Glossary of Wood Terms
Here are some of the commonly used terms on our site. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us or call us at 603-798-5135.
Linear Foot: LF
What is LF in Wood?
LF refers to ‘linear’ or ‘lineal’ foot. Some types of wood are sold at a specific width and “per linear foot”, which means they are priced by the length of the board.
This is in contrast to “per board foot,” which is a volume measure, and can be used to tally lumber of random widths.
Buying by Linear Foot
If a board is priced by the linear foot, multiply the price per foot by the length of the board. For example, if a board measures 1 in.thick x 4 in. wide x 10 ft. long, you would multiply the price per linear foot by 10 (the length of the board) in order to determine the price.
Western Red Cedar A+ Grade
Most of our pricing tables show prices in BF (board foot). Western Red Cedar and Red Norway Pine are examples of a wood product sold by LF (linear foot).
See Board Foot.
Definition: Board Foot
How Is Wood Measured?
Wood comes in so many sizes and shapes that it is difficult to use a single standard method of measure. That is why there is more than one type of measurement system.
‘Board foot’ is a system to measure lumber by volume after it has been cut into boards but before it is smoothed by planing. This lumber is called rough or rough cut.
What is Planing?
Planing can be done either by hand – a woodworker may use a hand plane to make a board smooth to reduce the amount of sanding it needs – or, as in our case, by a motorized machine that smooths the rough lumber into a more precise dimension and ready for finishing.
What is a Straight-line Rip?
Planing is usual done to the top and bottom of a plank. A straight-line rip is done to the sides. This process makes the sides straight so that a woodworker can line it up with their table saw fence.
How to Calculate Board Footage
Thickness (inches) x Width (inches) x Length (feet), then divide the product by 12.
Example: 1″ x 6″ x 10’ divided by 12 = 5 BF
Example: 3″ x 4″ x 16’ divided by 12 = 16 BF
Board footage can also be calculated for smaller pieces, such as turning blanks, as follows:
Thickness (inches) x Width (inches) x Length (inches), then divide the product by 144.
Example: 2″ x 18″ x 18″ divided by 144 = 0.5 BF
How to Calculate Board Footage on Live Edge Wood
Most of our live edge pieces are sold by the Board Foot, and because of the irregular shape of live edge, board foot is an approximation.
To calculate board footage for irregularly shaped pieces, we measure an average of the width, the overall length, and the thickness. We then apply the above formula.
Related Term: see Linear Foot / Lineal Foot.
Quarter Measure
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 then increases in 1/4″ increments, so 5/4 lumber is sawn at one and one-quarter inches, 6/4 lumber is sawn at one and one half inches, and so on.
When surfaced (planed) on both faces, the lumber typically measures approximately 1/4 inch less in thickness as compared to when it came rough from the sawmill. Goosebay’s 4/4 dressed lumber typically measures 13/16 inch., 5/4 is dressed to a full inch, etc.
First and Seconds: FAS
What is FAS in Lumber?
FAS, or ‘Firsts and Seconds’, is the superior “furniture grade” hardwoods. This grade is typically free from (or has a very low allowance for) defects.
However, the wider and longer the lumber, the higher the defect allowance, meaning that there will likely be some defects such as knots, discolorations, etc. When a species has been hit by a disease, such as the current situation with Black Walnut, you are more likely to see defects even in the best grades of the lumber.
First and Seconds at Goosebay Lumber
In some of these situations, Goosebay is able to source a more expensive “premium” grade of the hardwood species. (This premium hardwood designation is not to be confused with the premium grade of pine.) The premium hardwood grade is a further sort of the Firsts and Seconds. This lumber is also sold at a higher price than the Firsts and Seconds.
If Goosebay has sourced premium hardwood lumber, you will find that each individual piece of wood will have been marked PREM to differentiate it from the FAS lumber in the bin.
Rough: RGH
What is “rough” 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.
Does Goosebay Lumber carry rough sawn or rough cut lumber?
Goosebay stocks a variety of rough lumber. Many of our kiln dried FAS hardwoods are stocked in the rough. We typically only skim plane, or leave completely rough, our kiln-dried exotic woods. These woods are typically quite valuable and are left in the rough so that the woodworker has the maximum material to work with.
Goosebay also sells rough green lumber sourced from local logs and sawn in our mill. Species we usually sell in its rough green form are hemlock, pine, and oak (Goosebay also sells kiln-dried oak and pine.) Green lumber is used in exterior applications such as some marine applications or in timber framing where the expense of kiln drying the lumber is either not necessary or undesirable.
Surfaced Three Sides: S3S
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. The other edge is left rough from the sawmill.
This finish allows woodworkers who don’t have access to a joiner to size their lumber with a table saw by placing the ripped edge along the fence of the saw.
S3S at Goosebay Lumber
Some of our softwoods, namely the Western Red Cedar, STK grade, are finished “S1S2E”, meaning surfaced on two edges and one face, leaving the second face rough.
Surfaced on Four Sides: S4S
What is S4S?
S4S is an abbreviation for “Surfaced on Four Sides”. It indicates a finish that renders both faces and both edges of a board planer-finished.
Dressed Four Sides: D4S
What is D4S?
“D4S” or dressed four sides (also referred to as S4S or surfaced four sides) indicates that the materials have been dressed, or surfaced, on all four sides.
NOTE: Dressing will change the actual size of a rough cut measurement. For example, a 4″ x 4″ piece of lumber dressed on four sides will have an actual measurement of approximately 3.5″ x 3.5″.
Smooth One Side and Two Edges: S1S2E
S1S2E indicates that the material has been surfaced on two edges and one face, leaving the second face rough. See S3S.
