Did you know there’s a difference between the wood you would use for a deck and on a pallet at a store? There are several different species of trees in forests around the world. Most of them are used to create furniture, structures, and much more, but it’s not the same species of wood used each time. Even the common 2×4, which is about two inches thick and four inches wide is not always the same. While the measurement is standard, the wood itself could be a Douglas fir, pine, cedar, and even spruce. With that being said, here is a breakdown of the difference between grade lumber vs industrial lumber.
What is Grade Lumber?
Sawmills strive to make as much of the log as useful as possible to get the highest investment for them and the buyer. The grade indicates how large the piece of lumber is the stronger it is. From strongest dedicated more to structural builds to the weakest used more for furniture, the terms are:
- FAS
- F1F
- Select
- #1 Common
- #2A & #2B Common
- #3A & #3B Common
What is Industrial Lumber?
When lumber is created, as much of the tree as possible is used. Even the pieces that cannot be sawed into graded lumber, can be used for industrial lumber. Typically you will see them in pieces like:
- Railroad ties
- Board road
- Hardwood pallets
- Timber mats and more
