Industrial Users' Big Market for Redwood

The demand for California redwood as finish lumber for houses. and the profits therefrom, have led some dealers and wholesalers to disregard an important market for this species-industrial users.

Many of the same characteristics which make redwood a preferred material {or siding and paneling-tight, even, straight grain; dimensional stability; ease of handling and working; and durability-make it egually suitable for architectural millwork, furniture and {urniture cores, {oundry patterns, tanks, pipe, caskets. and cabinetry. Redwood's beauty of color and graining is olten a selling point for industrial buyers.

One o{ the first important industrial markets for redu'ood u'as staves milled from specially-selected stock for tanks and pipes. The rigorous standards set by tank manufacturers early narrowed down the choice of species to redwood (and cypress where that was available). Redwood was found to be more economical and in many cases more durable than metal tanks.

Dimensionol Srobility

Its dimensional stability is a factor in ;ts choice for another important industrial use-furniture cores. Redwood is listed in the U. S. Department of Agriculture's Wood Handbook (Table 39, page 315) as having a lower volumetric shrinkage than any commercial American wood. The Handbook also lists it (Table 34- page 234) among those woods which "glue very easily with different glues under a wide range of gluing conditions." Glued-up stock in a wide range of lengths and widths is now available from several mills to meet a wide range oI customer specifications.

Reseqrch Unit

Redwood's durability is one reason green' house manufacturers use specially milled redwood for sash, structural memhers, and benches.

Additional qualities which make redwood suitable for various other industrial uses are its low thermal conductivity, its resistance to fire, and its ability to hold paint, rated among the best of commercial softwoods. Appearance factors and workability make redwood the choice for many small products such as cigar boxes and novelties.

Where durability or strict dimensional stability is a factor, recommend the heart' wood grades. The sapwood of redwood possesses the same qualities as heartwood but is not resistant to decay and insect attack.

If short lengths will do the job, suggest economical Shop Grade redwood. The Cal- ifornia Redwood Association has prepared an Industrial Redwood File {one dollar from Dept. P 49, California Redw-ood Association, 617 Montgomery Street. San Francisco, California) to aid you in marketing redwood for specific uses. Technical information on machining. end-grain shaping, gluing, and fastening is available from the Association's Research Division. or from the appropriate departments of the member mills (Arcata Redwood Company. Georgia-Pacific Corporation, The Pacific Lumber Company, Simpson Timher Compan), Union Lumber Company. \Irillits Redwood Prodults Companv t.

Durobility

The Association's Research Dilision is .onstantly seeking new uses for redwood. A recent product development capitalizing on redwood's unique qualities is the Redwood Acoustic Pattern, a paneling designed to mask visually an inexpensive acoustic wall treatment, while remaining acoustically transparent. Similar to a moulding. this pattern is a product which can be run by any local millwork company to specification. Drawings are available from the California Redwood Association.

Corpenters' Union Bocks Lumber Size Stondords

'fhe men who work with u'oodthe 800,000 members of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of Americahave announced their support of the proposed new lumber size standards.

Action by the Carpenters' Brotherhood brought to more than 60 the number of national organizations and other prominent groups urging the Commerce Department to promulgate the proposed new- sizes as voluntary industry standards. The new standards. which relate lumber dimensions to moisture content, also have been endorsed by many members of Congress.

Notification that the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners favors the nerv size standards came in a letter from the union's general treasurer, Peter E. Terzick. Terzick advised the National Lumber Manufacturers Association, a pioneer supporter of the size re{orms, that "after careful review, the General Officers of this organization have unanimously expressed themselves as favoring adoption of the proposed new standards for softwood lumber sizes." The General Officers serve as spokesmen for the Brotherhood's membership.