How to Identify Rough Sawn Lumber

Rough cut lumber is cheaper than finished lumber.

Rough sawn lumber, which is also called rough cut lumber, is simply wood that has been cut into boards but not finished off. It is cheaper than finished lumber boards because not as much work has been performed in the manufacturing process. Identifying rough sawn lumber is not difficult since it has several characteristics that distinguish it from finished lumber boards.

Things You'll Need

• Gloves

Instructions

1. Examine the thickness of the boards. Rough sawn lumber is thicker than a finished lumber board. The primary reason for this is that it has not been sanded down to a smooth finish, which removes the upper layers of wood.

2. Compare the ends of several boards and notice the difference in the cuts. Since rough sawn lumber is not finished off, the ends of the lumber will not be the same consistent size. The end cuts of the boards may be slightly angled or uneven.

3. Feel the surface of the wood to determine if it is rough. Since the surface of the rough sawn lumber has not been finished or sanded, it will have a rough feel and possibly have splinters sticking up. Compare this to a traditional finished board, which is perfectly smooth to the touch.

4. Feel the surface of the wood for a high moisture content. The rough sawn lumber will not be soaking wet, but they will feel more damp than a finished piece of wood. This moisture is more noticeable with freshly cut lumber. The closer the lumber gets to one year of age, the less moisture it will contain.

5. Examine the surface of the rough sawn lumber for slight warps. These warps occur in the rough cut wood because of the high moisture content. If the warps are slight, they can usually be sanded out with a hand plane or weighted down to remove them. Severely warped boards should be avoided.

Tips & Warnings

• Wear gloves when examining or handling rough sawn wood because it is more prone to splintering than finished wood.

• Rough sawn lumber must be dried for at least one year before it can be used in woodworking or construction projects.

References

• Inside Woodworking: How Rough Cut Lumber Can Be Used
• All Woodwork: Preparing Lumber from Rough Cut to Project Ready