Understanding Lumber Identifying Materials Al Borland Name that

Understanding Lumber & Identifying Materials Al Borland, Name that wood http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=O 2 K 6 P 8 Dblu. Q

Objectives • Explain the difference between hardwood and softwood tress • Identify the common terms associated with the surfaces and dimensions of lumber • Identify defects within a piece of lumber • Identify the various parts of a tree that lumber is cut from and their terminology • Explain the difference between various grades of lumber

Softwoods vs. Hardwoods • Softwoods – Conifers – Many bear cones and needles • Hardwood – Deciduous – Shed their leaves • This classification can be confusing since many hardwood trees produce a softer wood than some softwoods

Wood also varies in… • Weight • Strength • Color • Texture • Grain pattern • Odor

Surfaces and Dimensions Surfaces The surfaces of a board are referred to as the end, face and edge. Dimensions The dimensions are given for the length, width and thickness. 4/4, 5/4, and 6/4 ? Material will often be listed like this, it simply means that the thickness of the material is measured in quarter of an inch increments, hence 4/4 is one inch thick, 8/4 is two inches thick.

Lumber Dimensions • S 4 S - This means that the material is finished on all four sides, for example what we refer to as a 1 X 4 was a piece of rough sawn material 1" thick and 4" wide and is reduced to 3/4" X 3 1/2" when run through a planer.

Lineal Ft. vs. Board Ft. • Lineal Foot – Lumber priced by the linear foot means that you pay for each running foot of the material, prices will increase proportionately for wider or thicker material. • Board Foot – One board foot equals 144 cubic inches of material. To calculate board feet multiply the width in inches by the thickness in inches by the length in inches and divide by 144. – The advantage to suppliers is that only one price has to be given for each grade and species of material since length and width are covered in the volume calculation.

Board Feet The chart below gives the board feet in various lengths and widths of material one inch thick, for thicker material multiply by the thickness of the material, always round the thickness up to the next whole inch.

Annual Rings and Shrinkage

Grades of Lumber • Depends on the size of pieces and amount of clear cuttings that they contain • Softwood is divided in to three size classifications – Boards, Dimension lumber, and Timbers – Each size classification has several grades within it

Review • What is the difference between a hardwood and a softwood tree? • What is the difference between heartwood and sapwood? • How does lumber change when exposed to moisture or dried? • What is the difference between lineal feet and board feet?

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