As a certified "old guy" and long time woodworker I knew most of the things you explained, but I enjoyed the heck out of watching and listening as you walked us through the process and revealed all of those "behind the scenes" processes that most people have never been exposed to. Once again: A sincere thank you for allowing us along on this wonderful experience.
You don't realise how much work and planning goes into working out the best way to cut the wood .also how much work you put In before you can think of starting to build the wheels 👍👍👍👍👍
I'm a computer scientist. I write software. I know nothing about the hardwood trade or any of this nomenclature, but I follow your work because you make amazing things. I also learn quite a bit watching your videos.
Actually, those are Dave's and are about 20 years old. The FFA put those out on Main St for a few years and took them away for the winter, but the they left them one year, so Dave took them into the shop and has been doing so every year since.
Wow! I had completely no idea about this hardwood lingo. Again, you educate, train, and explain with clarity the nuances of your trade. You are a great American.
Excellent explanation of rough-sawn lumber. Like you said, most people (clients) do not understand when you have to account for waste for many reasons. Thanks.
I spent my career as a writer and editor. I had no idea about the intricacies of hardwoods. Thanks for your explanations; you'd have made a good teacher. I'm not sure I understand all of it, but I know more than I did before watching your video. Well done, Dave! Well done!!
Thanks for sharing with us about the dementions Dave. It's no wonder I had such a hard time at a sawmill. They finally asked me what finished size (I) was wanting and they cut accordingly and I finished out close to the dementions I was wanting. I would have been sadly disappointed if they hadn't seen that I didn't know about store bought sizes and sawmill sizes. I had to get the board stretchers out on someboards but it all worked out in the end. You're doing a fantastic job around there and we really appreciate your sharing with us. Stay safe up there. Fred.
The practice of measuring ‘by quarters’ must be a peculiarly American one. We here in Australia certainly don’t use it, and I have only ever come across it in an American context.
That looked like a good days work, and think of all the great firewood you made too! LOL Can you imagine when this work was done all by hand..? Well I guess that’s why guys like yourself would have had apprentices 😊 Cheers from Tokyo!
I always enjoy your videos! Some day I'll go west and stop in to see you. Fellow wood-worker here who finds is completely relaxing to watch you work, Thank you Sir!
As a woodworker hobbyist, I knew the majority of the terms and forgotten a few of them since I only use certain types of woods and cuts. One thing many tend forget about woodworking of any kind, never cut right on the line. Easier to remove access material, can't add it back. Love that old table saw of yours. Not many top quality tools around any more, not trashing today's tools but, just not the same quality. Many thanks for sharing. Great video as always, cheers :)
You just never know when you cut into wood what you will find. I like watching the sawmills at tractor shows for that reason, it can be interesting seeing the grain of the wood and if there are any knots or hidden defects.
It’s interesting how each profession has its unique language. Sometimes I think we should all write a translation of our professional language into English.
Back in the late 50’s early 60’s I built some kitchen cabinets for my widowed mother, I used a timber yard who would cut to size and finish. I was really confused by the way they calculated the cost, I was charged for the wood before machining not what I walked away with. It was quite some time later that I was able to understand the logic, up to my enlightenment I was under the impression that I was paying over the odds and they were taking advantage of a young lad. Over time I became very close with the company and had a long relationship with them until I moved across the country to where I am now, and had to find a new supplier. Thirty years on and I’m still with the same company I found. Long term relationships are very important especially when you want something a little different and special. I would sometimes take a box of doughnuts in with me for the boys, a little oil always helps!
