TIMBER 117 



considerably during the process of seasoning, and may do so to such an 

 extent as to unfit it for practical use. In order to reduce the risk of the 

 timber being spoiled in this way logs, if of any size, are generally cut into 

 scantlings while still green or unseasoned. The scantlings are then 

 stacked for seasoning purposes in a manner similar to that which has 

 already been described for small logs. 



Hard Wood; Soft Wood. — Timber is divided by the carpenter into 

 two classes — 



1. Hard wood, which is non-resinous, and 



2. Soft wood, which is resinous. 



The great bulk of the soft wood used for building purposes in South 

 Africa is imported from Norway, Sweden, and Northern Russia, and 

 is known as Baltic deal. Strictly speaking, however, the word " deal " 

 refers to the size to which the timber is cut, the common deal in South 

 Africa being 9" by 3" in cross- section. In South Africa, Baltic 

 deals can, as a rule, be readily obtained in lengths up to about 

 28 feet, although deals over 20 feet in length cost more per running 

 foot than do those under that length. 



Oregon Fir. — Oregon fir, also known as Oregon pine, an American 

 timber, can be readily obtained in South Africa in the form of 9" by 3" 

 deals up to 33 feet in length. Oregon fir is, as a rule, very free from 

 knots. If, however, this timber be very dry, parts of it are apt to split, 

 off in working, etc., in the form of splinters. This defect is probably 

 accentuated by the dry climate of the inland parts of South Africa. 



Common Scantlings. — In almost any town in South Africa it is 

 possible to have 9" by 3" deals sawn into smaller scantlings as 

 desired. The dimensions given below, which are commonly referred 

 to in practice, are " nominal " sizes, from which actual or finished sizes 

 may differ slightly. 



From one deal, two 4i" by 3", or three 3" by 3", scantlings can be 

 cut. These are used for wall-plates, floor-plates, lintels, and posts for 

 verandahs, sheds, and corrugated iron buildings. 



A 4^" by 3" scantling can be cut into two 4£" by 1J" pieces. 

 These are used for rafters, roof-trusses, ceiling-joists, flooring-joists, 

 framing for galvanised corrugated iron buildings, etc. 



Four 3" by 2" scantlings can be cut from a 9" by 3" deal. These 

 are used a3 purlins for corrugated iron roofs, verandah rails, and similar 

 light work. 



