Lumber Size Controversy-A Logical Solution

by JOHN E. TUNNICUFFE, Generol Monoger Colifornio Lumber Inspection Service

Assuming new size standards will be established by the ALS Committee for green surfaced lumber and for dry surfaced lumber at a set M.C. percentage, it is appropriate to review major opposition to size standards changes. Most green lurnber producerso building officials, wholesalers. and retailers of the West Coast area do not want changes in present size standards; these principals believe industry efforts to induce said changes are a waste of time, because present standards are serving the industry adequately;it is stated there are no problems warranting changes; also, it is believed size change proposals are only being promoted by large dry lumber producers seeking economic advantages. Be that as it may, if differential size standards of dry surfaced and green surfaced lumber are definitely to be adopted by the ALS Committee in May, the opposition of the size standards change proposals will certainly advocate any plan which will satisfy the adopted ALS Committee principle of size-M.C. correlation, of industry production, distribution, and marketing.

The NLMA proposal oI lr/2" dry thickness for 2" nominal dimension is not looked upon favorably in California, because of the extensively-used 3/n" resawn board; therefore, the base point oI lL/rt' dry is not endorsed to any great extent. The plan most {avored, if size changes are inevitable, is the use of present ALS size standards for green surfaced lumber with just, equitable size scanting equivalents which will brins about the least diskrcainn for dry surfaced lumber, resulting in the same sizes for both after reaching equilibrium in service. The most reliable" in' dependent studies have shown that soft' woods shrink to a maximum of 1.5/o @ l9a/c M.C., and to a maximum of 2/6' Gf $% M.C. On this basis, size differ' entials, using the present ALS size standards for green surfaced lumber, can be shown for equitable dry surfaced sizes by the following accurate, simple tables:

(Continued, on Page 42)

K.D. CTEAR & AYE

WATER REPEI.LENT TREATING

PAPER WRAPPED

FINISH & SIDING

S4SEE & PATTERNS

Lumber Size Controversy

(Continued lrom Page 40) l/32" difrerential is measured every day throughout the industry in planer sheds relative to the 3/+n' and, 25/32" thick

Consequentlyo a correct size equivalent boards; he is apprehensive of M.C.-size difierential, at say, the l5/o M.C. condi- correlation quality control, because the tion would show not over a -l/64" Ior proposed size changes will be applied to

25/32" thickness, :l/32" for I5/g" thick- "common lumber"; he wants assurance ness, -1/16'' lor 35/s" thickness, :l/16" that it will not be possible for a dry pro-

Iot 35/e" width, --ls" Ior $r/r" width, ducer to ship l9/o M.C., 23% M.C., or

1/{l for 7t/2 width, -3/1gt 1or 97/, width, 28% M.C.lumber using a l5/o M.C. size and, 14" lor lll/2" width. equivalent; he is apprehensive of the grade

The primary concern of the green lum- marking of "Green" on green surfaced . ber producer is the possible arbitrary lumber, or the marking o{ "Dry" on so' adoption by ALS of size differentials be- called dry surfaced lumber to the economic t*een dry surfaced lumber and green detriment of the green product when he surfaced lumber which may not be cor- knows by actual field studies that in a rect and just. The green producer knows matter of days framing lumber "in place" that any plan correlating size standards before "wrap up,' green surfaced or dry - with moisture content will place the dry surfaced, reaches the same approximate operator in a more relative advantageous M.C. of the atmosphere in the locality position than at present; therefore, based where installation is effected' , on all the various economic ramifications In summation: In the face of deterof a change, not in his favor, the green mined action to bring about size standproducer must insist on a just, fair set of ards changes, any plan which will satisfy size differentials being established. The the ALS Committee principle of correlatgreen producer does not want the l/l6t' ing size differentials between dry surfaced thickness differential at 15% M.C. ac- lumber and green surfaced lumber on the ftor 2" nominal dimension lumber, basis of moisture content, and yet cause ffit because he knows by recent studies that the lq.st dislocation ol industry proeeIt' this shrinkage is a maximtm oL I/32" at dures, is most applicable to that industry.

