Plainsawn Lumber
Plainsawn Lumber - Related Videos
01:19
Lumber
0 Views •
2024
Lumber is derived from logs which are harvested, debarked, and processed into long pieces with a rectangular cross-section. The transformation of logs into lumber involves multiple steps, beginning with an automated saw that slices the log into slabs. These slabs are then transported via a conveyor belt to smaller saws, where they are cut into square-edged pieces of specific widths. Initially, the surfaces of these lumber pieces are rough, and their dimensions may vary slightly from one end to...
01:23
Lumber Defects
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2024
Lumber defects, which can affect both the appearance and structural integrity of wood, include a variety of growth and manufacturing flaws. Growth defects such as knots and knotholes occur where branches were once attached to the tree trunk, with knotholes forming when these knots fall out. Other natural defects include decay and insect damage, which compromise the wood's strength and durability. Shakes are minor fractures that run along or across the wood's annual rings, while wane is...
01:21
Structural Properties and Dimensions of Lumber
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2024
Wood's structural properties derive from fibers aligned along the tree's length, contributing significantly to its mechanical strength. Wood exhibits up to twenty times greater tensile strength along these fibers compared to across them, and generally shows better performance under compression than tension. The length of fibers varies, with hardwoods having fibers around one twenty-fifth inch long and softwoods ranging from one-eighth to one-third inch. The strength characteristics of wood are...
12:34
Agar-Block Microcosms for Controlled Plant Tissue Decomposition by Aerobic Fungi
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Cited by 6 •
2011
This video demonstrates a controlled environment approach to study degradation of lignocellulosic plant tissues by aerobic fungi. The ability to control nutrient sources and moisture is a key advantage of agar-block microcosms, but the approach often yields mixed success. We address critical pitfalls to yield reproducible, low-variability results.
08:23
In Vitro Modeling of Cancerous Neural Invasion: The Dorsal Root Ganglion Model
0 Views •
Cited by 10 •
2016
This video article shows the use of the dorsal root ganglia (DRG)/cancer cell model in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
FAQs
Plainsawn boards have a grain orientation that responds unevenly as moisture leaves the wood. This anisotropic behavior produces greater dimensional change across the board’s width than along its length. Engineers must account for this directional response when evaluating fit, stability, and expected geometry in construction or architectural applications.
The tangential grain arrangement produces a characteristic cathedral pattern and contributes to uneven dimensional response as the board dries. That response can appear as cupping, while checking represents another drying-related outcome. Recognizing these visible conditions helps engineers connect board appearance and condition with moisture behavior during selection and installation.
Grading provides a decision point alongside drying and installation, helping engineers determine whether a board suits its intended structural or architectural use. Because moisture response and anisotropic behavior influence dimensional performance, grading should support more than visual selection. It should be considered as part of evaluating how the lumber may perform in service.
Its high-yield sawing pattern makes the material efficient to manufacture, while its distinctive cathedral grain can provide a valued visual character. These advantages help explain its widespread use even though drying can produce widthwise movement, cupping, or checking. Engineers therefore balance manufacturing efficiency and appearance against the dimensional behavior required by the application.
An appropriate workflow connects the intended design application with drying behavior, directional movement, grading, and installation decisions. This sequence helps account for greater widthwise change, cathedral grain, cupping, and checking before the material becomes part of a finished structure or architectural surface. Considering these factors early supports more appropriate material selection and use.
Common applications include framing, flooring, furniture, and other structural or architectural uses. The appropriate choice depends on how the application will tolerate the lumber’s moisture response, anisotropic movement, and characteristic appearance. In engineering practice, understanding those properties helps align the material with design requirements, drying considerations, grade, and installation conditions.