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| Tel. (978) 448-5621 | Fax. (978) 448-2754 | |
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| Tel. (978) 448-5621 | Fax. (978) 448-2754 | |
      FYI ARTICLES: |
NELMA
Lumber Grades
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| EASTERN
WHITE PINE (Pinus Strobus) Lightweight, soft, even-textured and easily worked, Eastern White Pine is probably the least resinous of all pines. It does not swell or shrink greatly with moisture content changes and displays remarkable durability as shown by the large number of houses built of Eastern White Pine in New England 200 and more years ago. Because of these desirable characteristics, Eastern White Pine uses include millwork, knotty pine paneling, siding and boards for boxes, crates, coffins, boats, woodenware and novelties. |
| GRADE: PREMIUM | Premium's good knotty
appearance lends itself to use where a natural effect is
desirable or will give an excellent painted surface. The
grade determination is made from the better face which
allows generally sound and tight knots ranging from a
2" red knot or a 5/8" black knot on a 4"
nominal width board to a 3-3/4"
red knot or a 1-1/2" black
knot on a 12" or wider (nominal) board. Red spike
knots are permitted up to 1/2 the width of the board, full thickness. In high
quality boards maximum size black knots are accepted but
must be at least 8 linear feet apart. A 12" board allows one knot hole up to 1" in diameter and proportionately smaller knot holes for narrower widths. Although only one medium size worm hole is permitted per 6 linear feet, pin worm holes are permissable in up to 10% of the surface area. Only a medium amount of warp, wane, stain and pitch are permissable while short splits can be no longer than the width of a board and skip on the reverse face or one edge is allowed in not more than 20% of the pieces. While sound pith is acceptable, only small well scattered pockets are permitted. Light shake is allowable. Seams are permitted partially surrounding a red knot. The "Standard NELMA Grading Rules for Northeastern Lumber" shows all allowable grade characteristics. |
| GRADE: FINISH | This grade finishes well
because it handsomely displays the sound, tight knots and
natural color highlights of Eastern White Pine. Grade
determination is made from the better face which allows
small, sound, tight knots ranging from a 1-1/4" red
knot or 1/2" black knot on a 4" nominal width
board to a 2-l/2" red knot or a 3/4" black knot on a 12"
or wider (nominal) board. Branch and spike knots are
treated as round knots (average diameter). Knot holes in the face are not allowed but two missing knots on the edge of the reverse face not exceeding 1/2 the thickness or equivalent are permissable. Only very light amounts of pitch, pockets, splits, checks, wane and warp are allowable while the pitch and shake cannot exceed 1/10 the length and skip (reverse side or one edge) is limited to 10% of the pieces. Medium stain (blue or coffee) cannot exceed 1/2 the face surface area in Finish material. The "Standard NELMA Grading Rules for Northeastern Lumber" shows all allowable grade characteristics. |
| GRADE: D & BETTER SELECT |
D & Better Select is
fine finish lumber and as such is graded to the
appearance of one face (reverse side may represent common
grades.) Occasional pieces may require a cut to yield all
useable lumber for finish work (loss not to exceed
approximately 5%). D & Better Select allows no large
knots (maximum approximately 1/2") and limits the
total number of pin knots to one knot per surface foot
when half the piece is clear and fewer if knots are
scattered. Medium stain (blue or coffee) cannot exceed
3/4 of the face surface area in a clear board and less if
present with other limiting characteristics. A larger surface area is allowable if the stain is light. Only very limited amounts of pitch, checks, pockets, shake, splits, skip (permissable on reverse side or on one edge of 20% of the pieces). Wane and warp are acceptable in small amounts in D & Better Select. The "Standard NELMA Grading Rules for Northeastern Lumber" shows all allowable grade characteristics. |
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