Fire ScarFire Scar

Fire Scar with datesFire Scar with dates

Fire scarsFire scars

Cross section of a Rocky Mountain juniper (Cross section of a Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorumJuniperus scopulorum) snag found in ) snag found in El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico (it's about 3 feet across) El Malpais National Monument near Grants, New Mexico (it's about 3 feet across) This tree had a pith date of 256 BC and an outer ring of about AD 1320, making This tree had a pith date of 256 BC and an outer ring of about AD 1320, making

this tree nearly 1,600 years old when it died!this tree nearly 1,600 years old when it died!

A cross section from a white spruce (A cross section from a white spruce (Picea glaucaPicea glauca) that was struck by a ) that was struck by a snow avalanche (impact scar on the left side of the section) in the snow avalanche (impact scar on the left side of the section) in the

Canadian Rocky Mountains near Alberta, CanadaCanadian Rocky Mountains near Alberta, Canada

This is the "Bannister Tree," a Douglas-fir (This is the "Bannister Tree," a Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesiiPseudotsuga menziesii) which ) which has an inside date of about 200 B.C. and an outside date of about A.D. has an inside date of about 200 B.C. and an outside date of about A.D.

550.550.

This ponderosa pine tree (This ponderosa pine tree (Pinus ponderosaPinus ponderosa) was growing alongside a ) was growing alongside a stream in Pine Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern stream in Pine Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern

Arizona. The impact scar on the right was from a flood. Notice the resin Arizona. The impact scar on the right was from a flood. Notice the resin behind the scar and how the tree leaned to its left after it was struck by behind the scar and how the tree leaned to its left after it was struck by

the flood water.the flood water.

A cross section of a giant sequoia (A cross section of a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteumSequoiadendron giganteum) showing a ) showing a remarkable release in growth (notice the wider rings that start in the remarkable release in growth (notice the wider rings that start in the

middle of the photo) following a widespread and intense fire in A.D. 1297middle of the photo) following a widespread and intense fire in A.D. 1297

A close-up of a cross-section of a giant sequoia (A close-up of a cross-section of a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron Sequoiadendron giganteumgiganteum) showing numerous fire scars and the growth patterns that ) showing numerous fire scars and the growth patterns that

resultedresulted

Increment BorerIncrement Borer

Fire scarFire scar

SELECTING SELECTING WOOD & LUMBERWOOD & LUMBER

KINDS OF WOODKINDS OF WOOD

Softwood comes from needle Softwood comes from needle leaf, evergreen trees called leaf, evergreen trees called conifersconifers

Hardwood comes from Hardwood comes from broadleaf trees that lose their broadleaf trees that lose their leaves each fall season, leaves each fall season, called deciduous trees. Kinds called deciduous trees. Kinds of Woodsof Woods

Softwood typesSoftwood types

White pine Easy to work with, straight

Yellow pine Wear resistant and tough

Fir Light, straight, and strong

Redwood Excellent decay resistance

Cedar Light and easy to split

Spruce Light, straight, strong and resonant

Uses of Softwood TypesUses of Softwood Types

White pineWhite pine – shelving, – shelving, interior finish, exterior interior finish, exterior trim, and door framestrim, and door frames

Yellow pineYellow pine – benches, – benches, stairs, where semi-hard stairs, where semi-hard surface is desiredsurface is desired

FirFir – framing members, – framing members, siding, sheathing, and siding, sheathing, and gatesgates

RedwoodRedwood – posts, – posts, fences, patios, and fences, patios, and sidingsiding

CedarCedar – fence posts, – fence posts, sills, and shinglessills, and shingles

SpruceSpruce – aviation and – aviation and musical instruments musical instruments

HARDWOOD TYPESHARDWOOD TYPES

Oak Tough, strong, and open-grained

Walnut Beautiful, brown, open grain

Maple Very durable and light-grained

Mahogany Grain is straight to interlocked, texture is medium to coarse and uniform

Birch Straight, close grain and a fine, even texture

Hardwood IdentificationHardwood Identification

OAK

MAPLE MAHAGONY

BIRCH

WALNUT

Uses of Hardwood TypesUses of Hardwood Types

OakOak - used in floors, - used in floors, interior finish, barrels, interior finish, barrels, furniturefurniture

WalnutWalnut – used for fine – used for fine furniture, boat building, furniture, boat building, clock casesclock cases

MapleMaple – used for floors, – used for floors, interior finish, furniture, interior finish, furniture, and guitar necksand guitar necks

MahoganyMahogany – is used for – is used for fine furniture, boat fine furniture, boat interiors, pianos, interiors, pianos,

Birch Birch – used for surface – used for surface veneer on cabinets and veneer on cabinets and doors, Furniture, high-doors, Furniture, high-grade joinery, high-grade joinery, high-grade plywoodgrade plywood

THE BASIS OF THE BASIS OF LUMBER GRADESLUMBER GRADES

Examples of Lumber Grades. These would be on the wood at time of purchase.

DEFECT VS. BLEMISHDEFECT VS. BLEMISH

A Lumber defect is an irregularity in or on the A Lumber defect is an irregularity in or on the wood that reduces its strength, durability, or wood that reduces its strength, durability, or usefulnessusefulness

A Lumber blemish is a defect that impairs only A Lumber blemish is a defect that impairs only the wood’s appearancethe wood’s appearance

Common Lumber DefectsCommon Lumber Defects

Knots Knots HolesHoles SplitsSplits ShakesShakes Pitch pocketsPitch pockets

Honey combingHoney combing WaneWane DecayDecay Blue StainBlue Stain WarpWarp

Basic Lumber GradesBasic Lumber Grades

Select – Select – Grades A & B Grades A & B

suitable for natural suitable for natural finishesfinishes

Grades C & D are Grades C & D are suitable for paint suitable for paint finishesfinishes

Common – Common – Common #1, 2, and 3 Common #1, 2, and 3

are suitable for use are suitable for use without wastewithout waste

Common # 4 and 5 Common # 4 and 5 are suitable for use are suitable for use permitting wastepermitting waste

Factors to Consider when Factors to Consider when Selecting LumberSelecting Lumber

Quality construction does not require that all Quality construction does not require that all the lumber be of the best gradethe lumber be of the best grade

Several grades of lumber may be appropriate Several grades of lumber may be appropriate in a single structure in a single structure

Good economical construction requires the Good economical construction requires the proper use of the lowest grade lumber suitable proper use of the lowest grade lumber suitable for the purposefor the purpose