Selecting and Roughing Out Lumber

Kinds of Wood A. Softwood: Comes from evergreen trees, also called “conifers”. B. Hardwood: Comes from broadleaf trees, also known as “deciduous”.

Common Softwoods and Hardwoods Grouped according to hardness Soft Medium Hard Hard Balsa Cypress White Ash Basswood Butternut Beech Cottonwood Douglas Fir Birch White Fir American Elm Black Cherry Ponderosa Pine Hemlock Hickory Western White Pine Limbo Sugar Maple Sugar Pine Magnolia Red Oak Yellow Poplar Mahogany White Oak Spruce Prima Vera Black Walnut Redwood Red Cedar Teak Black Willow Sycamore

In addition to hardness or softness, different kinds of wood will vary in: Weight Strength Color Texture Grain pattern Odor

Selecting Wood For first projects where you will be using mostly hand tools choose softwoods ie.: basswood pine popular willow With experience where you will be using hand and power tools choose medium hard woods ie: firs butternut hemlock red cedar

When your project requires wide widths of stock, consider using Plywood. Advance projects that will be constructed with the use of power tools will make it possible to use hardwoods. oak maple ash hickory

1. Select grades: A to D, with B and better being the highest grades. Grades of Lumber Softwoods Grading: 1. Select grades: A to D, with B and better being the highest grades. C Select: must be clear on one side D Select: may contain pin knots and other defects.

Softwoods Grading continued: 2. Common Grades: #1 Common to #5 Common *most often used as structural lumber 3. Factory and Shop Lumber: #1 shop, #2 shop and #3 shop *most often used for door frames and trim.

Hardwood Grading: Firsts and seconds (FAS): must be 6” by 8’ and yield at least 83 1/3% clear cuttings. Selects: permits 4’ by 6’ with more defects on the back surface. 3. Lower grades are #1 common, #2 common, #3 and “shorts”.

Defects Defects in Lumber usually lower the strength durability and appearance. Common Defects: Knots Encased Intergrown Spiked

Splits and Checks Shake

Pitch Pocket Wormholes Wane

Crook Bow Warps Cup Twist

Size and Surface 1. Softwoods are planed on all surfaces, and sold in specific widths: From 2” to 12” by 2” intervals and In lengths 8’ to 20’ by 2 ‘ intervals Because the planing removes some of the wood, the thickness and width will measure less than the sizes listed.

Hardwoods can be purchased either rough cut or surfaced on both sides. Hardwoods are not cut to any standard width or length. Instead they are sold in random widths and lengths.

Rough and Finished Sizes Softwood Rough cut planed 1x2 ¾ x 1 ½ 1x4 ¾ x 3 ½ 1x6 ¾ x 5 ½ 2x2 1 ½ x 1 ½ 2x4 1 ½ x 3 ½ 2x6 1 ½ x 5 ½ 4x4 3 ½ x 3 ½ Hardwood Rough Planed 3/8 3/16 ½ 5/16 5/8 7/16 ¾ 9/16 13/16 2 ½ 2 ¼ 2 ¾

Plywood Plywood is constructed by gluing together a number of layers (piles) of wood with the grain direction turned at right angles in each successive layer. Faces: the outer piles Cross bands: next layer under the faces Core: inside layer or layers

Plywood layers

Two basic types of plywood -interior: used for cabinets and furniture -exterior: bonded with waterproof glues used in construction Standard panel of plywood is 4’ x 8’ and comes in thicknesses of 1/8” to 1”.

Hardboard and Particle Board Hardboard is made of refined fibers, pressed together to form a hard, dense material. Particle board is made of wood flakes, chips and shavings bonded together with resins and adhesives.

Hardboards and Particle Boards

Figuring Board Footage The unit of measure for lumber is the Board Foot. One board foot is: 1 in. thick and 12 in. square (144 cu. In.) Figuring board footage:all measurements in inches # pieces of wood X height X Width X Length 1 X 12 X 12 Bd. Ft. = 3. For large amounts of lumber, use a board rule.