| > | | | | maple. Good Luck. |
| Milling Lumber: | | | | I have been lucky to find an independant hardware |
| The sawyer is faced with several different options | | | | store in Kamloops that supplies a wide variety of |
| for the way the log is to be cut. Depending on the | | | | domestic and foreign hardwoods. They allow me look |
| species of the log and the desired use for the lumber | | | | through all their stock to choose the best pieces and |
| that get milled off. Two main choices are flat sawn | | | | even will cut a long board in half if that is all I need. |
| and quarter sawn. | | | | Needless to say I value this relationship very high. |
| Flat sawn lumber can be identified by the arcing end | | | | If you aren't lucky enough to find a local supplier then |
| grain and open, flame look on the face of the board. | | | | the next best thing is to order it. I have ordered |
| Flat sawn lumber is the most economical to produce | | | | through a couple different companies when my local |
| and there for is most common. | | | | suppplier doesn't have the stock I need. One is in |
| Quarter sawn lumber is almost exclusively used for | | | | Wisconsin and the other Minnisota. Of course you |
| wood working. With quarter sawn lumber a log is | | | | aren't able to look through the stock and choose |
| milled into quarters, the quarters are then sawn | | | | what you want but most places that provide this |
| perpendicular to the grain. This gives the lumber a | | | | service gaurentee thier stock. |
| unique characteristic with the end grain being vertical. | | | | A few things to be aware of when ordering lumber. |
| The face of the boards show the growth rings as | | | | First make sure you specify whether you want rough |
| alternating light and dark grain lines. | | | | or dressed stock. The main advantage with rough |
| The big advantage to quarter sawn lumber is it's | | | | stock is it give you the flexiblity to dress the wood |
| stability. Although it still moves it is a lot less prone to | | | | as you choose. You aren't limited to standard |
| warping then flat sawn lumber because the grain isn't | | | | dimensions. Rough stock will cost less up front, but |
| subject to radial forces. Depending on what you are | | | | will take some time in the shop to prepare. Plus if |
| building you have the choice of what type of lumber | | | | you don't have all the proper tools for dressing |
| you want to use. | | | | lumber it may be more hassle then it is worth. |
| Buying Wood: | | | | Dressed lumber is going to cost more but for the |
| Soft wood is common and is easy to find throughout | | | | weekend wood worker this may be worth the cost. |
| North America. Almost every lumber retailer carries | | | | I have spent quite a bit of time dressing stock |
| plenty of softwood in stock. When buying DO NOT | | | | before starting a project. If you just want to get to |
| let the attendant in the yard select which lumber you | | | | work then this is probably the best option for you. |
| are going to buy. Go look through the lift and select | | | | Bottom line... If you have access to a lumber yard |
| which pieces you want because there tend to be | | | | that supplies good hardwood and will let you snoop |
| more pieces in the lift that are rejects for wood | | | | through all the stock, then this is probably the best |
| working. | | | | option. If not then you need to consider ordering it. |
| It is a good idea to restack all the boards that you | | | | Before ordering or buying lumber it helps to be fluent |
| rejected while looking through the stack. This keeps | | | | on the terminology used. Hardwood is mostly sold by |
| the rejects from warping and twisting beyond being | | | | the "board foot". 1 Board Foot is equal to 144 cubic |
| useful and will keep the lumber attendant happy. | | | | inches. So, for example a 2"x6"x1' board is equal to 1 |
| Keep your eye out for defects when buying wood. | | | | board foot ( 2in x 6in x 12in = 144 cubic inches). |
| this means looking at all four side of the piece of | | | | For your reference here are standard lumber sizes. |
| lumber before selecting it. A board that looks good | | | | 4/4 (four/quarter) rough = 1" thick board |
| on one side may have wain on the other side, | | | | 5/4 rough = 1.25" thick board |
| something you want to avoid. | | | | 6/4 rough = 1.5" thivk board |
| Hardwoods are a bit trickier to find at a regular | | | | 8/4 rough = 2" thick board |
| lumber yard, especially out here in the west. In British | | | | 10/4 rough = 2.5" thick board |
| Columbia I can go to almost any private sawmill and | | | | 4/4 dressed = 3/4" thick board |
| find spruce, fir or cedar without a problem and pay a | | | | 5/4 dressed = 1" thick board |
| good price for it. Of course all these species are | | | | 6/4 dressed = 1.25" thick board |
| readily available, but try doing the same for oak of | | | | 8/4 dressed = 1. |