Module 1: MENSURATION/NOMENCLATURE

What is Carpentry? ROLES OF A CARPENTER

Carpentry is the art and trade of cutting, working, and joining The tasks that a carpenter may be involved in might include:
timber. The term includes both structural timberwork in framing and items ▪ Interpreting drawings to create an item or component.
such as doors, windows, and staircases. ▪ Laying out or designing items or components.
Carpentry is one of the oldest skilled trades and is still widely ▪ Determining how to perform tasks efficiently.
required in modern construction. It involves the cutting, shaping and ▪ Providing advice about different types of timber and their qualities.
installation of wood (timber) for buildings and other structures. ▪ Cutting or shaping timber using hand or power tools.
Carpentry is often part of the ‘first fix' of timber components in the ▪ Joining or fixing timber using nails, staples, screws or adhesives.
construction of roofs, floors, walls and other timber-framed constructions. It ▪ Checking accuracy using rulers, levels, plumb bobs, framing squares, and
is also often part of ‘second fix' works, such as the so on.
construction of skirting boards, architraves, doors, and so on. Carpenters ▪ Installing items.
may also required to prepare shuttering (formwork into which concrete is ▪ Maintenance and repairs.
poured), building stairs, installing door and
window frames, and so on. DEFINITION OF TERMS
▪ Area – extent of part of a surface enclosed within a boundary.
TYPES OF CARPENTER ▪ Surface Area – sum of all the areas of the shape that cover the surface of
Carpenters often specialize in one or two areas, allowing them to develop the object.
and hone their skills ▪ Calculation – the act or process of or result of calculating.
accordingly, in particular where they tend to work on larger projects. ▪ Circumference – distance around the circle.
▪ Classification – group or category within an organized system.
2 MAIN TYPES OF CARPENTRY ▪ Decimal – number expressed in a counting system that uses units of 10,
1.ROUGH CARPENTRY - Framing, formwork, roofing and other structural especially a decimal fraction.
work. ▪ Dimension – measurable extent such as length, thickness and width.
2.FINISH CARPENTRY - Joiners generally specialize in lighter and more ▪ Fraction – number expressed as a quotient of two other numbers.
ornamental work than that done by a carpenter. This includes fine ▪ Geometric Shapes – characterized by straight line, regular curves and
woodworking, fittings, doors and windows, furniture, details, and so on. angles.
Joiners typically work in a workshop where the intricate detailing and ▪ Graduation – scale of a measuring tool.
formation of various joints is made easier by using non-portable machinery. ▪ Perimeter – bounding line or curve of a plain area.
Some of the different types of carpenter include: ▪ Standard – serves as a measure of reference.
▪ Stock – refers to a lumber for a certain furniture job.
▪ Joister: Lays floor joists onto which a floor surface is fixed. ▪ Substrate – wood to be cut in a cutting machine.
▪ Trim carpenter: Specializes in mouldings and trims, such as mantles, ▪ Volume – space inside a solid figure.
skirting boards), and other ornamental work.
▪ Cabinet maker: Make cabinets as well as other furniture such as dressers, MENSURATION
wardrobes, and so on. Is the skill of measuring the length of the lines, areas of surfaces, and
▪ Ship’s carpenter: Specialize in ship and boat building. volumes of solids from simple data of Iines and angles.
▪ Framer: Specialize in the framework of buildings. MEASURING TOOL/INSTRUMENT
▪ Roofer: Specialize in the rafters, beams and trusses of roof construction. -device for measuring a physical quantity. In physical sciences, quality
assurance, and engineering measurement is the activity of obtaining and
comparing physical quantities of real- world objects and events.
1. TYPES OF MEASURING TOOLS 4. SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENTS
1.1 Pull-push rule – used for measuring long pieces of stock. The two (2) systems of measurements are: the English and the Metric
In use, the accuracy of a push and pull rule or measuring tape will depend System. The English system originated in England also known as the U.S.
on: customary system of measurement while the Metric System was developed
▪ the clarity of its graduations; in France and also known as the S. I. (International Standard).