Quarter Sawn Lumber
What is Quarter Sawn Lumber?
Quarter sawn lumber has been cut through the heart of a log, thus the annular rings are perpendicular or 90º to the face of the board. The result is an extremely stable board that can have spectacular grain patterns (i.e. Ribbon Stripe Sapele or Leopardwood). Quarter sawn lumber is usually more expensive as only a very few boards can be sawn out of a log this way. The grading system will accept 90º-60º ring angle in the board.
Rift Sawn Lumber
What is Rift Sawn Lumber?
A board sawn through the heart of a log is called quarter sawn and the annular rings are 90º-60ºto the face, but as the log is sawn further, the ring- to-face angle progressively flattens. A rift sawn, or rift cut, board has an annular ring angle to the face of 60º-30 º. Rift sawn boards are generally more stable than flat sawn, but do not exhibit any quarter sawn patterns.
Flat Sawn Lumber
What is Flat Sawn Lumber?
A flat sawn, or plain sawn, board has a ring-to-face angle of 30º to 0º. These boards are sawn from the edge of the log and are comprised of the least stable lumber in the log. However, these boards can also be the clearest lumber cut from a particular log. The commonly recognized grain pattern is called “cathedral”, meaning that the annular rings run in “U” shapes on the board face. Unless otherwise specified, most lumber is flat or plain sawn.
Grade D & Better (“BTR”) Pine
This is the pine grade that includes all of the select grades. This grade may allow sound tight knots (STK), but for the most part, this lumber is clear and free of defects.
Better (“BTR”)
When the abbreviation “BTR” is used as a suffix to a grade it indicates that the specified grade is enhanced and includes varying quantities of higher grades.
Premium Grade Pine
This pine grade, formerly known as #2 and #3, has a spread that is fairly broad and allows for knots of various size.
Standard (“STD”) Grade Pine
Also written as “STD”, the pine grade #4 allows for large, red knots and some loose knots. This is the grade most often used in the manufacture of ship-lapped siding.
Tongue and Groove (“T&G”)
“T&G” indicates that the materials are interlocking tongue-and-groove planks.
Edge and Center Bead (“ECB”)
“ECB” indicates that the material’s profile replicates the look of a traditional tongue-and-groove wood plank. The center bead is part of the panel on the board with the tongue and groove pattern matching perfectly to create the repeatable T&G pattern.
Drop (Novelty) Siding
Also referred to as “novelty siding”, drop siding has a similar look to clapboards and is an exterior building siding often with a tongue-and-groove edge, rabbeted, or shiplap joint.
Clear Vertical Grain (“CVG”) Softwood Grade
“CVG” is a softwood term indicating that the materials have a clear vertical grain. Clear meaning that it has no more than the allowed blemishes for the highest grade as determined by the species, thickness, and width of the material. Vertical grain is the softwood description and is the equivalent of “quarter sawn.” CVG boards are the most stable.
Clear Mixed Grain (“CMG”) Softwood Grade
“CMG” indicates that the materials have a clear mixed grain. Generally, the pattern on the face of the board will be the “cathedral” pattern and will indicated that the boards are flat (plain) sawn. CMG boards will be less stable than CVG boards.
STK Softwood Grade: Sound Tight Knot
This grade of wood contains knots and other natural features. The knots are “sound” and will not loosen or fall out.
What is Plywood Grading
Face veneer grades range from “A” to “D”, where A is the finest veneers and D is the lowest grade. Back side veneer is graded from “1” to “4“, where 1 is the highest grade and 4 is the lowest. The face veneers for this type of plywood are “plain sliced”, or cut to look like the face of a board, and are pieced together to form a wide sheet for the face. This grading usually refers to veneer core plywood.
Grade A1 Plywood
What is Grade A1 Plywood?
Grade A1 plywood is of the highest quality and can be used in a project where both sides of the plywood will be seen.
Grade A4 Plywood
What is A4 Plywood?
The A4 grade of plywood has a high face quality and a lower back side quality. It is more economically priced than grade A1 and often used for projects where the back side will not be seen.
Grade B/BB Plywood
This is a utilitarian grade of plywood and is often used where grain quality is less important, painted, or hidden under other materials (e.g. subfloor). It is the highest grade available for Baltic Birch Plywood.
Shop Grade Plywood
What is Shop Grade Plywood?
This is a high grade plywood that has some manufacturing defects but otherwise usable.
What is Shop Grade Plywood Used For?
It is typically used for the interior of cabinets where its defects will not be noticed.
Marine Grade Plywood
This plywood is made with exterior, waterproof glue rather than the interior glue used in other plywood. The lowest grade veneer that can be used for marine grade is “B“, meaning that there will be no serious voids on the surface or within the sheet.
Veneer Core Plywood
What is veneer core plywood?
Veneer core plywood is constructed entirely of alternating layers of wood veneer, including the “core”, or center of the panel. Veneer core is extremely strong compared to MDF and MDF core plywood.
Veneer core plywood at Goosebay Lumber
Most plywood sold at Goosebay is veneer core. Other plywood generally requires a special order.
Medium Density Fiberboard Core Plywood: MDF
What is MDF Plywood?
This type of plywood is made of wood chips and binders that are compressed and baked. MDF is flat, smooth, economically priced, and excellent for painting. However, it does not have the strength of a veneer core plywood.
Does Goosebay Lumber Carry MDF Plywood?
Most of our cabinet grade plywoods are available with an MDF core by special order. Check the Special Orders section of the plywood for availability.
Goosebay Lumber & Sawmill. A family owned and operated sawmill in Chichester NH for over 35 years.