15/o M.C.; he does not want to be told The only logical solution on this principle it must be a l/76". because it is imprac- of least dislocation is the acceptance of tical to measure l/32"; he knows that thethe present ALS sizes for green surfaced boards and dimension, with just, equinble reduced sizes for dry surfaced board and dimension at the proposed established M.C. % standard for dry lumber, said difrerential equivalents uspported by re' liable, complete studies. Specifically, it means no change is necessary in our pres' ent green lumber standard sizes in order to maintain present structurally adequate stress ratings; therefore, the only change required to correlate moisture content with size is the scanting of dry, surfaced lumber by a correct shrinkage difierential so that either product, surfaced green or surfaced dry, will be of the same size after reaching the same moisture content in service.

Appointmenls Announced

In conjunction with the company's current reorganization and expansion of its varied lines in California and other market areas, T. A. Work, Jr', general manager and president of The Work Lumber Co., Inc. Monterey (also The Work Mill & Cabinet Co., Inc., and Work-M' L. Cases, Inc.), has announced the following ap' pointments:

Will Lockyear, controller; Gordon Wil' kinson, buyer; George Kristovich, manu' facturing manager; and Rutledge Bray, sales manager.

We're independent-not tied to any mill or line. If any reputable supplier has the materials our customers require, he doesn't need a lasso to get our business he can't miss ! Contrarywise, if he has the biggest selling brand in the industry and it doesn't fit the needs of our clientele, he can peddle it elsewhere. As your purchasing agents, and experts in this field, we insist on freedom of choice-independence-and offer you the same.

Top row, from left: Distinguished guests of honor were the charming Mrs. Whelan and her husband, Charles V. Whelan, lrish Consulate General of San Francisco. Three of the gals who engineered the interesting meeting are: Gwen Collier, Koppers Co.; Shirley Crumpler, Mar-Mac Lumber Co.; and Juanita 0'Brien, Georgia-Pacific Corp. Next: Julia Marbach, Dant Forest Products; Beth Richards and Shiela Fay, both of C. B. S. Plywood in 0akland; and Phil Lomanaco, Doors, Inc. Right' Sally Haddox, Ethel Enderlin and Dolores Johnson, J. E. Higgins Lumber Co.; Helen Hauptvogel, Lucille Glanzman of Higgins, Mrs. Whelan, and Jo Galloway of Higgins.

Bottom row, from left, Helen Erughelli of Sawmill Sales, Adeline Helms, and Ellen Nystrom of Ward & Knapp. Next, lVlyrtle Heney of Lamon Lumber, Union Lumber's Min Wicklund, and Betty Jones who with husband Jim recently celebrated the opening of their brand-new Foster Lumber Yard in Vallejo. Right, top photo: Helen 0'Grady of Union Lumber salutes her island ancestors, while Helen Pearsall and MacBeath Hardwood's Edith

San Francisco Hoo-Hoo-Ettes Wear the Green

Leave it to the gals to go right to the top when the1. need a guest speaker. In this case it rvas Charles V. V-helan. Irish Consulate General of San Francisco. who. with his wife. completely captivated a banner turnout of San Francisco Hoo-Hoo-Ette Club il honoring (natch) St. Patrick's Day.

Ihe big meeting was held Tuesday evening. Nlarch 12, at'forino's Restaurant. and followine dinner the c'lulr enioyed two excellerrt souncl-ct-rlor films on lr"lJnd t'omplinrents. we-might add. to CRA for the use of a projector and to Bettv Jones of Vallejo who turned in a right fine performance as projectionist.

Credits should go to Juanita O'Brien (who undoubtedly put her last name to good use in influencing Mr. Whelan to attend), Hoo-

Hoo-Ette Club 3 president Shirley Crumpler. Edith \unes. (lwen Collier, Ann McKay and all the other gals who gar.e freelv of their time to stage the excellent meeting.

Evons Building Products Joins IHPA

Eric Wagner, president of the lmported Hardwood Plvwood Association, welcomed Evans Building Products Co. as a regular IHPA member last month. Evans Building Products Co. has offices at Corona, California, with W. K. "Bilf' Suiter in charge of the import division.

"Cope Cod Model"

880 Sunol St., Son Jose, Colif. Telephone: CYpress 4-1258

"Exterior oll Gilchrist 6i4 x 10" ft2 ond betier resown to bevel siding."

"Cope Cod Model interior showing 6/4 x 12" #2 ond better decking ond I I f16" x 12" #2 ond better poneling"