A Complete Glossary
As within any economic sector, the logging and forest-product industries have their own industry language, terms, and nomenclature. Below is a list of some of the more common words and phrases you’ll come across when dealing with the hardwood lumber industry.
Common Glossary Terms in the Hardwood Industry
Board Feet
The hardwood lumber and logging industries commonly use a board foot as a result,as a unit of volume. It is equivalent to a piece of wood one foot wide, one foot long, and one inch thick—or 144 cubic inches. Consequently, both standing timber buyers and sawmills rely on board feet as the standard unit of measurement.
Standing timber buyers and sawmills alike use board feet as the standard unit of measurement.
Bow
A bowed board is a lumber defect that significantly reduces usable volume. Improper drying or internal wood grain tension can cause this issue.
Buck
After felling, it is essential that loggers buck trees into marketable lengths for timber sales. In fact, doing this correctly can directly impact the profitability of a timber sale.
Butt Log
Additionally, within the trunk of a tree, the most valuable section is often found near the base. Known as the butt log, this part typically spans the first 8 to 16 feet of the trunk depending on its quality. As a result, it usually contains the majority of the tree’s overall value.
Cant – Glossary of Terms
Sawmills square logs before resawing them into dimensional lumber. This is a common entry in many hardwood industry terms.
Casehardened – Glossary of Hardwood Industry Terms
However, issues can arise during the drying process. For example, casehardening is caused by improper drying, where the interior of a board experiences tension different from that of the exterior. Ultimately, this condition makes the lumber unsuitable for most standard applications.
Clearcut
A timber harvesting method resulting in the indiscriminate cutting of all trees at a site, regardless of size, species or quality. Developers clear wooded lots for residential or commercial development.
Deciduous Trees
Trees that lose their foliage seasonally in autumn.
Delimber
A machine for removing limbs from harvested trees.
Form Class
Furthermore, another important factor in evaluating timber is tree form. For instance, form class gauges the straightness of trees contained in a stand. As a result, timber stand value tends to improve with higher form class.
Grade
Moreover, once the lumber has been cut, its quality is assessed through grading. Specifically, this involves a quality rating assigned by an independent grading authority. Common grades include FAS, 1 Common, 2 Common, and Pallet. Notably, the price of lumber increases as the grade improves.
Hardwood
For clarification, in the lumber industry, the term “hardwood” refers specifically to wood from deciduous trees—typically broad-leaved trees that shed their leaves annually. These trees are angiosperms, or flowering plants, and common examples include oak, maple, cherry, and walnut.
Green Lumber
Meanwhile, some lumber that sawmills produce remains air-dried or green, meaning that it has not undergone kiln-drying.
Heartwood – Hardwood Industry Terms
Wood from the inner portion of a tree. In most species, heartwood is less desirable than sapwood. In a select few such as Hard Maple, the sapwood is actually more valuable.
Knot
Circular portion of a branch that becomes embedded in a tree as the trunk grows around it.
Knot – Glossary of Terms
Also worth noting is the presence of branches within the trunk. A circular portion of a branch becomes embedded in a tree as the trunk grows around it. This feature is known as a knot, and it is a key concept in the glossary of hardwood industry terms.
Log Scales – Glossary of Terms
To measure the amount of usable wood in a log, several scales have been developed. For instance, the Doyle, Scribner, and International log scales are commonly used by loggers and buyers in the U.S. These tools help quantify log volume both when trees are still standing and after they’ve been cut.
Pith
The core of a tree or branch. When sawing logs into dimensional lumber, workers must remove and discard the pith.
Quartersawn
In addition, when it comes to processing logs into usable lumber, there are specific cutting methods that affect quality. One such method is quartersawing, which refers to a technique of cutting logs into boards. This approach results in distinct grain patterns and offers improved strength, durability, and an enhanced grain pattern—particularly in certain species.
Quartersawing produces lumber that is more dimensionally stable than other sawing methods like plain sawing. It is ideal for applications where stability is necessary such as furniture, flooring and musical instruments.
Knots
- Tight Knot: Firmly embedded in the surrounding wood. This happens when the branch was still alive and attached to the tree as the trunk grew around it.
- Loose Knot: Occurs when the branch was dead before the wood formed. These can fall out or loosen, reducing lumber value.
In timber and lumber alike, knots can decrease the value of the dimensional lumber.
Sapwood
Equally important is the role sap plays in a living tree. Tree sap circulates through the vascular system, transporting essential nutrients, water, and sugars throughout the tree. Therefore, it plays a crucial role in the tree’s growth, health, and survival.
Sapwood is the fiber closest to the trees bark and is seasonally dynamic, moving around the tree
After the sap has fallen in autumn is the ideal time to harvest timber, especially for some species like black walnut.
Spalting – Glossary of Terms
In some cases, fungi can influence the appearance of wood. More specifically, dark streaks may develop due to the introduction of a particular strain of fungus. Many wood species can develop this effect, known as spalting, which is often prized for its unique aesthetic appeal.
Clearcut – Hardwood Industry Terms Guide
A timber harvesting method resulting in the indiscriminate cutting of all trees at a site, regardless of size, species, or quality. Builders clear wooded lots during development for residential or commercial use.
Wood Pulp
Finally, smaller diameter trees are also harvested for specific uses. To illustrate, buyers purchase timber under 14 inches in diameter as pulpwood. Manufacturers then process it into products like paper, pallets, and firewood.
