and the other, one isn't

HINGS are never they seem and it hardwood business really what would appear is no excep-

It may be a good bet that when we're ull through with this series you'll be sorry you ever asked! Seriously though, it's not all that bad once one is familiar with some of the conflicting terminology. T h e very terms "hardwoods" vs. "softwoods" are among those apt to trip a Iot of people.

Many of us have a mental image of hardwoods being just that--wood that's hard. Baseball bats, dance floors, bowling pins and the like. Well, friend, tain't necessarily so!

Remember as a kid you built model airplanes and gliders from balsa? This rvas a light, fluffy, very soft stock that sliced like warm butter with a razor blade. Would you believe balsa is as true a "hardwood" as any grown today?

This truth astounds a great many people, probably due to the unfor. tunate common usage of this misleading nomenclature in that there are many hardwoods very much softer than lhe so called softwoods and equally as many softwoods that are quite hard. Confused? Read on!

Probably terms that have more real meaning in our business would be "texture,t' or t'density,tt if you will.

If our names have no real mean' ing in the common usage why then do we continue to use them? This is a botanical tag. All domestic trees bearing broad leaves are classed as hardwoods lvhereas those of the confer (cone bearing) species have scalelike leaves, as with the cedar, or needles as do the pines and firs, are classed as softwoods and that's about as far as it goes. The hardness of the lumber produced from either is no factor !

Hardwoods are almost always deciduous except in the very warm climates and shed their leaves at the end of the growing season. Native softwoods remain evergreen except the cypress. tamarask and larch.

Sfory of o Glonce

Hardwoods softer than softwoods; softwoods harder than hardwoods . or, lotsof things you didn't know about hardwoods, but didn't know enough to ask texture, leaves, moisture, location all are factors in the fascinating realm of hardwood.

Generally speaking" the texture of the lumber from any given specie is affected by the conditions prevailing during the growth cycle. The tougher the conditions, the firmer the wood. Climate, chemical composition of the soil, available sunlight and moisture all have a proportional influence. For example, the same specie growing on the East and West slope of a mountain will often produce widely different textures, the harder almost always being from the tree on the Eastern slope since it is usually in soil having a lower average moisture content.

How is the degree of hardness measured? V"ry much like that done in the metal trades. Measurements are made on the pressure in pounds per square inch (p.s.i.) that it takes to imbed a hardened steel ball about L/2" i\ diameter half way into the wood surface.

The pressure range is extensive, if considering sources throughout the world. From 3,000 p.s.i. (approaching the hardness of a soft steel) to a mushy 10 p.s.i. (our friend the balsa again ! ) Domestic woods range from a high of 2,000 to low of about 500 p.s.i. A rvide range indeed, and ofiering the knowledgeable lumber' man an almost limitless choice in meetinq a particular application requirement. It should be remembered, however, that hardness and strength do not necessarily go hand in hand.

Many of those not familiar with the characteristics of firm textured woods hesitate to use them due to imagined difficulties of working. True, you can't drive a soft nail into them guite as easily, but once the slightly different techniques such as blade cutting angleso speeds and feeds are mastered, it's usually easier.

Caress the bowl of a good pipe, grasp tbe satin smooth birch stock of a fine rifle or perhaps gaze into the infinite depth of a finely detailed roservood chess board. These woods are hard, Mister, yet in the hands of solneone who understands their nature. they are easily moulded into complicated shapes of lasting beauty and utility. And it's here to stay ! Timber is our only natural resource which replenishes itself.

This series will continue with the further fascinating yet vexing situations concerning hardwoods and their seemirrgly inexhaustible suPply of contradicting terminology. What would you expect to receive if someone offeled you green ash, kiln dried, that is ! ? Don't try to answer -you're more than likely wrong already!

Roofs Agoinst The Wind

The Factory Mutual System has produced an audio/visual learning kit called Rools Against Wind. Ihe $225 kit contains a film, slides, audio cassette tape, and printed data sheets for the proper construction and installation of steel deck roofs and the results of improper installation procedures, Contact FMS. 1151 Boston Providenee Turnpike, Norwood, Ma. 02062.

Cement, Concrete Literolure

A new Cement and, Concrete Reference Catalog has been issued by the Portland Cement Assn.

The free 39 p. booklet describes all technical and semi-technical Iiterature and computer programs for sale by PCA.

Free Film For TV

One answer to the housing crisis problem is explored in a nerv 16mm color film called "Mod Mod Modular.', The 14-minute film is availatrle on free loan to TV stations from Modern TV, 2323 New Hyde Park Rd., New Hyde Park, N.Y. 11040.

