Introduction And Importance Of Lumber Grading Rules

• What Is Dimension Lumber
• What Is Grade Yield
• Why Are Lumber Grading Rules Important
• Overview Of ALEX

The National Grading Rules System

• The Role Of Grading Agencies
• Who Establishes The National Lumber Grading Rules And The American Lumber Standards Committee
• Who Provides An Official Interpretation Of The Grade Rules
  

Origins Of 2” Dimension Lumber

• How Softwood Trees Grow
• Branches And Knots
• Sawing Lumber From Softwood Logs
• How Sawing Affects Lumber Defects
• Kiln Drying Also Causes Defects
• Planning Or "Dressing" Creates "Manufacture Defects"
• Nominal, Dressed, And Green Sizes
• Narrows And Wides
• Parts Of A Piece Of Lumber
• What Is Dimension Lumber Used For

The American Softwood Lumber Standard

• Natural Defects And Characteristics Of Wood

• Compression Wood And Slope Of Grain

• Decay And Holes

• Wormy Pitch

• Shakes And Timber Breaks
   

• Manufacturing Defects

• Sawmill Defects

• Wane

• Saw-Cuts, Beveled Skip

• Rabbeted Edge, Double Arbor Mismatch

• Cross Break

• Planer Mill Defects

• Skips And Planer Tear

• Roller Splits

• Torn, Raised And Loosened Grain

• Machine Bite, Gouge And Offset

• Chip And Knife Marks, Wavy Dressing
   

• Drying Defects

• Warp (Twist, Cup, Bow, Crook)

• Splits

• Checks

• Under-Dried Lumber
   

• Knots

• Knot Quality

• Recognizing Sound And Unsound Knots

• Confusing Knot Types

• Loose Knots And Holes

• Knot Spacing
   

• Structural Grades

• Number 1

• Number 2

• Number 3
   

• Light Framing Grades

• Construction

• Standard

• Utility
   

• Select Structural
   

• Studs

Math and Measurement

• Fractions For Lumber Graders

• Basic Fractions For Lumber Graders

• Adding Fractions

• Fractions Of A Piece Of Lumber
   

• Proportion For Lumber Graders
   
• Reading A Tape Measure

• Using Fractions To Read A Tape Measure

• Marks On A Tape Measure

• Adding Fractions Of An Inch

Sizing Up The Knots In 2” Dimension Lumber

• Types Of Knots

• Knot Quality

• Sound

• Unsound (decayed)

• Knot Shapes

• Simple

• Spike

• Three-Face

• Wide-Face Spike

• Knot Locations

• Centerline

• Combination

• Edge

• Displaceable

How To Measure Different Shapes Of Knots

Measuring Different Shapes Of Knots

The Cross-Section Of A Knot

Measuring Different Shapes Of Knots Using "Total Measurement"
 

Grading Knots Using "Total Measurement"

What Is "Total Measurement"

Understanding The "Total Measurement" Rules

Applying "Total Measurement" Rules On The Chain
 

Practice Using "Total Measurement"

Learning to Grade 2" Dimension Lumber
 

• 2” Dimension Lumber Grades Rules

• Number 1

• Number 2

• Number 3

• Shorthand Rules
• Observing And Evaluating Wane
• Observing And Evaluating Skip
• Observing And Evaluating Splits And Checks
• Observing And Evaluating Slope Of Grain
• Observing And Evaluating Decay
• Observing And Evaluating Shakes
• Observing And Evaluating Warp
   

• Light Framing Grade Rules

• Construction

• Standard

• Utility
   

• Select Structural
   
• Studs

Putting It all Together

Additional Modules For Rules Tests And Knot Grading Exercises

• Rules Review Test: Over 200 Available Practice Questions

• Structural Grades

• Light Framing

• Select Structural

• Studs

• Video Knot Review: Over 1800 Practice Knot Video Clips

• 2x4 - 2x12, Edge and Combination Knots

• Video Knot Exercise: Over 1800 Test Questions Using Knot Video Clips

• 2x4 - 2x12, Edge and Combination Knots

ALSO AVAILABLE:

 Special Southern Pine Version

• No. 1 And No. 2 Prime Lessons and Quizzes

• Light Framing Lessons and Quizzes

• Stud Lessons and Quizzes  

• IP Version (International Paper Co. Only)

 

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