|
|
An
Illustrated Guide to Eastern Hardwood Lumber Grades
1994 Revised Edition
Measuring
Hardwoods*, Ash, Birch,
Cherry,
Maple,
Red
Oak, Tulipwood,
Walnut
* Requires
Adobe Acrobat Reader
ASH
|
Ash
Species: Fraxinus americana (White
Ash)
Color: Creamy white to a light brown
heartwood with wide light sapwood.
Characteristics: Hard, strong, excellent
bending qualities, high shock resistence. Sometimes streaked with a light
brown fleck.
Texture: Terms such as "tough,"
"soft," and "medium" texture are used to indicate source of origin. Generally
tough, Ash is more brown and grows in the Northern/
Appalachian Regions where soft/medium
texture is whiter/creamier in color and is Southern in origin.
The Wood: Very pronounced grain
pattern enables Ash to finish to a bright luster. Ash is excellent for
furniture, moulding, athletic equipment, handles for tools, and in applications
where strength is required.
White Ash includes a number of species
(F. americana, F. pennsylvanica, F. quadrangulata) but does not necessarily
signify color. If a particular color is desired, the buyer should make
the preference known to the supplier, often times by specifying a percentage
of each piece that must be of the desired color. The standard grading rules
for Ash do not make any distinction for color. Black Ash (F. nigra) is
usually sold separately. |
| Ash
FAS |
Ash
No. 1 |
Ash
No. 2A |
|
|
|
(top)
BIRCH
|
Birch
Species: Betula alleghaniensis (Yellow
Birch)
Color: Sapwood is creamy-white or
yellowish tinged, heartwood is light reddish brown.
Characteristics: While most often
sold unselected for color, some users specify Sap Birch (all sapwood or
white wood cuttings) or Red Birch (all heartwood cuttings), because of
the distinct color difference between the sapwood and heartwood. Sometimes
Birch shows very small pin knots and often shiny burlwood.
Texture: Uniform, fine grain pattern,
medium weight, excellent in turnings, machines easily.
The Wood: Birch has long been used
in kitchen cabinets and other carpentry for the home and office. Its fine
grain pattern and excellent working qualities suit many wood working projects.
Whether it is the creamy yellow of the sapwood for a light clean look or
the rich reddish-brown of theheartwood for a more elegant warmth, Birch
provides the user with an opportunity to express his individual style.
It should be noted that both White Birch
(Betua papyrifera) and Red Birch (Betulanigra) are distinct species. To
avoid confusion, a buyer should specify the species separately--here Yellow
Birch, from the additional requirement of Sap Birch (sapwood cuttings)
or Red Birch (heartwood cuttings). |
(top)
| Birch
FAS |
Birch
No. 1 |
Birch
No. 2A |
|
|
|
CHERRY
|
Cherry
Species: Prunus serotina (American
Black Cherry)
Color: Sapwood-white to yellowish;
heartwood deep reddish brown.
Characteristics: Occasionally found
with thin, dark gum streaks or small clusters of very small pin knots.
Texture: Medium weight, close fine
grain, hard and stable. Finishes to silky luster second only to Walnut.
The Wood: The beautiful markings
in Cherry have long fascinated wood workers. Occasional clusters of tiny
pin knots, or very small, dark streaks of gum set Cherry apart from any
other hardwood. Both of these natural characteristics found in Cherry are
permitted under the NHLA grading rules for this species, and result in
individual pieces which are truly unique. |
(top)
| Cherry
FAS |
Cherry
No. 1 |
Cherry
No. 2A |
|
|
|
MAPLE
|
Maple
Species: Acer saccharum (Sugar Maple,
Hard Maple)
Color: The sapwood is creamy white
to off-white sometimes tinged slightly with reddish brown; tan or very
light grayish-brown heartwood sometimes streaked with darker mineral colors.
Characteristics: Hard, heavy and
strong, very resistant to shock and abrasive wear; occasional slight green-gray
mineral streaks.
Texture: Close-grained, uniform
texture, polishes well.
