Lumber Research Finds Blue Stain ls Not Decay

Bv Dt. A. \fl. Stout, Chemist

\Uestern Pine Associction Research Loborotory

Acccptability of stained lumber has been one of the most controversial issues in Western Pine dealer-manu' facturer relationships since logging of the three pine species began.

The dealer has been naturally reluctant to take delivery of soiled stock which appeared to him, and to his customer, to be in the first stages of progressive decay. The manufacturer on the other hand, beset by the unavoidable occurrence of blue and,/or brown stain in the manufacturing process, and knowing it was not decay, has not been anxious to mark down his product-perfect in all other respects-whcn in most cases the stain was to be covered by paint anyway.

The controversy raged about the question "Is stain decay or is it not?" with side issues concerning the paint' holding, nail-holding, split resistance, dryness, hardness, softness and other properties of the rvood, regardless of the alleged decay feature.

Essentially a technical problem, it eventually wound up in the Western Pine Association's Research Laboratory at Portland, Ore., for clarification. Without relating the interminable mass of scientific test detail that has been reported, here is what we learned about stains in lumber:

First, brown stain-which occurs more widely in Sugar Pine'than in Ponderosa or Idaho White Pine-is far less frequentty found in the three pines than is blue stain' It occurs both in sapwood and heartwood,

There are two kinds of brown stain, one a chemical proccss, the other fungus-caused. Approxigrately 95 per cent is caused by chemical change in the drying Process' It is due to the oxidation and/or carmelization of certain mirror soluble carbohydrate constituents during seasoning, particularly in the kiln drYing'

It is not, therefore, decay or a rotting process at all but simply a stain like that which an overturned cup of cofice might make on a tablecloth. Not a single use property of lumber is affected.

The balance of the brown stain, amounting to no more than five per cent, is caused by a non-parasitic fungus that dcvclops occasionally in stored logs. It is similar to the fungus that causes blue stain.

The agents causing blue stain, oc'curring at certain seasons of the year in all three of the Western Pines, are microscopic plants that grow within the rvood, obtaining tl.reir nourishment from the soluble materials of the wood cells, but not upon the cellulose or lignin which comprise

IN ORDERED the wood's structural components. In other words, not upon the cells themselves.

FPockoged lumber meons: Greotly reduced hondling chorgesauick turn q16unl-1ime in port o moller of hours for looding or dischorging, eliminoting costly dockoge chorges-ship designed to novigote shollow depths to your mill.

(De'cay, on the other hand, is caused by organisms which attack the cellulose or lignin to break down wood,s structure.)

Stain fungi, thriving only upon water soluble nutrients, are present only in the sapwood where those materials are available. Stain does not occur in heartwood, nor does it begin in the living tree. It originates only after logs have been sawn, from tiny fungal spores which are almost universally distributed by air currents.

(Decay may exist at any point in the tree or finished lumber, since it destroys cellulose and lignin, and may originate ,before or after the tree is delled.)

Stain fungus, existing only on water soluble materials, continues to grow only so long as the lumber is green. It stops growing when lumber is dried. The color of the stain is not even part of the wood, but only of the fungus itself.

Therefore, like the chemical brown stain, fungus-caused blue and brown stain is, in total effect upon the lumber, no different from that coffee-colored mark on the table_ cloth. Since the fungi do not live upon the wood's struc_ tural elements, stain cannot act upon wood,s strength, no matter how deep its penetration nor how broadly it covers the piece. And, since it does not affect wood's structure, it cannot influence its paint-gripping qualities, nor any of its other use values su,ch as nail-holding ability, resistance to splitting, texture, etc.

Put another way, stain fungi might be likened to the small fish which accommodates the whale by swimming into its mouth to extract bits of superfluous food from the monster's teeth, but harming neither the whale nor the molars. The fungi feed upon water soluble nutrients which nourished the living tree but which are of 'no value to the manufactured lumber.

It can only follow, then, that stained lumber is sound lumber, suitable for any of the many purposes to which stain-free stock is put. Moreover, stained lumber can be merchandised by the alert dealer because it's enchantingly different.

The delicate blue shading scattered at random over the face of the board provides a pleasing informal pattern that cannot be duplicated. Known as marble grain paneling, it ,commands premium prices from discerning home builders by merchandising-minded retailers.

A condensed report of Research Laboratory findings on blue and brown stain, attractively printed in three colors, is available from Western Pine Association, 510 yeon Building, Portland 4, Ore.

With Hcrry H. White Lumber Co.

George E. Otto joined the sales staff of the Harry H. White Lumber Co., Los Angeles, on June 1. George re_ cently completed a nine months' trip throughout the East, South and Middlewest when he visited thirty-six states. He has been associated with the lumber business for many years, and formerly had his own office in Los Angeles. Hi is well known to the trade.

