Select below to view information on wood characteristics.
A knot is the portion of a branch incorporated into the wood of a tree stem and exposed when the stem is sawn into lumber. These graphics provide descriptions of different attributes.
Manufacturing defects arise during log handling, sawing, chipping, or surfacing. The following descriptions identify defects by their visible characteristics, typical causes, and effects on finished lumber.
Graphics of the various types of defects naturally found in lumber. Natural characteristics arise from tree growth, injury, and biological activity. These descriptions explain how to identify these characteristics.
Seasoning removes moisture from lumber. Uneven drying stresses and differences in shrinkage can produce separations or changes in shape. These descriptions explain how to identify these seasoning defects.
These pages provide information and graphics on wood characteristics. Lumber knots, natural defects, machine defects, seasoning defects. Other wood characteristics will be added.
