Fire Scar

Fire Scar with dates

Fire scars

Cross section of a Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) snag found in El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico (it's about 3 feet across) This tree had a pith date of 256 BC and an outer ring of about AD 1320, making this tree nearly 1,600 years old when it died!

A cross section from a white spruce (Picea glauca) that was struck by a snow avalanche (impact scar on the left side of the section) in the Canadian Rocky Mountains near Alberta, Canada

This is the "Bannister Tree," a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) which has an inside date of about 200 B.C. and an outside date of about A.D. 550.

This ponderosa pine tree (Pinus ponderosa) was growing alongside a stream in Pine Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. The impact scar on the right was from a flood. Notice the resin behind the scar and how the tree leaned to its left after it was struck by the flood water.

A cross section of a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) showing a remarkable release in growth (notice the wider rings that start in the middle of the photo) following a widespread and intense fire in A.D. 1297

A close-up of a cross-section of a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) showing numerous fire scars and the growth patterns that resulted

Increment Borer

Fire scar

SELECTING WOOD & LUMBER

KINDS OF WOOD KINDS OF WOOD Softwood comes from needle leaf, evergreen trees called conifers Softwood comes from needle leaf, evergreen trees called conifers Hardwood comes from broadleaf trees that lose their leaves each fall season, called deciduous trees. Kinds of Woods Hardwood comes from broadleaf trees that lose their leaves each fall season, called deciduous trees. Kinds of Woods

Softwood types White pineEasy to work with, straight Yellow pineWear resistant and tough FirLight, straight, and strong RedwoodExcellent decay resistance CedarLight and easy to split SpruceLight, straight, strong and resonant

Uses of Softwood Types White pine – shelving, interior finish, exterior trim, and door frames White pine – shelving, interior finish, exterior trim, and door frames Yellow pine – benches, stairs, where semi-hard surface is desired Yellow pine – benches, stairs, where semi-hard surface is desired Fir – framing members, siding, sheathing, and gates Fir – framing members, siding, sheathing, and gates Redwood – posts, fences, patios, and siding Redwood – posts, fences, patios, and siding Cedar – fence posts, sills, and shingles Cedar – fence posts, sills, and shingles Spruce – aviation and musical instruments Spruce – aviation and musical instruments

HARDWOOD TYPES Oak Tough, strong, and open-grained WalnutBeautiful, brown, open grain MapleVery durable and light-grained MahoganyGrain is straight to interlocked, texture is medium to coarse and uniform BirchStraight, close grain and a fine, even texture

Hardwood Identification OAK MAPLE MAHAGONY BIRCH WALNUT

Uses of Hardwood Types Oak - used in floors, interior finish, barrels, furniture Oak - used in floors, interior finish, barrels, furniture Walnut – used for fine furniture, boat building, clock cases Walnut – used for fine furniture, boat building, clock cases Maple – used for floors, interior finish, furniture, and guitar necks Maple – used for floors, interior finish, furniture, and guitar necks Mahogany – is used for fine furniture, boat interiors, pianos, Mahogany – is used for fine furniture, boat interiors, pianos, Birch – used for surface veneer on cabinets and doors, Furniture, high- grade joinery, high- grade plywood Birch – used for surface veneer on cabinets and doors, Furniture, high- grade joinery, high- grade plywood

THE BASIS OF LUMBER GRADES

Examples of Lumber Grades. These would be on the wood at time of purchase.

DEFECT VS. BLEMISH A Lumber defect is an irregularity in or on the wood that reduces its strength, durability, or usefulness A Lumber defect is an irregularity in or on the wood that reduces its strength, durability, or usefulness A Lumber blemish is a defect that impairs only the wood’s appearance A Lumber blemish is a defect that impairs only the wood’s appearance

Common Lumber Defects Knots Knots Holes Holes Splits Splits Shakes Shakes Pitch pockets Pitch pockets Honey combing Honey combing Wane Wane Decay Decay Blue Stain Blue Stain Warp Warp

Basic Lumber Grades Select – Select – Grades A & B suitable for natural finishes Grades A & B suitable for natural finishes Grades C & D are suitable for paint finishes Grades C & D are suitable for paint finishes Common – Common – Common #1, 2, and 3 are suitable for use without waste Common # 4 and 5 are suitable for use permitting waste

Factors to Consider when Selecting Lumber Quality construction does not require that all the lumber be of the best grade Quality construction does not require that all the lumber be of the best grade Several grades of lumber may be appropriate in a single structure Several grades of lumber may be appropriate in a single structure Good economical construction requires the proper use of the lowest grade lumber suitable for the purpose Good economical construction requires the proper use of the lowest grade lumber suitable for the purpose