the rack at the lumberyard stands a complex process that requires many people to apply enormous skill at every …
SOFTWOODS AND HARDWOODS
T rees are roughly divided into softwoods and hardwoods, but the terms are inexact: Some hardwoods, such as basswood or aspen, for example, are softer than North American softwoods like …
UNDERSTANDING WOOD
As you strive to improve your mastery of the demanding craft of woodworking, much of your attention will be devoted to learning about tools and the techniques for using them. …
WOODS
S ince I grew up in a family that owned a lumber business, working with wood has been a lifelong interest of mine. While many fellow woodworkers tend to concentrate …
BUYING AND. SELLING WOOD
A s a supplier of hardwoods and fine veneers for the last 20 years, I have been privileged to get to know some of the finest woodworkers in North America. …
ENCYCLOPEDIA. OF WOOD
was exposed to wood identification at an early age while working at our family sawmill in Union County, Tennessee, during the summers. I felt a great deal of curiosity about …