One of our cultorr'rerc, uery kindly wrote: "Il's eaty to do butinels utith Tartu, lYebster €z lobnton." Tbat ttas sweet nutic to us, b,ecauJe the policy here is to go "ouerboard" in a constant endeaaor to blearc cilslomerc- iRes. U.S. Pot. Oft.

Ponderosa Pine, Sugar Pine, White Fir, Douglas Fir, Incense Cedar; also Pine doors, Pine and Fir-mouldings, Pine plywood, cut stock.

Here's a plan to help you earn good profits selling Wolmanized Pressure-Treated Lumber' You receive all the facts you need plus sales promotional, advertising and display material to help make your elforts pay o{f quickly' There's a wide open opportunity here Ior you to obtain new business. You can readily sell clean, Ionger-Iasting Wolmanized PressureTreated Lumber wherever the threat oI decay or termites exists-in home construction, to industries, Ior heavy construction projects and for scores of farm applications.

Get started now. Write lor Iree lolder describing the complete Wolmanized* Lumber Merchandising Plan.

Marin County Dealer Displays Model Of Industry Engineercd Home

Model Home disployed by Morin County Lumber Co., Sqn Rclqel 'l'lrt' rrr,rlt'l lt,,tttt' lrcirtg- ltt'l<l l,-r' ('roslry I l. Shcvlirr, ()\\'l('r-, (lt'ft ), :rntl (:. | ). ( ltill) I I ilclrc,,cl<, Jr', ttt:trr;tgcr, ,,i tlrt. Il:rrirr ('orrrrt-r'l,utttlrer ('o., S:ttt lilriacl, is:ttt ltc('llr:rt(' sc:tle ttt,<lcl of lrtr l ,-slr;tpt'<l " lrtrlrrstry l'lrrtlirrccrctl Ilrrrrrt,." Itill IIitchcocli lrrrilt tht' .\i" |t 1 ft. sclrlc trrrttlcl oi p,,nrlerosrr lrirtc irt :rpproxilrrlrtcll' 100 rvorkirlg Itotlrs. .,\ll lxLrts :trt' glttcrl in pl:rcc. \\'irrtlou's :tre clc;tr 1rl:tstic.

'l'his is p:rrt of tlrc <lislrlltv trrtrl lrrtlrlic rclatiorrs l)r()grltln tht' ]l;11i11 (iottttt-t' Ltttttlrcr ('o. lt:ts lrt'e tt rlcvcloPirrg sirrce rnovirrg irrto its rr('\\' (ltlitrtcrs ott -l tttte I ' l9+(). 'l'hc ttcrv pllrrrt hrts olliccs rttttl lt s;tlcs rooltt lrt thc frorrt of :r 1/,1 :rcrc sitc locrtlr:rl trt thc sotttlt ctltrltt.tcc to Slu-r liaIacl' ]'}relrirrrl it ltrc iL tno<lcrn <lrtttlrlc-tlcck shc<1, a 35-foot sherl for t'rrrl st:tt'kittg oi pirre rrrttl firrish 5,lrtck, alrtl an opcn storltge :t f ciI.

.\11 cnrplol-ccs itrc :rttractivell' ltrr<l ncatll' drcsscrl in iorcst grccrt rtnifttrt-ns u'ith thc illcliviclual's namc otr the frorrt ltrrrl thc contp:rtt\-'s llAltlc on thc back of thc sl-rirts irr vcllon, lcttcrs. A sllur trltck at thc rcar of thc cloullle rlcclt lumlrcr shcd trl:tlics possilllc tnovetlrent of ltturller fronr the c:rrs dircctl\-to:Iltv placc in the vard by gravity c( )lt Yc\'ors.

Dennis Lumber Compcny Hcrs BuYer In Fortunc, Calil.

])cr.rnis I-urnber Comltarrr', San Frarrcisco, rcccntly appointecl James C. Smith as brtl'cr, s'ith heatlc;uarters in Fr.rrtuna, Calif., front l,hcrc hc calls on Northertr Calif. sarvnrills in thc Reclrvoocl llighs'av area.

Wilh Tqcomq Lumber Sqles, Inc.

Dovlc F. Qrriggle of Arcata., Calif.. joine<l tire Tacoma I-umbcr Sales, lnc., on \[a.v 1.5 and rvill make his heaclquarters at the conrpanl''s -\rcata offrce. .l Ie has been associated u'ith the lumber inclustry for many J/cars, and is u'ell known in th:rt area.

Opporcr Rcgplation of Privrtc Forcrt Managcmcnt by Fcdcral Control

In a referendum held May 26 by the Socicty ttf American Iioresters, a nrajority of the menrbers v<lting went on record as opposing regulation of private forest tnanagement by the federal government.

