Our Glossary..
Air-dried lumber- Lumber that was dried, usually outside, to an equilibrium moisture content with the air it was exposed to. Any lumber below 30% MC is classified as air dried. Construction grade is around 19% MC and in southern Ontario the relative humidity is usually between 50 to 60 % which lumber will equalize to moisture content to between 8 to 14% MC.
Annual growth rings- The layer of growth that a tree puts on in one year. The annual growth rings can be seen in the and grain of lumber.
Birds-eye figure- A figure on wood, usually maple and a few other species. The figure is composed of many small rounded areas resembling a birds eye. The figuring is most common on plain and rotary sawn lumber.
Board Foot- A form of wood measurement, where one board foot equals the volume of a board I inch thick, 12 inches wide, and 12 inches long.
Bookmatch- A term in veneering or sawing, where successive pieces of veneer, or boards, from a flitch, or log, are arranged side by side. A properly done bookmatch will resemble a mirror image of the opposite side. Other names are sisters, butterflied and mirrors.
If you find that we have omitted a definition or that we have something incorrect, feel free to contact us.