Dave, I appreciated the explanations on the hardwoods, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! So many of us city folks who watch your artistry in motion definitely have a far better understanding, at least I do! You most definitely accomplished the task you set out to do! Tom in Ceres
I didn't know any of that info you threw at us and guess what I still don't know any of it that I could talk about to someone that does and it would make me look stupider than I really am, but I did enjoy hearing your wealth of knowledge on the subject and in the end that's all that matter, as always enjoyed the show...your fan...
great video, always enjoy being invited in your shop, lots of lumber info,you have a real big pile of wedges built up there on the floor,really impressed with that saw
Thanks for explaining so clearly the wood coding.... I've always had to plead ignorance of the whole sale of hardwoods 😂😂😂 so thanks I probably will review this video a few times 😂😂😂😂
And… don’t even get me to start talking about checks, warp, twist and bow! Hardwood makes strong and beautiful projects… but it will deflate your wallet if you don’t select good wood! Thanks Dave, you got it right on the lingo!!!!
Worked as a trucker at a sawmill and when I wasn’t delivering lumber worked in the planer shed. I helped grading lumber and stacking it. Like the way you described grading Dave. 👍
Really enjoyed you going over the jargon associated with hardwood. I will be purchasing some soon and now I have a better understanding of what to ask for. Thanks
That was a very good tutorial on the hardwood lingo. It can be pretty confusing when you first start working with hardwoods but after a while it is just everyday language. Being efficient in working with the raw material can be frustrating trying to reduce the waste. Thank you for a great video.
Thanks for the explanation Dave. It is worthwhile to know how the lumber is graded. Those wheels are going to be massive. Looking forward to seeing you assemble all the pieces to make the wheels. Stay safe.
My family farms and has a few wooded properties. Used to have a sawmill but sold it. Now ive been chainsaw milling oaks that would have never fit on the saw mill anyway. I started watching your videos because I build windsor chairs and liked your steam bending videos. A lot of oaks i sometimes split by hand using wedges since i end up with higher quality lumber. Thanks for the info.
Excellent explanation of wood grades and types, I never really thought about there being a huge difference between soft and hardwoods. I do like a real (full-size) 6x6, 4x12, etc. Thank you, Diane, and Dave. Jim, Portland, Oregon.
At the lumberyard, an employee remarked that not even the professional woodworkers know this. I was astounded so I went on to ask the head yarder. He concurred. The gal at the wholesale desk said the same. Difficult to believe. So it is that Mr. Engels is providing valuable instruction.
I am a relatively long term follower of Dave and thoroughly enjoy ALL his videos. I have learned a lot from his experiences !! BTW Dave, what happened to the hotel you were remodeling ? Can I see something from your video library.....?
I read somewhere that hardwood lumber grading and terminology was developed with large furniture factories in mind, repetitively cutting out mass produced furniture parts. So a self taught local craftsman making one off projects is often mystified by the wholesale lingo.
@@dianeengel4155 Thanks for your reply !! Oh, great !! I'm glad it's still a 'work in progress'. I'd hate to think I missed his on-going repairs to the hotel !! I really enjoy ALL his projects !! He's such a perfectionist, as you know !! Blessings to you ALL !!
Nice work , I appreciate your efficiency in making multiples , I have done similar projects where you make multiples of the same piece , you have to stay sharp and pay attention or accuracy and quality suffer. You handle it with exceptional ease!
I remember my Grandfather trying to explain board feet to me. My response was "I don't need to know that because I buy lumber like 2x4 2x6". And you would know, the first time I went to a lumber mill they asked me "How many board feet of red oak do you want?".
Thank you for sharing what it takes to cut out all these custom pieces. I also appreciate your sharing that some pieces have flaws that make it unsuitable for its intended place. Some might look and see those small cracks and knots and think - well there is still a lot of good strong wood on that piece. In reality these spokes are like links in a chain. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and a wheel is only as strong as its weakest spoke.
It’s not just hardwood that is graded that way Dave. Softwood is also sold and graded the same as hardwood if you’re not buying nominal dimensional lumber. You can still buy 12 or 16 quarter and bigger softwood for post and beam timber framing.
