How to Buy Lumber

It's easy to pick out wood if you know what to look for.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring Tapes
• Lumber

1. Find "clear" or "select" grade boards for visible projects, such as shelves. Select means that there are few knotholes, discolorations, or other defects in the wood.

2. Pick "common" grade wood, which has more defects, for fences or items that will be painted.

3. Hold one end of a board up to your eye and sight down the edge. It should be completely straight.

4. Lay the board or plywood on level ground. It shouldn't bow or arch in any direction.

5. Choose exterior plywood, which is made with waterproof glue, for projects that will be exposed to water.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that boards aren't really going to be the size that you are buying. A 2 x 4 is really 1 ½ x 3 ½. The length, though, is accurate. Most boards come in 8-foot lengths, though you can get longer ones in even-numbered increments.
• Plywood comes in sheets that are 4 feet by 8 feet and ¼, ½, or ¾ inches thick.
• Understand that plywood comes in grades A through D, with A being the best. The grades depend on how many knotholes have been filled in the wood. You can also get N grade, which is faced with a surface that has no knots.

on 11/22/2005 I'm a big red oak fan. I will go to the rough sawn bin where the grade isn't select, but it's close. The ends need to be square cut and one side will need a pass through the joiner, but with 50% savings off the select price, for me it's a good value.