Wisconsin Local-use Dimension Lumber Grading

[ARp]

The building code inspectors and grading stamps on lumber problem. 

Here is a link to Wisconsin government forest business document that on page 11 has a course for grading dimension lumber for sale to the end user or personal use but not for wholesale use.  Has anyone heard of something like this for Texas??? 

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestbusinesses/documents/wwmb201octnovdec.pdf

Thanks,

Allen

[Furu]

Link appears to be bad

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

So far, Wisconsin is the only state that has approved taking a class and then being able to use your own lumber for your own structure.

[Barney II]

My   take on this code is that the sawyer is able to grade his own lumber and then  sell it directly to the consumer doing the building  and no stamp mark is needed.  This is all at the approval of the local building inspector for that particular building project ---house or otherwise

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

My understanding is that the lumber cannot be sold on the open market but must be sold to the person building the home.

[ARp]

here is the corrected link:  http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/forestbusinesses/documents/wwmb2011octnovdec.pdf

Was hoping that someone knew of a program like it in Texas. 

My sister-in-law is going to build a new house and wanted to buy the lumber from me.  I know the building codes there and the inspectors check the stamps on all joists and rafters. 

GeneWengert I agree with you, end user or representative must purchase the wood.  Hoping more places had a program like that (especially Texas).

Thanks

[Schramm]

I saw a YouTube video where the guy owned a mill and said that they were forcing him to become certified.  I know when I was checking out mills Hud-son and Wood-Mizer both said that each state that enforces this is supposed to have a 8 hour certification class which will allow the stamping of your material.  Now that came from them and I never checked anything on it as that was not my intention for buying the mill.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

In a traditional grading operation for softwood construction lumber, the mill is inspected monthly at random for conformity to the rules,including grade, MC and so on.  It is surprising to me that the WI system is allowed to operate with no inspection.  I was at one mill that had attended the class and they were not grading accurately.

When a person goes to a large store to buy lumber, the wood you want will conform to the grade.  However, the grade may not be acceptable for your use.  For instance, it might be  No.3 and you need No.2.  Or it might be Utility when you need Stud grade.  So, check the grade to see what the store is selling.  I did work with Home Depot once and they were trying to avoid the lower grades, even though the price was higher for the better grades.  Also, remember that the grades are determined "at the time of grading" and so the wood can warp after grading if it dries.  It is best to get lumber that has been kiln dried according to the grade stamp...KD19, KD 15, etc.  avoid S-Dry etc.

I do not believe that people who attend the WI class have grade stamps for their lumber.

As the code is enforced by the state, they can make definitions of the requirements.

[GeneWengert-WoodDoc]

From time to time, there are people who use counterfeit grade stamps.  I suspect that they have lumber that is not as good as the stamp indicates.

[Schramm]

This is an interesting subject as it seems like there is so much to learn if you want to do this for a living.  Now I am guessing the grading is only for construction materials (ie.. 2x material) and not so much for hardwood and such for furniture as I do not think that I have ever seen a stamp on that.

[hackberry jake]

We can make stamps at work. I thought about making a lumber stamp that says "F.L.A. #2 or better". The F.L.A. would be the fictitious lumber association.  :D

[beenthere]

Schramm
You are correct.