| Once you know if you're going to use softwood or | | | | for the C and better Select grade lumber. Other |
| hardwood for your cabinet building project, now you | | | | good choices would be Common "knotty" pine No. 2 |
| should get acquainted with the grades of wood and | | | | and No.3. Watch out for Common boards marked |
| how to pick them. The many different species of | | | | Construction or Standard-and-Better. They would be |
| wood are all cut into lumber and are graded on a | | | | fine for utility shelves, but you might not want them |
| scale. This scale varies from the best to the worst. | | | | for your kitchen cabinets! For the final test, let your |
| The top grade (therefore the most expensive!) can | | | | eye be the judge. What you see and like is what you |
| be almost flawless, while the bottom grades may be | | | | should use. |
| virtually unusable. Each board has defects and this is | | | | To make matters even more complicated, some |
| how the lumber is rated. | | | | kinds of lumber species have their own grading! |
| When making cabinets, you need to decide on which | | | | Typically, the Redwood and Idaho White Pine fall in |
| grade is the lowest acceptable for your application. If | | | | this area. Redwood is categorized in this descending |
| a natural finish is desirable than purchase the | | | | order of the quality of the lumber: Clear All Heart, |
| top-grade lumber, but if you plan on painting your | | | | Clear, B Grade, Select Heart, Select, Construction |
| cabinets, you can purchase a lower grade lumber. | | | | Heart, Construction Common, Merchantable Heart and |
| Remember the old saying "paint makes it what it | | | | Merchantable. Idaho White Pine is categorized in this |
| ain't?!" Well, it's true; paints can hide a lot of defects! | | | | order: Supreme, Choice, Quality, Sterling, Standard |
| If you're going to use softwoods, which are the | | | | and Utility. Wow! What a selection! |
| easiest woods to work with in making cabinets, then | | | | If you have your heart set on using hardwoods, you |
| you'll need to choose the appearance-graded boards. | | | | should know that they're graded a little differently |
| The two main grades of the appearance boards are | | | | than softwoods. The number of defects in a given |
| Select (or Clear) and Common. Each of these grades | | | | length and width of the board are considered. The |
| also has sub-grades beneath them. The lumberyard | | | | best grades are the First, Seconds and then there is |
| also sells "dimension lumber", which is graded for | | | | a mix of these two which are called "FAS". These |
| strength, but you probably will want to use the | | | | boards are clear wood at least eight feet long and six |
| appearance-graded lumber. The dimension lumber is | | | | inches wide. |
| usually used in house framing because of its strength, | | | | Your eye should be the final decision on buying your |
| but it is also used in woodworking where extra | | | | lumber. You know what type of wood would look |
| strength or thickness such as bookshelves is needed. | | | | good in your kitchen or den. Remember that the |
| Use a "Select Structural", as this is the top of the line | | | | wood you buy is the starting point or your project! |
| in this category. | | | | The workmanship remains in you hands! |
| If you want wood with no knots and is flawless, look | | | | |