All about dry boards

Boards - a type of lumber, in which the width (face) is greater than the thickness (edge) at least twice. Boards can be of different widths, lengths and thicknesses. In addition, they can be made from different sections of the log, which significantly affects the quality of the edge and face processing. The presence of bark is allowed on them if they were made from the outer part of the log. The degree of processing affects the cost of the lumber. The quality of the boards is also determined by the degree of drying of the boards. This article will focus on the so-called dry boards.

Dry boards - sawn timber having a moisture content of no more than 12% according to GOST standards. This result can be achieved only with a special drying chamber. This is how manufacturers prepare the export board.

Usually, in the cold season, the natural moisture content of the wood is higher. Naturally dried sawn timber in its quality characteristics is close to dried in the chamber, while its cost is noticeably lower.

Dry board - ready-to-use lumber. It is not affected by all kinds of biological objects, such as fungi, mold, insects. It can be treated with antiseptic compounds with great effect, since dry wood absorbs aqueous solutions much more intensively. Unlike wetted wood, dry wood has higher strength and hardness values, while often significantly less weight. Among other things, a dry board is not subject to warping and other deformations.

There are several ways to distinguish dry from wet lumber.

First of all, this is done by comparing the mass. A raw board of the same size from the same wood species is considerably heavier. In order to more accurately determine the moisture content of lumber, a table has been developed, according to which it is possible to compare the permissible moisture content based on the specific gravity (density) of 1 cubic meter.

Having recorded the result obtained, the same sample is dried for 6 hours in a dryer at a temperature of 100 ° C. After weighing, the sample is dried again for 2 hours, and so on until the difference in indicators disappears (permissible error of 0.1 g). So you can see how far the lumber is from perfect drying.

An invaluable help can be provided by a modern electrical device - a moisture meter, which reduces the operation to determine the moisture content of the boards to 1-2 minutes.

Experienced sawmill workers can fairly accurately determine the suitability of lumber by external signs. If moisture appears during sawing, it means that the material is waterlogged and requires drying. Dried wood is difficult to saw; pieces can fly off from it.

Elastic chips also indicate insufficient drying of the materials.

Back in the middle of the 20th century, the suitability of the boards was determined using a chemical pencil. The line he drew on dry wood remained black, and on wet wood it became blue or purple. Some craftsmen could determine the quality of drying by ear, hitting the workpiece with the butt of an ax or other piece of wood. Indeed, raw wood sounds dull, dry - sonorous and melodic.

Board as lumber is different not only in the degree of drying, but also in other characteristics.

Of course, boards of the best condition, including those for export, have a number of features. It is clear that drying of such material should be of the highest quality, but, in addition, the appearance of the lumber is also important.

The combination of qualities gives the right to assign the highest grade "Extra" to such material.

The largest volume of exports is coniferous (pine and spruce) boards.

Grade "A" is also distinguished by high quality of processing, but the presence of light knots and resin pockets is acceptable in it. It can be used for all types of construction work.

Materials of the "Extra" and "A" grades of circular sawing are used for the manufacture of profile boards used in finishing works.

Grade B is suitable for many types of carpentry and construction work. Its cost is somewhat lower, since there are not only knots or cracks, but also traces of insect activity. Grade "C" is used for the manufacture of containers, temporary building fences, some hidden structures, for example, roof sheathing. In this case, the presence of cracks and knots is considered the norm.

In addition to the listed varieties of edged boards, there are unedged materials, the edges of which represent the raw surface of the log. Depending on the angle at which the surface is beveled, lumber boards with sharp wane and blunt wane are distinguished. The lowest cost is the so-called obapol - lumber, the face of which is cut down only on one side. If on the other side there is the surface of a log, it is called a slab, but if part of the surface is cut down, it is a boardwalk.

Most often, the length of sectional lumber is 6 m, this is due to the technological features of the sawmill equipment and transportation conditions. Width and thickness are standardized, but can vary quite widely. The developed standards make it possible to optimize not only the transportation, but also the storage of lumber.

The ratio of the main dimensions and volumes of edged boards is presented in the table.

Thus, for example, standard boards marked 150x50x6000 in one cubic meter 22.2. One such board will occupy 0.045 cubic meters.

The weight of the boards, as already noted, depends on the degree of drying and storage conditions and is calculated by the formula: M = VxP, where

M - mass in kg, V - volume in M³, P - density, taking into account rock, moisture and other factors.

More dense wood usually weighs more. So, the highest density among the trees of the northern forest belt is the wood of ash and apple, the average value is the wood of oak, larch and birch, the lowest density is sawn timber from poplar, linden, pine and spruce.

As a rule, the lower part of the trunk is more dense, while the wood of the tops is lighter.

You can use a board dried artificially or naturally for any work.

Boards of "Extra" grade can be used with equal success in the construction of structures, their decoration and even in shipbuilding.

Grade A materials can be successfully used for the construction of structures - from the frame to the finishing.

Planks of grades "B" and "C" can be used for flooring or lathing. Sheds and other outbuildings can be made from it.

Even off-grade sawn timber is widely used both in construction and in the arrangement of private house and land holdings.

Hardwood boards are widely used in joinery: furniture, crafts and much more.