Two Questions??

[SawBilly]

1. Dimisions you cut lumber for stock? What sizes do you experienced all knowing masters of wood cut the lumber for stacking that are not already sold to a customer? For example I want to cut a bunch of pine, but do I cut it a full 2x6 or 1 5/8 x 5 5/8 and let it dry to industry standard 1.5 x 5.5 not planed? I guess the real question is What does the average customer want in green lumber? Any response to hardwood would be helpful also.

2. Ok if that is not enough, I have a stupid sticker question also. I have read  :P several places where you need to fill in your stack with shorts or culls to make it more uniform (as possible), Making a 12 foot stack some layers are 12 feet long others may be only 9 feet, so you fill in the other 3 feet with shorts to make your stack a "box". If your 9 foot board does not end on a sticker, do you cut it off, or just let overhang?  (overhanging would be inside the stack).

being from Arkansas has a great advantage. I'd bet you guys from the north can't type with your toes, their too busy being all bound up in shoes and stuff!! ;D

[Bro. Noble]

We never cut pine unless we have a large order for it.  In that case you saw it the way they want.  You usually end up with some left over.  I usually set the scale on even inches if I have a choice (on pine) because it is easy to figure and a 17/8 X 5 7/8 is plenty big.

On hardwood we cut 1 1/4 because that is what our grade lumber buyer wants.

We don't saw grade lumber shorter than six ft. When we sticker a short board, if it doesn't end at a sticker, we center it.

We sell pallet boards.  This uses up short boards and is a way to keep from having odds and ends piled all over.

Noble

[Tom]

If I cut pine for my own inventory. I cut full demensiions minus the kerf just as Noble does.  I like it full cut for my own use and my customers can plane it if they want.

If you aren't in the Retail lumber business then you should cut what YOU want, not try to second guess a customer.  You will be surprised at the better quality board or beam you will get if you are cutting out of cant what the cant wants to provide rather than trying to just make them all one size.  You can keep the grain centered, minimizing bow and cut around defects with a 1x that would ruin a 2x.

If you are cutting for a customer then you do what  he wants.

If I am cutting Hardwood for my stock, I cut what I want, which is what the cant will provide.  The wider the better.  I try to put myself in some backyard cabinetmakers place and determine what he might be able to use.

If I were cutting grade for a broker it would be different.

My niche is having stuff that nobody else has.  That means I have to pay special attention that I don't get into competition with the Big mills.  That would be a killer.

Stacking is as important as sawing.  I don't do this because I get in a hurry but here is what I mean to do.

Each stack contains board of the same length.  If it is too long or too short then it doesn't belong.  

You can mickey mouse a board into a stack but the stack is what's important not the board.  You  must make sure that the stack is shimmed if the board is short.  If the board is long or short either one, then I prefer to keep one end of the stack straight.  the back might be ragged and if it warps, I'll take a chainsaw to it.  

The best way is for all the boards in a stack to be the same length and then you don't have to worry about it.

[J Beyer]

I saw an article (Sawmill and Woodlot?) on stacking odd lengths in the same pile.  Save the longest boards/planks for the outside edges.  The shorter lengths should then be placed in the center, alternating which end of the pile the board/plank is even with.

JB

[RMay]

Cut your pine 1 5/8 by its full sizes it will dry 10% and be like retail lumber .                                                                               Rmay fron S.W. Arkansas    



 ;)

[Tom]

Welcome to the Forestry Forum, RMay.  Arkys everywhere!  :D

[ARKANSAWYER]

More Arky's are learning to read and write every day. 8)  Soon we may have to have our own Arky section.  ;D
   I stock pine in 1 5/8 x 3 5/8 and so on up to 16 ft lengths on stickers and most are left overs from orders as I always try to saw more as most need more then they order.  I do have some full size on had as well.  With pine you need to saw it as soon as you get it and try not to let it sit long.  It does make hard to guess orders but then most use standard size stuff any way.  In barns and rafters they will use full size  stuff but most of the time they want it 1 5/8 to fit incase they have to go to the store for one more board or to fit to a already built house.  
ARKANSAWYER