I have a very rudimentary understanding of lumber sizing, grading, etc., so very much enjoyed this video and it will certainly be viewed several times (in case you give us another quiz!). I wonder how many viewers saw (or how many missed) the quick image of the potted flowers outside the shop? …
Thanks for explaining the Hardwood nomenclature's. I don't do much wood working in the summer, but once cooler weather sets in I try to so some!! I have hardwood supplier close to me and it's nice to know what to ask for!!
Love your videos and they make us all smarter. I had a few pieces of 2x12 dimensional pressure treated lumber, very dry, and when I cut it on my little table saw it went all twisty and wonky. What? Wood is alive, even when it is not. Thank you for the info!
In the shop where I work, we often buy rough hardwood lumber in larger sizes and resaw it to smaller dimensions. The upside is that we can make whatever we need from large pieces. The downside of that is that resawing releases some of the tension in the wood, which can be much worse with kiln dried material than with air dried material. Also, the surface of a large piece may be much drier than the center, but resawing exposes the damper part and triggers uneven drying, so one straight piece may turn into two pieces curved in opposite directions! This is why it is important to store lumber flat (not standing vertically) with spaces between boards, so that they can acclimate without warping or twisting. I like to put the best material on the bottom of the stack so that the lesser lumber on top will hold it flat.
Thank you for a excellent and concise explanation of utilizing hardwoods with all the various possibilities. The other part always holds true, too - essentially 12 x 12 x 1 =1 board foot - how hardwoods are sold. Dimensional softwoods explanations are dead-on, too. IF, and I repeat "IF" you are lucky enough to find any truly old grown 2 x 4's, mostly pre-1950's, they will measure 2 x 4 sand nothing "nominal" about them.
My two older brothers are shop teachers, and you share this knowledge can help them in the classroom. My question is, are you doing anything more on the mud wagon? 😊
Here in the UK, we have a different language. We also have a different language for hardwoods. Before the fashion for waney edge (live edge) slabs came along for tables and desks etc., waney edge timber boules (that’s a pack of timber often representing the whole trunk after it has been sliced by the mill) had to be much, much cheaper than the processed square edged boule. That’s because the waste involved in converting a waney edge slab (from a potentially not straight trunk) into square edged boards is enormous. Logic also dictates that wide boards are much more expensive than narrow boards because of the large potential waste in conversion. We were also looking for boards which were relatively free from faults such as checks and knots because, in our work, those faults meant we had to cut around and, again, waste. Now, mills are able to command very high prices for a “character” waney edge board. That is, in our parlance, curved, checked and full of pips. Great for the current fashion but bad for us. So, now, square edged boards, particularly in species like oak, are cheaper per cubic metre (which is how we buy) than those waney edge character boards. That doesn’t mean that square edge stock has dropped in price - it remains much more expensive than pre-Covid, but that waney edge are 4 or 5 times the cost of, say, 10 years ago. All this waste costs. If I have a waney edge board that cost £100; I might get usable timber of less than £60. There will be waste on both sides plus the ends plus the thickness if I have to take out any winds (twists) in the board. In addition, I have paid a guy to do the conversion. You will see in large stores pieces of furniture made up entirely of stave wood. Converting trunks into staves (say 12” x 2” x 1”) is a very economical way (very little waste) of converting trunks into usable wood. Less waste equals cheaper per board foot. Plus, these staves are often made from timbers grown in East Asia, timbers that are not native to our countries, and processed in those countries. That is part of the reason why pieces unique in design and size (made to measure) are so much more expensive than pieces made in factories. If you are happy to have a piece made of staves of uneven colour and grain, then these pieces are much cheaper. Actually, if you want to get superbly built pieces, made from full length timbers with beautiful grain, then try your local auction house. These pieces will be cheaper to buy and have an increased value in 30 years time (unlike the stave pieces which will have the value of firewood). Sure, the pieces bought in auction may not be in the latest fashion of design but fashions come and go. What you will have is a piece to be inherited and not laughed at. I’m sat here looking at a superb circular, hinged top, table made from Cuban mahogany. It’s quality and grain are just divine. Cost me less than £100. I’m looking at an 1810 long case clock in oak which also cost me less than £100. An oval yew table, much more contemporary in design, less than £60. All this is interspaced with pieces that I have made over the last 45 years. Many different styles; an esoteric mix but all have one thing in common (I hope) quality.
