Lumber

Lumber is the name used, generally in North America, for wood that has been cut into boards or other shapes for the purpose of woodworking or construction. For a different use of the word in Britain, see lumber room.

Classifications

Rough lumber comes from the sawmill without further cutting or shaping. It is usually sold in random lengths and widths and measured in the USA in board feet, a unit of 1 foot × 1 inch × 1 foot. It is available air-dried or kiln-dried. Air-dried lumber is carefully stacked and allowed to dry for several months, depending on thickness. It is used for some outdoor purposes, such as building sheds and fences. Kiln-dried wood is stacked and dried in moisture- and temperature-controlled kilns built for the purpose. It is then ready to be used for furniture-making or other woodworking uses.

Related Topics:
Sawmill - Board feet - Kiln

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Finished lumber is usually kiln-dried then planed and cut to predetermined sizes, primarily for use by the construction industry. When using Imperial measurements, the widths given are from before planing, whereas the piece actually sold is smaller; a 2×4 for example is actually only 1½ by 3½ inches after planing. Other stock is sized similarly. The lengths are actual sizes and are multiples of 2 feet. Sizes from 8 to 16 feet (8, 10, 12, 14, 16) are commonly available, and larger sizes (18, 20, 22, 24) are sometimes available. When using metric measurements, lumber is measured in actual sizes.

Related Topics:
Imperial measurements - 2×4 - Inch - Feet - Metric

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the United States, timber is cut in the forest in 24 foot lengths. At the mill it is recut into 3?8 foot lengths, an 8 foot and a 16 foot length, a 10 foot and a 14 foot length or 2?12 foot lengths.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Lumber is also used to refer to plywood and other composite wood products.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~