SPIB Treated Wood Quality Mark OK, we’ve covered a ton of information in our first two Treated Wood Inspection blogs! Essentially, the plant inspection has been completed…records were reviewed, in-plant QC was assessed, product was evaluated for penetration and retention analyses have all been completed and uploaded into the plant’s database.
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What is Wood Grain – Part 2
In our first Blog, “What is Wood Grain’’, (May 12, 2016), we learned that one way the term “wood grain” can be used is to describe the density of the wood as it relates to structural properties of dimension lumber. We learned that the closer together the annual rings are, and the higher the percentage […]
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Behind the Mark – Part 2 – The SPIB Laboratory
The SPIB Laboratory During last month’s Blog, we looked at the Treated Wood Field Inspection Process…so what happens next? As we learned previously, core samples are taken by the SPIB Inspector as part of the routine audit process of a given treating plant and the number of charges to be sampled is based on the […]
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What is Wood Grain
Wood grain is the longitudinal arrangement of wood fibers [1] or the pattern resulting from this.[2] R. Bruce Hoadley wrote that grain is a “…confusingly versatile term…” including the direction of the wood cells (straight grain, spiral grain), surface appearance or figure, growth-ring placement (vertical grain), plane of the cut (end grain, quarter sawn, flat […]
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Behind the Mark: A Look at the SPIB Treated Wood Inspection Process
Inspection Practices for Treated Lumber Products There are many questions about the different treated wood products in our market today. Although there may appear to be many differences in what options to use for your next project, there may be more similarities than you know. Treated wood products must meet very specific quality requirements to […]
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How to Grade Displaceable Knots
Grading Knots Away From the Edge Learning to grade edge knots and combination knots in dimension lumber takes a fair amount of study and practice. These type knots most often limit the grade of a piece. Once the grader has a complete understanding of how these knots are measured and limited it becomes a matter […]
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What Every Dimension Lumber Grader Trainee Should Know
If you are learning to grade Dimension Lumber for the first time, there are some basic facts and skills that you should study and practice before working with your trainer. Following is a list of these along with some tips, and further clarifications of rules that have proven vital to mastering the art of lumber […]
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Lumber Size Categories
This blog is the second in a series of articles intended to provide information about softwood lumber, including grade-marking, design properties, testing, and continued monitoring of the lumber resource. American Softwood Lumber Standard There are several ways to classify lumber which are spelled out in the American Softwood Lumber Standard – Voluntary Product Standard PS […]
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Grade-marks and Grading Agencies
This blog is the first in a series of articles intended to provide information about softwood lumber, including grade-marking, design properties, testing, and continued monitoring of the lumber resource.
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Drying Quality: The Importance of Proper Baffling
Baffles are an integral part of lumber drying. They are used to close off all unwanted openings in the kiln. Such openings are, over the top and underneath the stacks, and around the ends of the cars. Air takes the path of least resistance. So any openings in the kiln, the air will go there […]
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