Hardwoods
Hardwoods—such as oak, cherry, walnut, and poplar—are graded based on the amount of clear material that can be obtained from the board. Since they are often sold rough, hardwoods are usually not stamped.
Hardwood Gradesfrom best to worst include:
FAS: Shorthand for “First and Seconds”. FAS is the highest grade of hardwood lumber.
FAS 1-Face (abbreviation: F1F): A “Select” piece of lumber which is six inches and wider.
Select: A No. 1 Common piece of lumber (the poorer side of the wood piece is assigned as No. 1 Common grade) and the reverse side (the better side) grades FAS. The price of Selects and 1-Face is usually the same as FAS. Often, Select grade lumber is used in the Northern U.S., while 1-Face is used in the South.
- No. 1 Common is the standard furniture grade lumber and provides a good selection of long, medium and short cuttings at a reasonable price.
- No. 2A Common (also known as No. 2 Common) is the standard grade for cabinets, millwork, and other uses requiring medium to short cuttings.
- No. 2B Common is the same as No. 2A Common, except that stain and other sound defects are admitted in the clear cuttings. It is an excellent grade for painting.
- No. 3A Common is often combined with No. 3B Common, and the combination is sold as No. 3 Common, which is widely used for flooring and pallets.
- No. 3B Common is graded on the basis of sound cuttings rather than clear cuttings. It is widely used for pallets and crates.