As a lumber grader I will say that you did a good job! Great video! That is nice material you got. With the price of material these days I have become a fan of Cut-List Plus software and the Cut-List Linear apps to cut and control waste.
My dad talked using a pegboard to calculate doard ft as it came off their mill. My dad and my grandfather sawed all the lumber for their new barn it burned down a month later, so they started over building another one . 1928, I think.
Hardwood flooring is usually random length. Sometimes a client will not want a lot of shorts, these get put aside. If you can get some it makes an ideal surface for a workbench. A 30" deep bench with an end joint here and there works fine. Dad built his that way, and 40 years later I did that with my own bench.
@EngelsCoachShop: Seeing all that sawdust made me think that maybe you ought to get a small Pelletizer and turn all that saw dust into Fuel pellets for your stove (or any other stove you've got). The Pellets also make great Animal bedding in Barns. Feed pelletizers are essentially the same thing and may work with sawdust. Just a thought.
As a certified "old guy" and long time woodworker I knew most of the things you explained, but I enjoyed the heck out of watching and listening as you walked us through the process and revealed all of those "behind the scenes" processes that most people have never been exposed to. Once again: A sincere thank you for allowing us along on this wonderful experience.
If when you listen and view one of your videos you don't learn something you weren't really paying attention. Thanks for taking us along.
Fastest ~20 minutes of the week! Thanks for sharing. Cheers 🇦🇺
LADY DIANE AND SIR DAVE This Educational information was greatly APPRECIATED,THANK YOU VERY MUCH . Jane and Mike ❤
I'm one of your viewers that was unaware of the hardwood lingo. Very educational - Thanks.
My family has been in the lumber industry since 1890. Almost all in softwood. Very educational video. As always, thanks for sharing your knowledge.
You don't realise how much work and planning goes into working out the best way to cut the wood .also how much work you put
In before you can think of starting to build the wheels 👍👍👍👍👍
I love seeing those vintage machines working!
I'm a computer scientist. I write software. I know nothing about the hardwood trade or any of this nomenclature, but I follow your work because you make amazing things. I also learn quite a bit watching your videos.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this channel. Thank you, Dave!
Much more to making those wheels than meets the eye. At least you catch them and do the replacement.😉👍
Another Great Video!!! Wonderful information and I Loved the Flowers interjected in the cutting of the wood!!!
Gif Bless you and your wife!!
No matter how many times I watch this master multiskilled craftsman, it never looses its appeal.Thank you!
That was a lot of work. Hope you enjoy the weekend on the ranch for wherever you choose for a change of pace. Very pretty flowers, Diane. 👍👍👍
⚘🏁
Actually, those are Dave's and are about 20 years old. The FFA put those out on Main St for a few years and took them away for the winter, but the they left them one year, so Dave took them into the shop and has been doing so every year since.
thank you for explaining the different terms used with hard woods.
Wow! I had completely no idea about this hardwood lingo. Again, you educate, train, and explain with clarity the nuances of your trade. You are a great American.
I’m sweating whether I will pass the test! Love the education Dave!
I learn something new in just about every video Dave. Do appreciate your explanations.
Thank you Angels for this video I remain fan thank you for all these gifts, see you soon.
Excellent explanation of rough-sawn lumber. Like you said, most people (clients) do not understand when you have to account for waste for many reasons. Thanks.
With all those bandsaw cuts being perfectly on the line , that was definitely an exercise in concentration.Good job, and thanks for sharing.😊
I spent my career as a writer and editor. I had no idea about the intricacies of hardwoods.
