Grading Terms The following technical information is a description of the basic terms and concepts used in grading lumber. We will be glad to guide you through this important tool for understanding lumber grading so you can get the exact materials you need for your products and business. Contact our Sales Team for more information or to place an order.
Surfaced 2 Sides (S2S)      Furniture Lumber Grading:	We stock furniture lumber consisting of Alder (98 percent of annual production) and Maple (2 percent of annual production). We use a Proprietary Grading System  that allows customers to request lumber best suited for their needs. Customers benefit by being able to get maximum yield from either Clear Two-Face, Sound, or Construction grade S2S Lumber in the width and length needed to fulfill finished product requirements.
Clear Two-face S2S      Grade Description:	The uniqueness of our proprietary clear two-face grades is based on both a minimum overall yield and a guaranteed minimum rip length of 2 inch wide multiples, which makes up a 50 percent yield of the overall yield. Our proprietary grading rules are designed to give the purchaser clear two-face cuttings, for required applications requiring both sides to be clear. Available lumber in this grading line includes Superior, Cabinet, Custom Shop, Common Shop, A-Strip, B-Strip, C-Strip, Jacket Board, Skip, and Stain.
Sound S2S Alder Lumber      Grade Description:	We also produce lumber that is graded by the NHLA (National Hardwood Lumber Association) lumber grading rules. This grading utilizes the "sound back" method of grading. The following grades are a combination of high-line and low-line grades in our Alder and Maple Sound S2S Lumber line.  Available Alder Sound S2S Lumber includes #3 Shop and Dry Pallet Stock.
Sound S2S Maple Lumber      Grade Description:	We offer a line of hardwood lumber selected from the Pacific Coast Maple. It is very suitable for cabinetry and furniture applications. Customers value the durability of this lumber, inherent because of the wood's high density. Available lumber in this grading line includes Maple Select and Better, Maple #1 Shop, Maple #2 Shop, and Maple #3 Shop.
Construction S2S Lumber      Grade Description:	This grade is designed for construction purposes. Customers use Construction S2S where strength is the major need in furniture components. Available lumber in this grade is known as Frame. All S2S furniture lumber is kiln dried to a medium honey-brown color with a moisture content of 8 to 10 percent, giving the lumber a beautiful texture and color, greatly desired by panel and furniture companies worldwide. After the lumber has been kiln dried, it is then surfaced two sides in random widths of 8 foot and 10 foot lengths, in thickness' of 4/4, 5/4, 6/4, and 8/4 inch. Widths range from a minimum 3-3/8 inch (85.7 mm) to a maximum 14 inch (35cm). Lumber is packaged into 8 foot (240 cm) and 10 foot (300 cm) units according to grade and species. Each unit is block tallied by the board-foot measure with each layer in a 10 foot package containing 33.32 board feet. Each layer in an 8 foot package contains 26.67 board feet. Multiply the number of layers (43) in a package for the total board footage. An 8 foot (240 cm) unit consists of 1,146 board feet. A 10 foot unit (300 cm) consists of 1,432 board feet.
Specialty       Grade Description:	We have developed specialty grades to meet the unique needs of our customers. Currently, Rough Clear Dry Pallet grade is being used by customers who require a thinner board to be used as cabinet door inserts and drawers. This is a high-quality, clear two-face version of our pallet stock that is further processed and kiln dried to an 8 to 10 percent moisture content. Available lumber in this grade is known as Rough Clear Dry Pallet.
Pallet Stock      Grade Description:	We supply products of various dimensions that customers use as pallet components. We manufacture and cut to length both 2x4 runners and deckboards. We understand the structural requirements of pallet construction and offer a grade of green pallet stock (GPS) that meets all existing standards of the National Wood Pallet and Containers Association (NWPCA). Also offered is a #2 grade of green pallet stock expendable (GPX) that meets customer needs for repair boards for recycled pallets. Our grading insures the quality and dimensional specifications necessary for mechanized customer operations. Available pallet line products include Green Pallet Stock (GPS) and Green Pallet Stock Expendable (GPX).
Definition of Clear Two-face Cuttings:	This is a cutting having two clear faces with limited defects allowed in the cuttings as described below: Ordinary season checks are admitted. A limited number of split pin knots less than 3/16 inch (4.8 mm) are admitted. A limited number of sound knots less than 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) are admitted. Skip less than approximately 0.023 inch (1/2 mm) deep are admitted. Sticker Marks showing a light variation in color, but not containing stain, are admitted. Sidebend of a piece shall be limited to 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) or less in the Cabinet and higher grades, or 1 inch (25 mm) in the Custom and Common grades (as measured by a straight line drawn from each end of the board). Splits will be left on the board if the clear two-face wood on either side of the split contains a portion of a 2 inch (50.8 mm) wide by 20 inch (50 cm) long clear two-face cutting. The yield of a board will be determined by the percentage of clear two-face cuttings. Other defects, such as deep skip, knots, bark pockets, wane, stain, and bruises are all treated as the absence of clear wood and are not allowed.
Definition of S2S Sound-back Lumber:	Sound-back cutting is free from rot, pith, shake, and wane. Sound knots, bird pecks, stain, streaks, season checks not materially impairing the strength of a cutting, pin, shot, and spot worm holes are admitted. Other holes 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) or larger are admitted, but limited to one 1/4 inch (6.4 mm) in average diameter per 6 units (72 sq. inches) of lumber or 1/2 inch (12.7 mm) per 12 units (144 sq. inches) on one side of the cutting with the reverse side being clear.