Linear Foot: LF

Phote of Tape Measure on a variety of exotic woods

Some types of wood are sold at a specific width and “per lineal foot” of length. This is in contrast to “per board foot,” which is a volume measure, and can be used to tally lumber of random widths

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Definition: Board Foot

Phote of Tape Measure on a variety of exotic woods

How Is Wood Measured? Wood comes in so many sizes and shapes, it is difficult to find a standard way to measure it. So, there are more than one type of measurement systems. Board Foot is a system to measure lumber by volume after it has been cut into boards, but before it is smoothed

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Quarter Measure

Phote of Tape Measure on a variety of exotic woods

Lumber size is often referred to as 4/4 (pronounced FOUR-QUARTER), 5/4 (FIVE-QUARTER), 6/4 (SIX-QUARTER), etc. This refers to the thickness of the lumber when it is first sawn and in its rough dimensions. 4/4 lumber is sawn in the rough to a full 1 inch. The size increases in 1/4″ increments. 5/4 lumber is sawn

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First and Seconds: FAS

Photo of Hardwood Racks at Goosebay Lumber

FAS, or Firsts and Seconds, is the hardwood grade which includes the superior “furniture grade” hardwoods. This grade is typically free of defects, but some defects are allowed.

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Rough: RGH

Photo of a pack of Leopardwood Exotic Lumber

“RGH” indicates that the specified material is being sold as it came off the saw. It is in its “rough” state. This material is not planer-finished and will have no jointed edges.

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Surfaced Three Sides: S3S

Photo of a pack of Leopardwood Exotic Lumber

What is S3S? The abbreviation “S3S” is a description of surface finish, usually pertaining to hardwood species. It stands for “Surfaced Three Sides”, which, as used in Goosebay’s hardwood lumber descriptions, indicates that two faces have been planed, and one edge has been processed with a straight-line rip saw, rendering the edge straight and smooth.

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Surfaced on Four Sides: S4S

Photo of a pack of Leopardwood Exotic Lumber

What is S4S? S4S is an abbreviation for “Surfaced on Four Sides”. It indicates a finish which renders both faces and both edges of a board planer-finished.

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Quarter Sawn Lumber

SawingLogIntoPlanks

Quarter sawn lumber has been cut through the heart of a log and thus the annular rings are perpendicular or 90º to the face of the board. 

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Flat Sawn Lumber

SawingLogIntoPlanks

A flat sawn, or plain sawn,  board has a ring-to-face angle of 30º to 0º.  These are the boards sawn from the edge of the log and comprise  the least stable lumber in the log.

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