Beginners buying wood guide

[Bassbear81]

Hi

Just pricing up some wood for my first project, can someone tell me what all the abbreviations mean.

I understand AD is air dried and KD is kiln dried, but what does the rest mean (ie FAS, yield etc)

And which is the best to go for.

Ive got a few quotes from different suppliers and the price varys a hell of a lot (Ive cheapest being £120 and expensive £300+), does everyone else find this

 

[Grinding One]

I just head out to the forrest and drop a tree,makes it kinda easy to fine what your looking for and sometimes you get a surprise inside....

 

[TheTiddles]

I just head out to the forrest and drop a tree,makes it kinda easy to fine what your looking for and sometimes you get a surprise inside....

hmmmm, practical advice there!

Aidan

 

[JonnyD]

Hi FAS is an american grading term meaning Firsts and Seconds. If you go here http://www.john-boddy-timber.ltd.uk/environmental.htm and download the brochure at the bottom of the page there is lots of usefull information about grading and timber in general.

Jon

 

[joiner_sim]

I currently get my timber from my work. But usually it's not the expensive stuff, as we only get that in on special order and then I'd have to pay for it

But, I'm currently waiting for an oak supplier on ebay to give me a quote for a cutting list (that I'm currently already using on a project) for PAR timber. They have said that they don't mind doing small quantities. So I'll have to wait and see.

 

[Bassbear81]

thanks, which is best AD or KD

 

[johnjin]

Hi Jon
Many thanks for that link
Totally fascinating

All the best

John

 

[Chris Knight]

thanks, which is best AD or KD

Many people say they prefer working air dried wood to kilned stuff. The moisture content of AD is likely to be more variable than KD stuff and it will be worth keeping it for a good while in the house/workshop to settle in the ambient conditions there. AD can be more stable than KD which has been done poorly and introduced kilning stresses that can cause the wood to warp or split when it is worked.

Kilning in certain ways can "improve" the appearance of some woods. Sycamore, walnut and beech are examples where particular kilning techniques are used to impart a more uniform colour, or in the case of sycamore, to keep it as white as possible.

In practice for most things, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference.

 

[Nick Gibbs]

I'm with Chris on this. I suspect you won't notice the difference between air-dried and kiln-dried yet (I'm not sure I can!!). For the moment you're probably safer with kiln-dried wood, but I would encourage you to get into the habit of searching for home-grown timber at a local yard because it is so rewarding and helps the local economy. Timber in such small yards may be air or kiln dried, or a combination of both.

It's good to get to know a local yard, and be upfront about your inexperience. They should help. Where are you in the country? I may be able to recommend someone.

Cheers

Nick

 

[Bassbear81]

Im in Somerset

 

[Nick Gibbs]

I suggest you try the Forest of Avon co-operative. They have members who use and/or supply local wood. Talk to Duncan Bonner on 0117 953 2141, [email protected]. They are a fantastic organisation, and have contacts with some great local sawmills.

Cheers

Nick

 

[big soft moose]

I just head out to the forrest and drop a tree,makes it kinda easy to fine what your looking for and sometimes you get a surprise inside....

rather less easy to plank and dry tho - unless you have a mobile sawmill and a kiln :roll: