| The first time you go to a hardwood dealer can be | | | | must be at least 6" wide and the poorer of the two |
| pretty intimidating. It can be like stepping into a | | | | faces is used to grade it. |
| foreign country where they speak a different | | | | FAS 1-Face: First and Seconds One Face. Similar to |
| language. Here's an example: You walk into the | | | | FAS except the better face is graded instead of the |
| lumber warehouse and you think you've died and | | | | worst. It must also be 6" wide. |
| gone to heaven. Wood as far as the eye can see. | | | | Select: Select is No. 1 Common on one face and FAS |
| Every conceivable species just waiting to go home | | | | on the other. The board must be at least 4" wide |
| with you. This alone can make your head spin. While | | | | and like FAS 1-Face, the better face is graded. The |
| you're picking your chin off the floor an employee | | | | price between the first three grades can be very |
| comes up and asks if they can help. You come to | | | | similar depending upon the dealer. |
| your senses and and finally spit out that you're | | | | No. 1 Common: This grade is often times just called |
| looking for some walnut. "Well," he says, "do you | | | | No.1 or Common. This is still furniture grade material |
| want that FAS, Select, No. 1 Common? What size do | | | | but more defects are allowed than the previous |
| you want it, 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, or 8/4? Do you want it | | | | grades. Poorer side is graded and must be 3" wide. |
| air dried or kiln dried?" And you thought your head | | | | No. 2A Common: You can still get short to medium |
| was spinning before! What language is this guy | | | | size pieces that are furniture grade material. Poorer |
| speaking, "lumbernese"? | | | | side is graded and must be 3" wide. |
| Armed with the right information you can avoid this | | | | No. 2B Common: Much the same as 2A Common. |
| scenario altogether. Lumber has its own grading | | | | No. 3A Common: Worm holes are allowed in this |
| system that the United States and Canada uses that | | | | grade, other wise the same as 2B Common. |
| is set by the National Hardwood Lumber Association | | | | No. 3B Common: Used in pallets and crates, graded |
| (NHLA). This association was formed in 1897 to | | | | on the soundness of the board rather than defects. |
| standardize hardwood grading because before each | | | | ____________________________________ |
| mill had their own grading system (and you thought | | | | The thickness of hardwood lumber is measured in 1 |
| the example above was confusing). | | | | 4" increments. The measurement is taken before the |
| The grading of hardwood is based solely on the two | | | | board is surfaced. Expect to have to take off at |
| faces of a board, and how wide it is, the thickness | | | | least 3/16" - 1/4" in thickness to get a smooth flat |
| of the board doesn't come into play. When grading | | | | surface on both sides. Remember to take this into |
| hardwood lumber the worst side (face) of a board is | | | | consideration when buying stock for a project. |
| usually used to grade that board (sometimes the | | | | 4/4 = 1 inch |
| best face is considered). There are eight grades of | | | | 5/4 = 1 1/4 inches |
| hardwood lumber. | | | | 6/4 = 1 1/2 inches |
| FAS: First and Seconds. This used to be two | | | | 8/4 = 2 inches |
| separate categories but was combined many years | | | | __ |
| ago. FAS is the best grade of lumber meaning that it | | | | Armed with this information you can confidently walk |
| has the largest percent of clear area over all the | | | | into your hardwood dealer and talk "lumbernese" with |
| other grades for this species of wood. And as you | | | | the best of them. |
| would guess it's also the most expensive. A board | | | | |