Wood, the environment, and Man A wide-ranging overview of the state of the primary processing industry, and where it may be going from here. August 10, 2000
Sawing utility poles Is it safe and practical? Advice from those who've done it. August 25, 2003
What is heart pine? History and how heart pine is defined today. October 30, 2003
Twisted timbers Determining the cause of twisting in Douglas fir construction timbers. August 10, 2000
-What is a Board Foot? Explanation and glossary of lumber terms by Professor Eugene Wengert. May 2, 2001
Sawing "Select" Graded Lumber from Tie Logs A discussion of grading standards for "select" hardwood lumber, and whether it's a good buy as byproduct from sawing railroad ties. February 4, 2011
Yield Loss in Ripped-One-Edge Lumber A woodworker who has ordered a delivery of random length and width wood ripped on one edge and surfaced on two sides wants to know how much wood he can really expect to get. April 27, 2007
Treated pine vs. cedar The Wood Doctor offers his prognosis for outdoor projects using cedar and treated pine. 1998.
Sapwood and heartwood Questions on sapwood and heartwood of pecan and hickory, and how-to instructions for quartersawing. April 4, 2001
"Shop-Dried" Versus "Air-Dried" Lumber A discussion of the quality and value of hardwoods that have been stacked and dried in a dry indoor area, but not in a kiln. March 26, 2013
Ways to Estimate or Calculate Board Feet Rule of thumb gets you pretty close, and even methods involving careful measurement are susceptible to basic arithmetic errors. January 11, 2007
Working with Ebony Ebony is a difficult material to source, and quality varies. January 20, 2011
Sourcing Knotty Cherry Lumber A discussion of knots, character, grading standards, and how to find Cherry that looks interesting. August 31, 2010
Worm Holes in Mahogany Worm holes aren't always considered as a defect in Mahogany, but they do leave you wondering whether the critters will come back. July 30, 2007
Substitutes for Mahogany Veneer Maple and birch have different grain structure from mahogany, but some sustainably harvested tropical species may come closer. May 28, 2006
Slippery kiln-dried wood What could make dried wood so slippery that it is difficult to machine? August 12, 2001
Will Ocean Shipping Damage Teak? A sawmiller worries that a load of teak he has ordered from a South American supplier may suffer mold damage en route. The feedback indicates he should relax. December 1, 2005
Tree identification guide Recommended resources for identifying the trees in your region. February 28, 2001
Selling Basswood to Carvers Woodcarvers pay good money for Basswood in the right size and condition. February 3, 2011
Worms in ash Are worm holes in just-bought ash a cause for concern? 1998.
What makes a trailer load? Determining how many board feet of lumber comprise a "trailer load." November 15, 2000
Estimating board footage Most accurate and most accepted methods of figuring BF for lumber. December 17, 2002
Hardwood Supply and Quality The U.S. has large and growing stocks of high-quality hardwood timber, and a limitless supply of ungraded rhetoric. August 8, 2006
Ordering by the Board Foot Clearing up the confusion about lumber quantities and unit conversions. April 14, 2005
Log scale and overrun Different types of scales, formulas and methods of figuring overrun. January 28, 2002
Hiring a timber consultant When selling your woodlot, who should you enlist for help with all the choices you'll need to make? August 12, 2001
Measuring Logs and Lumber Lumber measurement - Professor Gene Wengert clears up questions regarding proper measurement techniques. May 28, 2001
Maximizing Lumber from a Log Can quartersawing produce as much usable lumber as one company claims? January 29, 2004
Plywood Quality Issues An in-depth discussion of quality concerns regarding hardwood plywood, with details on the way various plywood flavors are put together. December 30, 2005
Relating Lumber Grade Selection to End Use Which grade you should buy depends on what you're making. If you're willing to trim, cut, and select, a lower grade may serve your needs well. February 19, 2013
Poplar Siding Advice on using locally sawn Poplar as siding for a house addition. February 14, 2010
Regaining MC in overdry wood Is machinability lost when lumber has been overdried, then had moisture put back in? May 17, 2003
Moisture Content of Western Red Cedar A stable wood that is typically serves exterior uses, Western Red Cedar is usually delivered at about 12% moisture content. But you can find it drier than that. July 28, 2006
Is Tropical Wood Quality Slipping? Writing a detailed spec for the desired quality can help you get the lumber quality you need. October 14, 2009
Mahogany Supply and Varieties More info on what "Mahogany" really means, and information on the availability of various types. April 6, 2007
Evaluating a Shed Full of Boards Advice on a sensible cash offer for a load of Oak that has been in dry storage for 16 years. April 24, 2014
Moisture content for exterior doors Determining the appropriate MC for lumber that will be exposed to vastly different humidity levels. November 14, 2001
Relative densities of various birches The Wood Doctor offers resources for information on the relative densities of birch lumbers, and offers an opinion on plastic laminate. 1998.
