2: Understanding Wood and Lumber
- Page ID
- 67164
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)- 2.1: Understanding Wood
- This page highlights the unique biological characteristics of wood, detailing its fibrous structure and how properties vary by cutting direction. It covers vital components like bark, cambium, sapwood, heartwood, and growth rings, alongside essential terminology such as density and moisture content. Understanding these factors is crucial for woodworkers, as they directly impact wood manipulation, influencing aspects like cutting, strength, and appearance.
- 2.2: Hardwood and Softwood
- This page explains the distinction between hardwoods and softwoods, emphasizing that these classifications relate to the type of tree rather than the hardness of the wood. Hardwoods, from broad-leafed trees, are typically used in furniture, while softwoods from coniferous trees are popular in construction.
- 2.3: Grain, Figure, and Wood Movement
- This page emphasizes the significance of grain, figure, texture, moisture content, and drying methods in woodworking. It explains how grain affects machining results, while figure represents the visible wood patterns influenced by growth rings. Moisture content is crucial for project stability and wood movement. The section details drying methods like kiln and air drying and outlines cutting techniques—plainsawn, riftsawn, and quartersawn—that yield different grain patterns and properties.
- 2.4: Lumber Surfaces and Dimensions
- This page provides key terminology and concepts for woodworkers, focusing on lumber surfaces and dimensions. It explains how to identify the face, edge, and end of boards, the order of listing dimensions, and the difference between rough and surfaced lumber. Common abbreviations like S2S and S4S are defined, along with the quarter notation for hardwood thickness. The page stresses the need for adequately thick rough lumber to achieve desired final dimensions post-milling.
- 2.5: Lumber Defects and Warp
- This page discusses lumber defects and warping, stressing the significance of inspecting boards before purchase and machining. It outlines four types of warp—bow, cup, crook, and twist—and details common defects like knots and splits, which can affect appearance, strength, and safety.
- 2.6: Buying Hardwood Lumber
- This page covers the intricacies of purchasing hardwood lumber, detailing grades such as FAS, Selects, and No. 1 Common, along with the implications of random widths and lengths (RWL). It contrasts rough and surfaced conditions and offers guidance on board selection based on thickness, defects, and color matching. The importance of buying additional lumber to accommodate waste and dimensional variations is also emphasized.
- 2.7: Board Feet and Lumber Cost
- This page explains board feet as a measurement for hardwood lumber, crucial for estimating material needs and costs. It defines a board foot as 144 cubic inches and details calculations based on lumber dimensions. The section provides guidance on computing board footage for various pieces, emphasizes the significance of considering defects and waste, and encourages practice in calculations and comprehension of the principles involved.