'l'he specific question on which the vote was taken by mail ballot was as follows: "Shall the Society of American Forestcrs through its Council favor or oppose the principle of federal regulation of private forests, and federal legislation looking to the establishment of this principle?"

Of. 3,652 valid ballots cast, 2,545 nrembers voted to oppose, and 1,107 voted to favor the principle of federal regulation About 4O percent of those eligible to vote did not return ballots.

Organized in Washington, D.C., in 1900, the Society of American Foresters is a professional organization of technically trained foresters with 6,500 members.

In commeting on this referendum, Charles F. Evans of Atlanta, Georgia, president of the Society, said, "It should be noted that the referendum did not cover the general principle of regulation of private forests and, therefore, leaves the questi<ln open as to whether the members now favor regulation by state or other local units of government. A previous referendum held in 1944 and approved by a substantial majority vote endorsed 'in principle public regulation to the extent necessary in each local situation to prevent destruction of forests and to keep forest lands reasonably productive.'"

The present merchantable stand of Idaho White Pine is estimated at 17 billion board feet.

Inglewood Concern Direct Mill Distributor for Baylaun Products

Ituffcorn-l'ollard Cotnpany, (819 West Boulevard, Inglewood, Calif., is a direct mill distributor for Baylaun products. Jack I'ollard of this company recently explained that Baylaun is a trade name copyrighted by Elliott Bay Mill Company, Seattle, 40 years ago. "Baylaun products consist of Philippine plywood, mouldings, lumbcr, ancl flush doors. Each of these comes in White I-auan and Tanguile," Mr. Pollard said.

"These products are identified by species, all from tl.re same source, the Island of Basilan, in the I'hilippines, where there is a 30-year supply. In selecting Tanguile or White I-auan the user is assured of getting uniform texture and the particular species only.

"Baylaun mouldings come in 29 different patterns. They are very smooth and require little or no sanding.

"Wc stock matching i'hilippine lumber, S4S and rough, in identifiable species, such as White Lauan and Tanguile."

Seidlitz Frqnchises Open

i'ji ! "PLASTER VoRKABILITY" is as important in the t, manufacturing of Dlaster lath as in BLUE DIAMOND Ifpnrul I PLASTER. This irivaluable characteristic -is a-gift of Nature. "------- i.i Our gypsum deposits at Blue Diamond, Nevada, tx)ss€ss i- "PLASfER VORKABILITY" to a high degree.

ilLL i The Blue Diamond Plaster Lath production line is equipped frGHll{ES with high speed automatic machinery of latest design- -and is synclironized from beginning to end. :.triffi

111.:r,r 1t"11.,;'1rr1, ;r1l.

The finest materials and machinery are no better than the men who use them. Under standards set for them by meo witb over a quarter century of continuous expetience manufacturiog Blue Diamond products, skilled workers, aided by laboratory control metho{s, gu.ard this long production line against imperfection.

54, GruroRiln

G. R. Seidlitz, vice president of the Seidlitz Paint & Varnish Co. of Kansas City, Mo., announces the formation of a new corporation to manufacture and distribute the Seidlitz MultiTint line of paints, enamels, and varnishes on the West Coast. Negotiations have been completed with the Atlas lraint & Varnish Co. of Los Angeles, and the new company will be knorvn as Seidlitz MultiTint-Atlas Paints, fnc., located at 7922 E. Gage Avenue, Los Angeles 1, Calif. Officers are George Nagel, E. E. Whittemore, and Knox Price.

Franchises for the Seidlitz MultiTint line are now being offered to paint dealers throughout California and Arizona by the new corporation.

Dubs Ltd. To Hold Last Tournament Of Fiscal Year June 23-24

President E, H. (Ernie) Bacon of Dubs, Ltd., announces that the next golf tournament and dinner will be held at Diablo Country Club, Friday, June 23, and Saturday, June 24. New ofifi,cers for the forthcoming fiscal year will be elected at this meeting.

The ladies are invited. Mrs. Arthur Evans is chairman of the ladies' activities. Post cards have been sent out to members requesting that they state whether they want hotel reservations for Friday and Saturday at the Club. Those who want room reservations are asked to send check for $10.0O as deposit for the room. Checks should be made payable to Dubs, Ltd., c/o E. H. Bacon, 214 Front Street, San Francisco 11.

Increcses Spur Ccpccity

South Bay Lumber Company has increased the capacity of its railroal spur at its distribution yard and manufacturing plant, 5001 El Segundo Boulevard, IJawthorne, Calif., to take care of increased business. This company specializes in the wholesale distribution of redwood lumber from its own and other mills.

Los Angreles Firm Agents For Formiccr Drcrinboard Tops

California Panel & Veneer Co., Los Angeles, recently became sales agents for Associated Mfg. Co., Pasadena, makers of formed Formica drainboard tops, under the name of Am-Cove.

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