Thanks for your explanations; you'd have made a good teacher. I'm not sure I understand all of it, but I know more than I did before watching your video.
Well done, Dave! Well done!!
Thanks for sharing with us about the dementions Dave. It's no wonder I had such a hard time at a sawmill. They finally asked me what finished size (I) was wanting and they cut accordingly and I finished out close to the dementions I was wanting. I would have been sadly disappointed if they hadn't seen that I didn't know about store bought sizes and sawmill sizes. I had to get the board stretchers out on someboards but it all worked out in the end. You're doing a fantastic job around there and we really appreciate your sharing with us. Stay safe up there. Fred.
The practice of measuring ‘by quarters’ must be a peculiarly American one. We here in Australia certainly don’t use it, and I have only ever come across it in an American context.
Dave is not demented
That looked like a good days work, and think of all the great firewood you made too! LOL
Can you imagine when this work was done all by hand..?
Well I guess that’s why guys like yourself would have had apprentices 😊
Cheers from Tokyo!
I always enjoy your videos! Some day I'll go west and stop in to see you. Fellow wood-worker here who finds is completely relaxing to watch you work, Thank you Sir!
As a woodworker hobbyist, I knew the majority of the terms and forgotten a few of them since I only use certain types of woods and cuts. One thing many tend forget about woodworking of any kind, never cut right on the line. Easier to remove access material, can't add it back. Love that old table saw of yours. Not many top quality tools around any more, not trashing today's tools but, just not the same quality. Many thanks for sharing. Great video as always, cheers :)
Great video thanks. It would not have occurred to me to say the wood first before planing. I liked the cutaways on the video too. Lovely flowers.
You just never know when you cut into wood what you will find. I like watching the sawmills at tractor shows for that reason, it can be interesting seeing the grain of the wood and if there are any knots or hidden defects.
As a retired custom cabinet maker I am totally familiar with the hardwood lingo it’s another language in itself. Good explanation
It’s interesting how each profession has its unique language. Sometimes I think we should all write a translation of our professional language into English.
Back in the late 50’s early 60’s I built some kitchen cabinets for my widowed mother, I used a timber yard who would cut to size and finish. I was really confused by the way they calculated the cost, I was charged for the wood before machining not what I walked away with. It was quite some time later that I was able to understand the logic, up to my enlightenment I was under the impression that I was paying over the odds and they were taking advantage of a young lad. Over time I became very close with the company and had a long relationship with them until I moved across the country to where I am now, and had to find a new supplier. Thirty years on and I’m still with the same company I found. Long term relationships are very important especially when you want something a little different and special. I would sometimes take a box of doughnuts in with me for the boys, a little oil always helps!
Your accuracy with the band saw is amazing!
Your knowledge and skill saves a lot of wasted wood!
Dave, I appreciated the explanations on the hardwoods, thank you for sharing your knowledge with us! So many of us city folks who watch your artistry in motion definitely have a far better understanding, at least I do! You most definitely accomplished the task you set out to do! Tom in Ceres
Here in the mid Atlantic, hit and miss is commonly called "skip-planed". Great info Dave!
I didn't know any of that info you threw at us and guess what I still don't know any of it that I could talk about to someone that does and it would make me look stupider than I really am, but I did enjoy hearing your wealth of knowledge on the subject and in the end that's all that matter, as always enjoyed the show...your fan...
This was an excellent explanation of the reality of buying hardwood.
great video, always enjoy being invited in your shop, lots of lumber info,you have a real big pile of wedges built up there on the floor,really impressed with that saw
Winter heat supply
Thanks for explaining so clearly the wood coding.... I've always had to plead ignorance of the whole sale of hardwoods 😂😂😂 so thanks I probably will review this video a few times 😂😂😂😂
And… don’t even get me to start talking about checks, warp, twist and bow!
Hardwood makes strong and beautiful projects… but it will deflate your wallet if you don’t select good wood!