The U.S. Plywood film focuses on lhe rapid grorvth and d,evelopment of the modular housing business, being produced by some 300 plants.

Alder Dimension Yields

The Northwest Hardwood Assn. has a supply of USDA Forest Service Research Paper FPL I70, L972 and supplemental information to the report. This is the study "Dimension Yield.s from Alder Lumber" made by the Forest Products Lab. Contact Ralph K. Peter, division af State & Private Forestry, Portland, Ore, 97208.

Foursome From Mosonite

Masonite brand "Antique" paneling in five colors is featurld in a new 4-p, color-illustrated brochure, Also available are: a new 6-p, illustrated brochure on its "Naturel" series of prefinished hardboard panels; a guide to "Feature," their series of hardboard paneling in a new 6-p. color brochure, Man-ynade Masterpieces; and "Tradition," the series of hardboard paneling featured in a new 4-p. brochure.

Guides To Plywood Use

A new single-sheet guide to installing plywood siding is now available from the American Plywood Assn. Also available is "Plyroood in School Construction," a new 22 p, brochure illustrating modern design concepts and building techniques for today's educational facilities.

A new plan for an overhead plywood bulk storage bin is also available. Equally applicable to the storage of feed, grain or fertilizer, the bin is 16' long and divided into four compartments, each with its own gravity flow hopper bottom.

OSHA Fire Regs.

A second edition of Guid,e to OSHA Fire Pratection Regulation is from National Fire Protection Assn. It gathers into five volumes, the 54 NFPA standards now teferenced in the OSHA act.

Price for the complete 5 volume set is $55; the three revised volumes are $35; revised volume 1, $15. Order from NFPA, 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Ma. 02110.

Free Reader Service

For further informotion on oll New Products ond New Lilero ture, write fhe Merchant Mogozine, 573 So. Loke Ave., Posodeno, Co. 9l l0l . Pleose mention issue dote ond poge number so we cqn process your request foster! Tho n ks.

Keep On Trucking

The "Standard for Type Designations, Areas of Use, Maintenance and, Operation of Pouered Industrial Trucks" NFPA No. 505), updated, revised and coordinated with some related standards, is avaiiable for $1 from the National Fire Protection Assn., 60 Batterymarch St., Boston, Ma. 02110.

Mefers,/Feet Mode Eosy

A Metric Conaersion Card ftom the National Bureau of Standards, special publication 366, a wallet card, costs 10 cents each, $6.25 per 100. Order prepaid from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, or local U.S. Department of Commerce field offices as SD Catalog No. C-13.10 1365.

Fofhers & Sons In Business

Released by the Manufacturers'Institute, these four reports are the first of a projected continuing series of examinations into the inner working of the founder/family owned business, Although most of the firms studied for these reports are in manufacturing, the study of personal relationships within the company are equally applicable to every kind of business.

The four reports are offered free to any family member of a privatelyowned business from Manufacturers' Institute, Box 228, Oxford, Mich. 48051.

Vinyl Shield Moldings

A new specification sheet on Vinyl Shield moldings is available from Georgia-Pacific. The new, colorful spec sheet illustrates a full line of prefinished moldings with a wood. grained vinyl surface to complement door and rvindow openings, paneled rooms and other wall treatments,

Srick ro lr

An 8 p. four-color free brochure on its new line of "Home Safe" nonflammable, non-sniffable adhesives is available from Weldwood Packaged Products.

The brochure deseribes each of the six products in the line, and gives tips on speeific applications.

Cement Reseorch

The Portland Cement Association's contract research program is described in a ne*' l2-page pictorial brochure, Contract Research ., Often a Wise Alternatile, Details are given about all of their research, development, special design and consulting services. Write to PCA, Old Orchard Rd., Skokie, Il1. 600?6.

Testing ond lob Equipment

The new 1972-7973 annual edition of "A Selected Listing of Testing and Laboratorg Equipmettt for AII Industries" is available free from Testing Machines Inc.

This 29 p. price list includes information on the availability and priee range of over 600 different testing machines and items of laboratory equipment.

Rings Your Bell

The award-winning Trine "Home Signaling Center" is one of the many p-o-p self-service merchandise displayers featured in their new fullcolor catalog #72 by Trine Mfg. Corp., a maker of signaling devices for the home, Products include door chimes, push-buttons, and decorator wail plates, offered in a great variety of styles and finishes.

Meosuring Wheels

The 19?3 catalog of Rolatape measuring wheels, describing a comprehensive line of premium measuring rvheel instruments, is now available. Fifteen different wheels, each designed for specific purposes, are described, many are illustrated.