Hardwood displ ay covers handling, grading & costs

IJARDWOODS, especially when it I |comes to imported species, are a mystery to many users and potential users.

Yet, we are becoming more and more dependent upon them because of fast dwindling domestic supplies, poorer grades and increased prices.

As part of an educational program to remove some of the apprehension about imported hardwoods, Penberthy Lumber Co., Los Angeles, recently participated in a Grading Seminar and yard demonstration co-sponsored by the Orange County Hoo-Hoo Club and Simpson Building Supply Co., (see The Merchant, Aug., p. 10) to show what is available, how the lumber is graded, methods of handling and cost considerations.

A 20' exhibit displayed samples of many different types of hardwoods from around the world. Several of these species were described as excellent substitutes for domestic grades, such as walnut, and are available in good supply at economical prices.

Huge logs, which are seldom seen in domestic timber, were used to show how the lumber is processed to get maximum yield, different methods of sawing to get unusual effects and recommendations of various species for a variety of applications.

A l0 minute, sound-slide presentation took visitors into the forests to show how the trees look before they are harvested. Then to the saw mills to see how the logs are made into lumber. Drying and shipping processes were also presented.

Many species which were not on display were reviewed to show the lumber in the rough and finished stage and how the lumber is handled once it arrives at the Penberthy yard.

Additional recommendations on usage and a discussion on machining, gluing and finishing techniques were also presented.

Special lssue: Hardwood

A great deal ofhand labor has been eliminated and the lumber, because of the precision stacking, is easier to dry and remains straighter during the process.

DIFFERENT DETAItS, which are regularly produced in the firm's planing mill, show, how well many different species of imported hardwoods can be machined to obtain unique effects.