▪ whether it is held in the correct plane
▪ the amount of, or lack of, tension being applied to the tape – very 4.1 (Unit of Measures) – Linear Measurement
important when ENGLISH METRIC
measuring long distances; Yard (Yd) Meter (m)
▪ readings being correctly taken from left to right. Foot/Feet (ft)(’) Decimeter (dm) (1m/10)
1.2 Zig Zag Rule – a folded measuring tool. Inches (in) (”) Centimeter (cm) (1m/100)
1.3 Ruler – used for measuring short pieces of stock. Millimeters (mm) (1m/1000)
1.4 Caliper – used for measuring diameter.
1.5 Try Square – used for checking flatness and squareness. 4.2 Reading of Measurements
1.6 Meter Stick – a measuring device which is one (1) meter in length. A. Reading the Inch
1.7 Divider – used for dividing distances. The inch is divided into segments called graduations. Each graduation
1.8 Compass – used for scribing arcs and circles. represents a measurement in form of a proper fraction. The inch can be
1.9 Protractor – used for laying out angles. divided into 16, 8, 4 and 2, equal parts.
B. Reading the centimeter and millimeter
2. HANDLING OF MEASURING INSTRUMENTS / TOOLS 10 mm=1cm
A. DO’S 4.3 Converting Fraction to Decimal
✓ Wipe measuring tools/instruments before returning them to the storage In converting fractions to decimals, divide the numerator by its denominator
room. whether it is proper, improper or mixed fraction.
✓ Oil the movable parts of the measuring tools such as zigzag rules, calipers, 4.4 Converting Unit of Measure
dividers and compasses to avoid stock-up.
✓ Make sure that grits like sand do not get inside the housing or case of a
pull-push rule to avoid wearing off of the graduations.
✓ Check the lock of a pull-push rule if it is working.
B. DON’T’S
Do not wipe off edges of the steel tape of pull-push rule with bare hands
toavoid injury.
Do not pull the steel tape of pull-push rule too much to avoid the coil
spring from damage.
Do not use the caliper as tongs.
3. LINEAR MEASUREMENTS FOR THE 6 FACES OF LUMBER
1. End 1 to end 2 or A B = Length (L )
2. Edge 1 to Edge 2 or C D = Width ( W )
3. Surface 1 to surface 2
or E F = Thickness / Height ( T / H )
4.5 Taking Dimensions a^2 = 32 = 9
Ways of taking dimension; b^2 = 42 = 16
1. Measure end to end of stock with a tool. c^2 = 52 = 25
2. Measure edge to edge with a tool. That is a^2 + b^2 = c^2
3. Measure outside diameter of a cylindrical object using a caliper.
4. Measure inside diameter with a caliper. Note: The same principle will also work with sides in the ratio 5:12:13 or
5. Lay-out width. 6:8:10.In other words, in a triangle with sides in the ratio 3:4:5, the square
of the longest side is equal to the sum of the squares of the other two sides;
5. RIGHT ANGLES therefore, such a triangle must be right angled.
Let us first consider right angles (90° angles), and three simple methods of
forming them: Module 2: CLASSIFICATION OF TOOLS,
(i) by measurement – using the principle of a 3:4:5 ratio; FUNCTIONS AND MAINTENANCE
(ii) by using a builder’s square;
(iii) by using an optical site square. TOOLS
The different kinds of carpentry tools may be classified according to:
1. MEASURING TOOLS
The early developed measuring tools used in constructions were of various
types provided with English-measure graduated scale into 8th. and 16th of
an inch. The forerunner in making these kinds of warranted tools are the
Stanley and the Lufkin’s Rule Co. The recent measuring tools appear to
contain the inches on one edge and the centimeters on the opposite side of
either the zig-zag or push pull tape. Consequently, the worldwide adoption
of the Metric System otherwise known as the System International (SI).
Manufacturers of all kinds of tools has to change the scale and graduation of
measuring tools from English to Metric measure
The different kinds of measuring tools that are being used in building
construction otherwise known as "Rules" are;
1.1 Two-foot Four Folding Rule
is generally used in measuring short distances. It is usually made up of four
folds connected by three hinges spaced at 6 inches or 15 cm apart which
could be folded-up.
3.1 Right Angles using a 3:4:5 Ratio 1.2 Extension Rule
That is to say that, if the lengths of the sides of a triangle are in a ratio of Is used for measuring inside distances such as doors, windows, cabinets etc.