Thanks Dave, you got it right on the lingo!!!!
here again yay! wow, best wood class you'll never forget
Thank you very much for the hard wood education .
I hope you both have a wonderful day.
Worked as a trucker at a sawmill and when I wasn’t delivering lumber worked in the planer shed. I helped grading lumber and stacking it. Like the way you described grading Dave. 👍
Very methodical in your explanations makes it easier to understand & follow you in your work 👍👍👍
My goodness that looks like it should be a life time supply of wood not just one project
Really enjoyed you going over the jargon associated with hardwood. I will be purchasing some soon and now I have a better understanding of what to ask for. Thanks
Very nice teaching lesson a great refresher on different nonstandard lumber types. Always high quality workmanship. Thank you.
That was a very good tutorial on the hardwood lingo. It can be pretty confusing when you first start working with hardwoods but after a while it is just everyday language. Being efficient in working with the raw material can be frustrating trying to reduce the waste. Thank you for a great video.
Thanks for the explanation Dave. It is worthwhile to know how the lumber is graded. Those wheels are going to be massive. Looking forward to seeing you assemble all the pieces to make the wheels. Stay safe.
My family farms and has a few wooded properties. Used to have a sawmill but sold it. Now ive been chainsaw milling oaks that would have never fit on the saw mill anyway. I started watching your videos because I build windsor chairs and liked your steam bending videos. A lot of oaks i sometimes split by hand using wedges since i end up with higher quality lumber. Thanks for the info.
Great episode. Thank m you Dave and Dianne
Thanks for the information about the hardwood, I haven't been around that much so I learned a lot.
Great explanation of hard wood sizes, I love watching your work. Thank you.
Excellent explanation of wood grades and types, I never really thought about there being a huge difference between soft and hardwoods. I do like a real (full-size) 6x6, 4x12, etc.
Thank you, Diane, and Dave. Jim, Portland, Oregon.
I really appreciated your education about the lumber terminology and practices.
Buenas tardes señor Dave exelente video todo entendido y anotado saludos desde Nava Coahuila Mexici
Nice shot of the Geraniums!
I wondered what the heck it was doing in the video!
@@bobuncle6962 I think his editor (the Mrs) slipped that in. 😄
@@thefencepost And let's appreciate the seamless mid-sentence edits that appear from time to time! That's top-tier work.
I didn't know any of this. It's fascinating, and thank you.
At the lumberyard, an employee remarked that not even the professional woodworkers know this.
I was astounded so I went on to ask the head yarder. He concurred. The gal at the wholesale desk said the same.
Difficult to believe.
So it is that Mr. Engels is providing valuable instruction.
I am a relatively long term follower of Dave and thoroughly enjoy ALL his videos. I have learned a lot from his experiences !!
BTW Dave, what happened to the hotel you were remodeling ? Can I see something from your video library.....?
I read somewhere that hardwood lumber grading and terminology was developed with large furniture factories in mind, repetitively cutting out mass produced furniture parts. So a self taught local craftsman making one off projects is often mystified by the wholesale lingo.
@johnking8679 Dave hasn't worked on it for a few months. He will put the windows in before winter.
@@dianeengel4155 Thanks for your reply !! Oh, great !! I'm glad it's still a 'work in progress'. I'd hate to think I missed his on-going repairs to the hotel !!
I really enjoy ALL his projects !!
He's such a perfectionist, as you know !! Blessings to you ALL !!
Always interesting and informative. Quite an education in hardwood, thanks
Hands up all those that until this video, had no idea what Dave was talking about when it came to hard wood.
Thank you for the very informative lesson on hardwood lumber. I knew some of the terms S2S and S4S but not the hit or miss and the straight line rip
Good kindling for Winter in the Band saw pile!👍👍
Nice work , I appreciate your efficiency in making multiples , I have done similar projects where you make multiples of the same piece , you have to stay sharp and pay attention or accuracy and quality suffer. You handle it with exceptional ease!
