Lumber Terms

BF ~ Board Foot

• Width x Length x Thickness Divide by 12 = BF
• Measures lumber that will be random width, thickness, and length.

LF ~ Lineal Foot

• “As the tape measure runs”. A running measurement of length. Usually boards will be dimensional, 1 x4, 1x6, 1x8 etc.

SAB ~ Select And Better

• A Common grading term used in the Hardwood Industry
• Same as FAS ~ Different mills use one or the other grading term

FAS ~ First And Second

• Another common grading term used in the Hardwood Industry
• Same as SAB ~ Different mills use one or the other grading term

FEQ ~ First European Quality

• Same as FAS or SAB but limited to Imported Hardwood

SUP ~ Superior

• Grading for Alder and Beech Hardwoods

QRT / QS ~ Quarter-sawn

• Vertical Grain in the Lumber

H&M ~ Hit and Miss

• Planed to display grain, may have some rough patches

S2S ~ Surfaced Two Sides

• Board is run through Planner to remove most rough spots.

S3S SLR1E ~ Surfaced Three Sides Straight Line Rip 1 Edge

• Board is run through Planner to remove most rough spots. Then board is joined on one edge.

S4S ~ Surfaced Four Sides

• Board is past through a molder to give a consistent dimensional size.
• Example: 1x4, 1x6, 1x8, 1x10, 1x12
• Molders are also used to make molding. It cuts the profile in one pass.

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