Confusing Lumber Term: "Sap and Better?" Experts and wood buyers and sellers discuss the meaning of some obscure lumber grading terms — such as "Sap/BTR" for white-wood Maple. April 20, 2011
Calculating moisture content Using a hygrometer and calculator to determine the MC of kiln samples. September 2, 2002
"Cherry-Picking" Lumber Is it right to select the pieces you like from a stack of boards and leave the rest for the next person? July 24, 2006
Another Wood Identification Puzzle Sycamore? Beech? Mulberry? The forum takes a look at some old wood found in a barn and destined to be made into guitar bodies. January 28, 2013
"China Cedar" -- What Is It? "China Cedar" is a separate species grown in the Far East. However, Cedar logs from America do get sent to China and come back to North America as lumber, complicating the picture. December 30, 2007
Board-Foot Lumber Measurement Confusion A woodworker tries to figure out how to make sure he's ordering and getting the amount of wood he actually needs. January 20, 2010
Buying Lumber at Auction Tips on assessing the quality of air-dried hardwood up for sale at a small auction. October 3, 2009
Dollar Value of a Walnut Burl Walnut burls are extremely rare, but that does not mean they're worth money: the proof is in the sawing.October 26, 2011
Burmese Versus Plantation Teak A quick discussion of Asian and South American varieties of wood marketed as "Teak" July 13, 2010
Air-dried lumber Is it air-dried cherry acceptable for furnituremaking? March 20, 2001
Building with Urban Trees Harvesting and utilizing wood which would otherwise end up in the landfill. February 28, 2004
Best preparation for bent ash Dr. Gene advises a fishing-net maker on the best ways to prepare ash for bending into frames for his products. 1998.
Checking of Dry Lumber Checking occurs when the wood is very wet. Checking that appears in lumber purchased as kiln-dried is a defect. December 8, 2012
Sustainable forestry How sustainable forestry relates to the woodworker and consumer demands. June 3, 2003
Value added defined Many definitions and interpretations are offered up. July 29, 2003
The "Sustainable" Chain of Custody How can a small shop get certification that its wood is sustainably produced, all the way back to the source? June 30, 2009
Quality of Cherry Lumber Cabinetmakers discuss cherry quality, grading standards, and the market. August 17, 2006
What is value added? Forum participants give technical and personal definitions. April 2, 2002
Wood Choice for Reproduction Windows Spanish Cedar, White Oak, and Cypress are options that come to mind for a durable exterior application. and January 23, 2014
Tallying Moldings Suppliers round off piece lengths in different ways. Are you getting the quantities you ordered? May 29, 2005
What the Heck is "Honduran Black Walnut"? Woodweb pros discuss the opportunities, risks, and unknowns inherent in buying lumber from foreign sources at arm's length. September 7, 2013
Stripes in Fir Plywood A cabinetmaker's finisher notices a strange defect in some Fir plywood, probably caused by grain compression that happened at the plywood mill. October 13, 2012
Treated Cypress Options A discussion of surface coatings, preservative treatments, and natural decay resistance of Cypress used for outdoor shutters. July 12, 2008
Wood-Core MDF Panels A quick look at the pros and cons of panels with plywood cores and MDF skins. April 22, 2014
Lumber Tally: Rough Versus Milled When you buy dressed lumber, the quantity is tallied based on the rough board footage, before milling. The "rip-off" percentage can sometimes confuse the buyer. September 27, 2012
Framing Lumber for Planting Boxes A discussion of treated wood, naturally rot-resistant lumber, outdoor exposures, and pests. April 14, 2010
Mahogany Versus Sapele for an Outdoor Structure A long discussion about different flavors of Mahogany, their sources and qualities, and how they compare with Sapele for durability and quality. March 26, 2010
Problems with Chinese Plywood Cabinetmakers report widespread quality and performance problems with hardwood plywood imported from China. May 22, 2007
FOB defined Origins and meanings of the term "freight on board." (Sawing and Drying Forum) March 23, 2003
Locust for Window Sashes? Locust is durable and rot-resistant, but it's not stable or easy to machine — so probably not the best choice for window parts. January 23, 2014
Fortune Teller: Making More Money in the Wood Industry Wood Doctor Gene Wengert makes some educated guesses about the near future in the wood products industry, and offers some advice about how wood-based businesses can profit from change. April 15, 2013
Markups on Building Materials Lumberyards charge low markups on basics like wood and drywall, but high markups on accessories, tools, paint, et cetera. June 11, 2012
Picket Fence Lumber Selection A discussion comparing the pros and cons of treated wood, second growth Cedar, and other wood species for use in a fence. December 1, 2010
Alternatives to Cumaru for Cabinet Work A client want cabinets made with Cumaru, a Brazilian hardwood. But the cabinetmaker is looking for a more practical species to substitute. Here are a few ideas. December 31, 2012
Defining Quarter-Sawn and Rift-Sawn There are both formal and informal definitions for "quarter-sawn" lumber. Here, cabinetmakers and the Wood Doctor discuss the fine points. July 5, 2006