2660 



Chapter 22 



LUMBER CONTAINED IN TIMBERS SAWED FROM 



SAWED TIMBER 

 SIZE 



4X6 INCHES 



GRADE 1 LOGS 



1 



GRADE 2 LOGS 



GRADES LOGS 



8 40 52 



2 32 66 



6X8 INCHES 



30 35, 35 



26 40 34 



12 42 46 



7X9 INCHES 



45 31 24 



35 37 28 

 1 COMMON AND BETTER 



16 41 43 



2 COMMON 



3A AND 3B COMMON 



Figure 22-50. — Proportionate distribution of lumber grades in different-size timbers 

 sawn from Appalachian hardwood logs of three grades — all species combined. 

 (Drawing after Garrett 1969.) 



TIMBER VS. LUMBER FROM LOW-GRADE LOGS 



Some sawmill operators believe that central portions of low-grade hardwood 

 logs should be manufactured into timbers or crossties; the argument for so doing 

 is summarized in table 22-17 and figure 22-50. Typically, low-grade logs from 

 pine-site hardwood trees contain high percentages of low- value 3 A and 3B 

 Common lumber which fails to return the cost of its manufacture. Most of this 

 low-grade wood is in the center of the log and can be cut into heart-center cants 

 for crossties or timbers, rather than into lumber of grades depicted in figure 22- 

 50. Moreover, cant volume will exceed board volume by one-quarter to one- 

 third (table 22-17). It takes less time to saw cants than boards, and the timbers 

 are usually worth more per board foot than the mix of lumber obtainable from the 

 central portion of a low-grade log. 