I remember my Grandfather trying to explain board feet to me. My response was "I don't need to know that because I buy lumber like 2x4 2x6". And you would know, the first time I went to a lumber mill they asked me "How many board feet of red oak do you want?".
Hardwood grades were on my menu for lunch back in the 1980s but I can sure use a refresher.
Wow, had no idea of the dimensioning terminology. Thank you for sharing that information.
Great video, always a pleasure to see a master at work.
Thank you for sharing what it takes to cut out all these custom pieces. I also appreciate your sharing that some pieces have flaws that make it unsuitable for its intended place. Some might look and see those small cracks and knots and think - well there is still a lot of good strong wood on that piece. In reality these spokes are like links in a chain. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link and a wheel is only as strong as its weakest spoke.
Many thanks, very informative and educational.
Stay safe and we'll see you next week.
Hardwood lumber in Canada is usually not described in quarters. Interesting discussion. Thanks Dave
Actually going by NLGA (Canadian Lumber)- Nominal thickness is routinely referenced by quarter thickness. Typically it means rough sawn.
It’s not just hardwood that is graded that way Dave. Softwood is also sold and graded the same as hardwood if you’re not buying nominal dimensional lumber.
You can still buy 12 or 16 quarter and bigger softwood for post and beam timber framing.
Worked green chain back in 1976, Dunbars Sawmill in Hamilton, Montana.
Elk Stud Mill in West Yellowstone, same year. As long as the temp was above zero, we worked.
Once again thanks for the video.
Very informative. Thank you.
I have a very rudimentary understanding of lumber sizing, grading, etc., so very much enjoyed this video and it will certainly be viewed several times (in case you give us another quiz!). I wonder how many viewers saw (or how many missed) the quick image of the potted flowers outside the shop? …
Everybody saw them...👀
Thanks for explaining the Hardwood nomenclature's. I don't do much wood working in the summer, but once cooler weather sets in I try to so some!! I have hardwood supplier close to me and it's nice to know what to ask for!!
Love your videos and they make us all smarter. I had a few pieces of 2x12 dimensional pressure treated lumber, very dry, and when I cut it on my little table saw it went all twisty and wonky. What? Wood is alive, even when it is not. Thank you for the info!
In the shop where I work, we often buy rough hardwood lumber in larger sizes and resaw it to smaller dimensions. The upside is that we can make whatever we need from large pieces. The downside of that is that resawing releases some of the tension in the wood, which can be much worse with kiln dried material than with air dried material. Also, the surface of a large piece may be much drier than the center, but resawing exposes the damper part and triggers uneven drying, so one straight piece may turn into two pieces curved in opposite directions! This is why it is important to store lumber flat (not standing vertically) with spaces between boards, so that they can acclimate without warping or twisting. I like to put the best material on the bottom of the stack so that the lesser lumber on top will hold it flat.
I know the 1/4 measures from working at sawmills in my youth as for grading very little, this video is helpful.
Thank you for a excellent and concise explanation of utilizing hardwoods with all the various possibilities. The other part always holds true, too - essentially 12 x 12 x 1 =1 board foot - how hardwoods are sold. Dimensional softwoods explanations are dead-on, too. IF, and I repeat "IF" you are lucky enough to find any truly old grown 2 x 4's, mostly pre-1950's, they will measure 2 x 4 sand nothing "nominal" about them.
My two older brothers are shop teachers, and you share this knowledge can help them in the classroom. My question is, are you doing anything more on the mud wagon? 😊
Not at the moment, but he will.
Great video! Nice flowers!
Good lesson. I knew this many years ago, but not working around it for a long time, it slipped away. Really needed that refresher.
Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Here in the UK, we have a different language. We also have a different language for hardwoods.
