| A hundred years ago, hardwood grading varied from | | | | higher grade of the other board.of the other board. |
| mill to mill, but with the formation of the National | | | | Although paying more for better grade stock means |
| Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) in 1898, | | | | that you will end up with wood having fewer |
| grading became standardized. At first, the rules were | | | | defects, this may not always be the economical thing |
| based strictly on the number and size of defects; in | | | | to do. If your project is relatively modest, hand-pick |
| 1932 they were broadened to reflect the proportion | | | | the lumber yourself from a variety of grades, |
| of a board that can be cut into smaller pieces, called | | | | depending on the function of each board in the piece. |
| cuttings. These pieces must be clear on one side and | | | | Where only one defect-free face is called for, the |
| sound on the other. Their size also determines the | | | | select grade is a good choice. Or, for the pieces of |
| grade. Today's hardwood grading standards assume | | | | your furniture project that are relatively small, for |
| that boards are invariably cut into smaller pieces to | | | | example, you may be able to get by with No. 1 |
| make furniture; thus, grade is based on a board's | | | | Common grade boards. No. 2A Common boards ire |
| poorest face, except in the case of Select, which | | | | suitable for the parts of projects in which appearance |
| takes the board's best face into account. | | | | is not of paramount importance. such as hidden |
| Select is one of seven standard hardwood grades. | | | | furniture frames. If you do buy lower-grade lumber, |
| The top grade is FAS (an abbreviation of Firsts and | | | | however, plan on more waste when you are |
| Seconds), followed by Select, No. 1 Common, No. 2A | | | | calculating the number of board feet to order. |
| and 2B Common, and No. 3A Common and No. 3B | | | | Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. |
| Common (chart, opposite). No. 2A and No. 2B | | | | Some cabinetmakers feel that defects such as knots |
| Common are frequently lumped together as No. 2 | | | | add character to a piece of furniture. And if most of |
| Common; likewise, many lumberyards sell No. 3A and | | | | the parts will end up being small, lower grade wood is |
| No. 3B Common together as No. 3 Common. | | | | not only more economical, it may also be more |
| The better the grade, the higher the percentage of | | | | suitable for the task at hand-by yielding more |
| clear cuttings: 83 1/3' percent of Select boards | | | | attractively figured wood. |
| must be clear face cuttings; only 50 percent of a No. | | | | This author is an up and coming expert on crafts and |
| 2 Common board need be defect-free. But grading is | | | | DIY. You can download original TV stand plans and |
| a more subtle art than these calculations indicate. | | | | unique TV riser plan by going to |
| Two boards that are the same size with the same | | | | woodworkingplans.tv; Or you can select from 14000 |
| number of defects can end up in different grades: | | | | woodworking plans, make woodworking easier and |
| The position of the defects may prevent one board | | | | more fun! |
| from having large enough clear cuttings to make the | | | | |