What is Warp? Warp is defined as any deviation from a true or plane surface, including bow, crook, cup, twist, or any combination thereof. Warp restrictions are based on the average form of warp as it occurs normally, and any variation from this average form, such as short kinks, shall be appraised according to its […]
Continue readingeLearning
Two New Varieties of the SPIB eLearning Courses for Dimension Lumber
The Southern Pine Inspection Bureau is pleased to announce two new varieties of the SPIB eLearning courses for Dimension Lumber. These West Coast and Canadian courses now include lessons, rules reviews, and knot tests for the Light Framing Grades of Construction, Standard, and Utility; as well as Select Structural, and Studs. These lessons are available […]
Continue reading
Retraining Your Lumber Graders in a New Environment
Keeping a competitive edge means training and retraining your lumber graders. You may want to consider a little different approach when new methods or equipment like grade scanners are introduced that requires new skills and/or when employees that were previously trained in a different situation are lost.
Continue reading
Shakes, Checks and Splits in Dimension Lumber
What is the difference between a shake, a check and a split? They are similar in that they all are separations lengthwise in the grain of the wood; however, each has a different origin and a different effect on the grade of dimension lumber. First, let’s look at the definition of each.
Continue reading
Learning to Grade Softwood Dimension Lumber
What is Dimension Lumber? We have all seen buildings being framed with lumber. Do you know what type and grades of lumber are used in this framing process? Sometimes referred to as “dimensional lumber” or “framing lumber”, this wood is the mainstay of the housing industry in the US and Canada. Dimension lumber, as this […]
Continue reading
Total Measurement: Understanding Knots in Dimension Lumber
Have you ever wondered why you observe some large and at times unsightly decayed knots on the surface of your framing lumber? How can this lumber be graded correctly, especially in No. 2 or higher grades? If you do not understand how and why knots in Dimension Lumber are limited, then these knots that appear […]
Continue reading
SPIB eLearning: New Online Grading Courses
The Southern Pine Inspection Bureau is pleased to announce SPIB eLearning. A set of online lumber grading courses to supplement on-the-job experience, classroom training and accelerate education of lumber graders, lumber quality technicians, dealers, and others in the lumber and construction industries.
Continue reading