3:4:5 (no matter what size of unit is used), and are measured using the same 1.3 Zig-zag Rule
unit, the resulting triangle will be right angled. This principal stems from the Is available in (4 ft.) 1.20m and (6 ft.) 1.80 m commonly used by carpenters
theorem of Pythagoras, which states that in a right-angled triangle the for rough layout. There are three types of joints available:
square of the hypotenuse (the longest side) is equal to the sum of the a) Concealed
squares of the other two sides. Consider the triangle in Fig. 3.1, where b) Riveted
side ‘a’ is 3 units long, side ‘b’ is 4 units long, and side ‘c’ (the longest side) is c) Springless
5 units long:
1.4 Push-Pull Tape Rule The different types of square are:
Is used to measure long distances; available from 1.00 m to 50 meters long. 1.8.1 Try Square is a square with blades that ranges from (3” to 15”)7.6 to
1.5 Slide Caliper Rule 38 cm.
Is used to measure outside diameter of cylindrical objects. 1.8.2 Miter Square is a square with blades permanently set at 45 degrees
1.6 Marking Gauge 1.8.3 Combined Try and Miter Square is a combination of 45 and 90
Is used to make lines parallel to the edges. degrees in one set.
1.8.4 Combination Square is similar to a try square only that the head can
2. MARKING TOOLS be made to slide and clamp at any desired place of the blade and is also
Marking tools are classified according to the kind of work it is to perform: provided with a miter and a level guide.
2.1 Chalk or Charcoal Line- is used for marking a very rough work. 1.8.5 Framing or Steel Square so called as it is used effectively on framing
2.2 Round pencil lead- used for marking rough work. work.
2.3 Scratch awl- is used in marking a semi-rough work.
2.4 Scriber- is used in marking fine work. It is hardened steel with a sharp Parts of a framing square:
point designed to mark fine line. a) Body- the longer and wider part
2.5 Compass- is used to inscribe arcs or circle. b) Tounge - the shorter and the narrower part
2.6 Divider – is used in dividing distances into equal parts' particularly an arc c) Face - the side visible when the square is held by the tongue in the
or circumference. right hand, the body pointing to the left.
d) Back - the side visible when the square is held by the tongue with the
3. TESTING AND GUIDING TOOLS left hand, the body pointing to the right.
Good carpentry work demands accuracy in measurement and a well fitted
joint or parts together. This could be done with the various guiding tools for 4. FASTENING TOOLS
a precise and quality work. Fastening tools are the tools used to faster or secure parts of the
The different kinds of testing and guiding tools are: construction that are to be connected together with nails, screws, bolts, etc.
1.1 Level - is used for both guiding and testing the work to a vertical or The different types of fastening tools are:
horizontal position. 4.1 Claw Hammer - a hand tool made of steel carefully forged, hardened
1.2 Plastic Hose with Water - is the best and accurate tool for guiding the and tempered. Its sizes vary from 140 to 560 grams.
work in establishing a horizontal level. a) A400 - 450 grams is recommended for finishing work.
1.3 Plumb Bob is used to check or obtain a vertical line. The word plumb b) A450 - 560 grams is recommended for framing work.
means perpendicular to a horizontal plane. - Curved Claw Plain Neck
1.4 Miter Box is a device used as a guide of the hand saw in cutting object to - Curved Claw Octagonal
form a miter joint. - Hipping Claw
1.5 Miter shooting board is a plain board with two 45° guide fastened on 4.2 Wrenches
top of the upper board. This device is used for designing patterns, cabinets. a hand tool with a handle and a jaw which may be fitted to the head of a nut
1.6 Sliding T-bevel is like a try square with a sliding and adjustable blade used to tighten or loosen bolts. The three general classes of wrenches are:
that could be set to any angle other than 90o. a) Plain
1.7 Angle Divider is a double bevel used to divide an angle a complicated b) Socket
work This tool could divide an angle in one. c) Adjustable
1.8 Square is called a "Trying Square". Square is a· right angle standard at 90
degrees used in marking or testing work.
4.3 Screw Driver a hand tool with a head and a shank used for turning 7. SHARP-EDGED CUTTING TOOLS
screw·, classified either as: 7.1 Chisel - is an indispensable tool in carpentry which is also considered as
a) Plain the most abused tool oftenly used for prying, can opener, open cases or as
b) Automatic screw driver etc.
It may also be classified according to the shape of the tip of the shank, such Chisels are classified according to:
as: a) Ordinary 1. Service:
b) Phillips a. Pairing Chisel - a light duty tool used to plane long surfaces
parallel with the grain of wood. Paring chisel should not be driven
5. ROUGH FACING TOOLS/Striking Tools by blows but only manipulated by means of hand pressure.
Rough facing tools are the so called "Striking Tools" because they are used b. Firming Chisel - used for medium duty work usually driven by
through a series of blows. They are also called "inertia tools", or "Rough hand pressure in paring or by the use of mallet blow in mortising
facing tools" because the cut produced were rough. work.