The Wood: The excellent working
properties of Hard Maple make it suitable to a wide range of uses. Very
popular in flooring applications such as athletic floors and bowling alleys.
It is the standard for cutting boards because it is odorless & tasteless.
Widely used in furniture, sporting goods and turnings.
Hard Maple is typically straight grained,
but some trees will produce a very unique figure such as birds-eye, fiddle
back and curly grain patterns that are highly sought after for special
applications. Soft Maple (A. rubrum and A. saccharinum) is not as strong
as Hard Maple and shows considerable mineral streaks. It is traded separately. |
(top)
| Maple
FAS |
Maple
No. 1 |
Maple
No. 2A |
|
|
|
RED OAK
|
Red
Oak
Species: Quercus rubra (Northern
Red Oak)
Color: Sapwood is pale white; heartwood
varies from a light pink to a dark reddish brown.
Characteristics: Oaks are open-pored
and produce dramatic grain patterns in sawn lumber. Some boards may have
dark mineral streaks, produced during the natural growth of the tree, which
are permitted in the cuttings. Occasionally, very small, pink pin knots
will be present.
Texture: Very hard and strong. Easy
to turn, sands well, excellent in bending. Very pronounced, coarse grain
pattern, high shock resistance.
The Wood: The Oaks remain the most
popular hardwood for woodworker and consumer alike. The pronounced grain
catches the eye and distinguishes the wood from all others. From flooring
to furniture to cabinetry, the Oaks are at home in any application. The
"red Oak Group" encompasses several commercially important species incuding
northern red, southern red, black, Shumard, cherrybark, scarlet, pin, and
Nuttall oak.
White Oak (not shown) is characteristically
more fine grained, and displays a more gray-brown color. The "white oak
group" encompases several important species, including white, swamp white,
chestnut, swamp chestnut, chinkapin, bur, overcup, and post oak. |
(top)
| Red
Oak FAS |
Red
Oak No. 1 |
Red
Oak No. 2A |
|
|
|
AMERICAN
TULIPWOOD
|
American
Tulipwood
Species: Liriodendron tulipifera
(American Tulipwood, Yellow Poplar)
Color: White to yellowish cast sapwood;
straw-brown to slightly greenish heartwood sometimes streaked with purple.
Characteristics: Basically straight-grained,
light in weight, excellent strength and moderately stiff and very stable
when dried.
Texture: Very uniform, the softness
and evenness of the grain make it excellent for moulding, machining and
gluing.
The Wood: One of the most abundant
hardwoods growing in the Eastern U.S., the Tulipwood grows fast and straight
and has excellent woodworking properties. Takes paints and stains well,
very easily sanded and worked. Tasteless, can be used for food packaging.
Widely used for interior trim, furniture, picture frames, toys and is adaptable
to any hardwood application. |
(top)
| American
Tulipwood FAS |
American
Tulipwood No. 1 |
American
Tulipwood No. 2A |
|
|
|
WALNUT
|
Walnut
Species: Juglans nigra (American
Black Walnut)
Color: Sapwood is pale yellow. When
steamed, it becomes a warm buttery tan. The heartwood ranges from a light
brown to a deep purplish-brown.
Characteristics: High figured with
small, tight burls; wavy, satiny grain.
Texture: The Rolls Royce of cabinet
woods. Unsurpassed finishing, sanding, turning and carving. (With care)
excellent results can be expected in blending sapwood and heartwood.
The Wood: The Walnut grading rules
are somewhat different from the previous species because of the nature
of the tree. Walnut does not grow in pure stands, and often individual
trees are shorter-bodies andof medium diameter. In lumber, the FAS grade
will allow a 6' long board and shorter clear-face cuttings. The pictures
shown depict the lightness of the indistinguishable from the heartwood.
The lower grades (No. 1 and No. 2) of Walnut lumber tend to be generously
fiured ith numerous knots, tight burls, and wavy grain which enhances the
beauty of the wood, setting Walnut apart from all other hardwoods. |
(top)
| Walnut
FAS |
Walnut
No. 1 |
Walnut
No. 2A |
|
|
|
For more information please
e-mail  |