Before the fashion for waney edge (live edge) slabs came along for tables and desks etc., waney edge timber boules (that’s a pack of timber often representing the whole trunk after it has been sliced by the mill) had to be much, much cheaper than the processed square edged boule. That’s because the waste involved in converting a waney edge slab (from a potentially not straight trunk) into square edged boards is enormous. Logic also dictates that wide boards are much more expensive than narrow boards because of the large potential waste in conversion.
We were also looking for boards which were relatively free from faults such as checks and knots because, in our work, those faults meant we had to cut around and, again, waste.
Now, mills are able to command very high prices for a “character” waney edge board. That is, in our parlance, curved, checked and full of pips. Great for the current fashion but bad for us.
So, now, square edged boards, particularly in species like oak, are cheaper per cubic metre (which is how we buy) than those waney edge character boards. That doesn’t mean that square edge stock has dropped in price - it remains much more expensive than pre-Covid, but that waney edge are 4 or 5 times the cost of, say, 10 years ago.
All this waste costs. If I have a waney edge board that cost £100; I might get usable timber of less than £60. There will be waste on both sides plus the ends plus the thickness if I have to take out any winds (twists) in the board. In addition, I have paid a guy to do the conversion.
You will see in large stores pieces of furniture made up entirely of stave wood. Converting trunks into staves (say 12” x 2” x 1”) is a very economical way (very little waste) of converting trunks into usable wood. Less waste equals cheaper per board foot. Plus, these staves are often made from timbers grown in East Asia, timbers that are not native to our countries, and processed in those countries.
That is part of the reason why pieces unique in design and size (made to measure) are so much more expensive than pieces made in factories. If you are happy to have a piece made of staves of uneven colour and grain, then these pieces are much cheaper.
Actually, if you want to get superbly built pieces, made from full length timbers with beautiful grain, then try your local auction house. These pieces will be cheaper to buy and have an increased value in 30 years time (unlike the stave pieces which will have the value of firewood). Sure, the pieces bought in auction may not be in the latest fashion of design but fashions come and go. What you will have is a piece to be inherited and not laughed at.
I’m sat here looking at a superb circular, hinged top, table made from Cuban mahogany. It’s quality and grain are just divine. Cost me less than £100. I’m looking at an 1810 long case clock in oak which also cost me less than £100. An oval yew table, much more contemporary in design, less than £60. All this is interspaced with pieces that I have made over the last 45 years. Many different styles; an esoteric mix but all have one thing in common (I hope) quality.
Great video. I learned a lot about hardwood sizing.
Nice work! 👍🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸
The 4 quarter etc & S2s etc I knew about but the hit and miss is new to me
Thanks for the information. Most it was new to me so i appreciate the education.
One wheel would be a life time supply of Christmas ornaments.
*****
Thank you. I did not know anything about this before.
Thanks Dave
As a lumber grader I will say that you did a good job! Great video! That is nice material you got. With the price of material these days I have become a fan of Cut-List Plus software and the Cut-List Linear apps to cut and control waste.
Thank you Dave
My dad talked using a pegboard to calculate doard ft as it came off their mill.
My dad and my grandfather sawed all the lumber for their new barn it burned down a month later, so they started over building another one . 1928, I think.
Hardwood flooring is usually random length. Sometimes a client will not want a lot of shorts, these get put aside. If you can get some it makes an ideal surface for a workbench. A 30" deep bench with an end joint here and there works fine. Dad built his that way, and 40 years later I did that with my own bench.
First to comment here! Love your channel and your techniques! Thank you from Brazil.
Great explanation of wood types and what all it means.
@EngelsCoachShop: Seeing all that sawdust made me think that maybe you ought to get a small Pelletizer and turn all that saw dust into Fuel pellets for your stove (or any other stove you've got). The Pellets also make great Animal bedding in Barns.
Feed pelletizers are essentially the same thing and may work with sawdust.
Just a thought.
Knew most of it, picked up a couple of things. I'd listen even if i did know all of it, because perspective deepens any knowledge.
Big job again....