The different kinds of rough facing tools are: c. Framing Chisel - a heavy duty tool designed to absorb a severe
5.1 Hatchet is generally a1utility tool used for sharpening stakes and cutting strain in framing work where deep cut is necessary.
down timber to rough sizes. 2. Length:
5.2 Axe a tool used for splitting wood or hewing timber. a. Butt
5.3 Adze roughly, an adze is a hatchet in which the blade is at right angle b. Pocket
with the handle. c. Mill
4. Handle Attachment:
6. TOOTHED CUTTING TOOLS a. Tang
In carpentry work, the toothed cutting tools is of utmost importance b. Socket
considering its versatility and service demand. 5. Shape of Blade:
There are several types of this kind of tools: a. Flat
6.1 Saws The most important of this kind of tools are classified according to: b. Round (Gouge)
a. Kind of Cut: c. L (Corner)
1. Cross Cut- used for cutting wood against the grain
2. Rip Cut- used for cutting wood parallel to the grain 7.2 Draw Knife is used in trimming work by drawing towards the worker.
3. Combined Rip and Cross Cut 8. SMOOTH FACING TOOLS Smooth facing tools are sometimes regarded as
b. Shape of the Blades: "guided sharp edge cutting tools".These tools are actually chisels with
1. Straight back 3. Thin Back frames to guide and limit the cut and make it smooth.
2. Narrowed 4. Skew Back
c. According to its use: The different kinds of smooth facing tools are:
1. Cabinet 6. Buck or Wood
2. Joiner 7. Compass 8.1 Spoke Shave a modified kind of draw knife with an adjustable blade like
3. Miter 8. Keyhole a plane to limit the thickness of the cut.
4. Stair 9. Coping 8.2 Plane is used in smoothing boards or other surfaces for framing and
5. Floor 10. Hack moulding. Plane is also used to make wood surfaces into uniform thickness.
6.2 Files a metal tool of different shapes and sizes used for abrading,
reducing or smooth cutting metal, wood or other materials.
Planes are classified according to its size and services: 9.8 Reamers usually a reamer is used chiefly by machinist in enlarging metal
1. Jack Plane – for heavy rough work holes. It is also used in carpentry work for enlarging holes on wood when
2. Fore plane- for smoothing and straightening the rough or irregular cut of made too small for the screw or its head.
the jack plane. These tools are usually provided with a shank instead of a handle;
3. Trying plane-is used to obtain the smoothest finish. hence, a brace is indispensable.
4. Jointer - a trying plane is a simple small jointer.
5. Smooth plane - a small plane used for smoothing uneven surfaces in 10. HOLDING TOOLS Holding tools is vital and important in accomplishing
wood even those with minor depressions. fine carpentry work. In many stages of construction, the need for holding
6. Moulding and Special Planes - are planes used in making various shapes the materials in place rigidly is necessary. Holding tools may be classified
of moulding and cuts. according to its service:
The different types of moulding planes are: 10.1 Supporting Carpentry work such as chiseling planing and the like,
a. Rabbet or Rebate Plane - used for making a sinking cut on wood to needs support to amply sustain the operation. The Horse or Trestle is the
make them fit to each other. right tool for the purpose.
b. Fillister Plane - similar in use as the rabbet plane but is more preferable 10.2 Retaining Under this category, there are several kinds of holding tools
because it cuts more accurately than the former. considered as rigid and strong enough in tightly pressing the materials
c. Grooving Plane - used in cutting across the wood grain. together.
d. Router - used to surface the bottom of the grooves. a) Clamps - is effective in tightly pressing pieces of wood together in
e. Round and hollow moulding plane- used to produce a concave or making tenon, mortise and other joints.
convex surface. Clamps may be classified into:
1. Single Screw Jaw 4. Miter
9. BORING OR DRILLING TOOLS 2. Double Screw 5. Beam
These tools are specially designed to make hole in wood. The different types 3. Chain
of drilling tools are: b) Vises - A tool used to hold a piece of material rigidly secured in place
9.1 Brad Awls – A small tool used for punching or piercing small holes. It is to absorb severe blows. The available types of vises are:
generally used in starting a nail or screw into hardwood. 1. Screw 4. Swivel Bottom
9.2 Gimlets- Tools used for boring small holes by hand pressure classified as: 2. Quick acting screw 5. Self-adjusting jaw
a) Twist 3. Parallel Jaw
b) Plain
9.3 Augers is used for boring holes with a diameter from 1/2" to 2" inches or 11. SHARPENING TOOLS Experienced carpenters realize the importance of
12.7mm to 25mm. Augers that are provided with a shank are commonly sharpening tools in carpentry operation. Sharp tools assure the worker in
called "bits". accomplishing a quality work and is faster than using dull tools.
