Lumber Grades

Grade Specifications for Kiln Dried Pine:
SAPS

Kiln Dried Pine SAPS click image to enlarge

End view of Saps Grade Lumber click image to enlarge

The European Market for export quality Saps requires the following grade specifications:

• Must be properly kiln dried 12% to 16% moisture content with light to no exterior
  checking. maximum 1/32” by 10” long
• Must be bright and free from blue stain or brown stain.
• Must be full thickness ⅛” scantness permitted in 4”, 6”, 8” widths and ¼” scantness permitted in 10” and 12”.
• Must be free of unsound knots, loose knots, pith knots, knot holes, pinworm holes, grub worm holes, splits, shakes, tar, pitch. No holes allowed.
• Red heart not permitted except for a few pieces in each bundle with 2’-3’ lengths of red on one face only.
• Sound knots are permitted in 20% of the pieces not to exceed one 1” knot in 6”, 8” per 6’ length and 1½”
  in 10” and 12” widths on one face. Other 80% to be clear 4 sides.
• Pitch pockets are considered the same as knots above.
• 20% of the pieces will permit pencil wane not to exceed 3/8”x 3/8” 1/6 the length.
• Warp – some light bow or crook, but no twist.

Grade Specifications for Kiln Dried rough Pine:
Prime & Better

Prime & Better Grade
click image to enlarge

The European Market for export quality Prime requires the following grade specifications:

• Must be properly kiln dried 12% to 16% moisture content with light to no exterior checking.
  maximum 1/32” by 10” long
• Must be bright and free from blue stain.
• Must be full thickness but scantness in width permitted:
  ⅛” in 4”, 6”, 8” widths and ¼” in 10” and 12” widths.
• Must be free of loose knots, pith knots, knot holes, pinworm holes, grub worm holes.
  Splits and shakes limited to the width of the piece at ends only. Through shakes not permitted.
• Red heart not to exceed 33% of the face side only.
• Sound knots are permitted on back face per piece as follows:
  6” and 8” widths pieces not to exceed three knots maximum 1½”
  10” and 12” widths not to exceed three 2” knots per piece.
  Small decayed knots not to exceed ½” are allowed, but no spike knots. One face should be clear.
• Pitch pockets – maximum three medium pitch pockets per piece and included in total with knots above. That is, 2 knots and 1 pitch pocket per piece or 1 knot and 2 pitch pockets.
• 20% of the pieces will permit wane not to exceed ½” on the thickness, 1/6 the face width and extending 1/4 th the length on one corner or equivalent total on 2 corners.
• Warp – some medium bow or crook allowed, but no twist. Basically all pieces should be clear 1 face 2 edges and including all Saps developing.

Grade Specifications for Kiln Dried rough Pine:
Selects

Select Grade
click image to enlarge

The European Market for export quality Selects requires the following grade specifications:

• Must be properly kiln dried 12% to 17% moisture content with light to no exterior checking.
  Maximum 1/8” by 20” long, but no through checks allowed.
• Must be bright and free from blue stain.
• Must be full thickness with ¼” scantness permitted in the width after kiln drying.
  Must be well manufactured with no wedge shaped pieces.
  Lengths 10’- 16’ long, heavy to 14’/16’.
• Must be free of loose knots, knot holes, pinworm holes, grub worm holes. Splits and shakes limited to twice width of the piece. Shake permitted on reverse side only.
• Heart no defect.
• Maximum 3” knots on face well scattered, 1” knot on reverse side in 30% of pieces.
• Pitch pockets – no defect.
• Wane - Maximum 1/2” the thickness 1/6 the face width and 1/6 the length on one corner or equivalent total on 2 corners. Warp – some medium bow or crook allowed, light twist.

Grade Specifications for Kiln Dried rough Pine:
Merchantable

Merchantable Grade Lumber click image to enlarge

Merchantable Grade Lumber click image to enlarge

The European Market for export quality Merchantable requires the following grade specifications:

• Must be properly kiln dried 12% to 18% moisture content with light to no exterior checking.
  Maximum 1/8” by 20” long, but no through checks allowed.
• Must be bright and free from blue stain.
• Must be full thickness with ¼” scantness permitted in the width after kiln drying.
• Must be well manufactured with no wedge shaped pieces. Lengths 10’- 16’ long, heavy to 14’/16’.
• Must be free of loose knots, knot holes, pinworm holes, grub worm holes. Splits and shakes limited to twice width of the piece. Shake permitted on reverse side only.
• Heart no defect.
• Maximum 3” knots on face well scattered, 1½” knot on reverse side in 30% of pieces.
• Pitch pockets – no defect.
• Maximum 1/2” the thickness 1/6 the face width and 1/6 the length on one corner or equivalent total on 2 corners.
• Warp – some medium bow or crook allowed, light twist.