9.4 Twist Drills used for drilling small holes. Twist drills are preferably used The different kinds of sharpening tools are:
in cases where the gimlets or the auger may cause splitting of the wood 11.1 Grind Stone a flat disc solid stone usually of sandstone mounted on a
grain. These tools has lesser tendency to split the wood grain because they shaft used for sharpening, shaping or polishing metal by turning.
are not provided with a cutting lip. 11.2 Oil Stone Used after the grinding operation to achieve a smooth and
9.5 Hollow Augers used for external boring or turning. keen edge of the tools. Oil is used as a lubricating medium and that is why
9.6 Spoke Pointers cuts conical holes. It is similar to the auger only that the they are called oil stone. Oil stone are of two types:
cutter is lengthwise. a. Natural - found in their natural state
9.7 Counter Sinks used for enlarging a conical hole at the surface of wood. b. Artificial -are ordinary abrasives such as carburandum, alundum and
emery.
12. WORK BENCH Work bench is also an important tool in carpentry Timber is considered by and large as less of a processed wood product and
operation considering the various tools attached to it. Work bench is can also refer to intact trees which have not been cut, while lumber is
considered as a shop tool and is needed for the different kinds of onsite or usually thought of as wood that has been cut to standard sizes and sold
off-site preparation of wood parts in all construction projects. commercially for construction use.
STRUCTURE OF THE TREE
Module 3: WOOD/LUMBER A tree consists of three main parts. These are the crown, trunk, and roots.
The crown consists of branches, twigs, and leaves. This is where the food of
WOOD the plant is manufactured. The trunk is the principal source of lumber, while
Wood is the fibrous substance, which compose the trunk and branches of the roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil.
the tree that lies between the pith and the bark. The versatility of using Bark. This consists of a thick outer part called cortex and a thin inner part
wood in construction has lifted it to its present importance and high called bast. Cortex is a good material in making cork, tannic acid, and
demand in almost all types of construction. Wood is evidently much in use, medicines. Bast is used in weaving mats, cloth, and rope.
because of its strength, light in weight, durability and ease of fastening has Cambium. This is found between the bark and the sapwood. It is the
become one of the most important building materials. greenish, slippery and slimy layer. When it grows to maturity, it becomes
Lumber is the term applied to wood after it is sawed or sliced into boards, either wood or bark.
planks, timber,etc. Pith. This is the center of the heartwood. It is a white soft substance which
Rough Lumber is the term applied to unplaned or undressed lumber. is more often attacked by insects.
Surface or Dressed Lumber is a planed lumber having at least one smooth Heartwood. This is the inner core of a tree trunk. As the heartwood grows
side. older, new outside layer of wood is added, and the inside part of the
s2s: s4s are dressed lumber wherein the number connotes the number of sapwood becomes the heartwood.
smooth sides such as s2s means on two sides and s4s for four sides. Sapwood. This is the outside part of the heartwood. The color is brighter
Slab is a kind of rough lumber which is cut tangent to the annual rings than the heartwood. This is where the liquid called sap pass through from
running the full length of the log and containing at least one flat surface. the root to the crown.
Timber is apiece of lumber five inches or 13 cm. or larger in its smallest Annual-ring the small thick-walled cell (summer wood) appearing as thin
dimension. circles and the thin-walled cell (spring wood) as wider circles or rings
Plank is a wide piece of lumber from 4 to 13 cm. thick. alternating one another. One narrow and one adjoining wide ring is
Board is a piece of lumber less than 11⁄2“ or 4 cm. thick and at least 4 equivalent to one annual ring or one year’s growth. Anyone can tell the age
inches or 10 cm. wide. of a tree by counting the rings.
Flitch is a thick piece of lumber. Felling- process of cutting down trees
Fine Grained, when the annual rings are smaller, the grain or marking with Bucking- the process when the trunk is cut into the suitable length for
separates adjacent rings is said to be fine grained: when large, it is called transportation to the mills.
Coarse Grained.
Straight Grained, when the direction of the fibers are nearly parallel with PROPERTIES OF WOOD
the sides and edges of the board, it is said to be straight grained. When the 1. Properties of Wood and Timber
lumber is taken from cooked tree, it is said to be crooked or cross-grained. Color and odor, specific gravity, moisture content, grain, shrinkage and
swelling, and strength are the important characters, which determine
Lumber comes from the tree and is a wood that is sawed, split or prepared the properties of wood and timber.
into boards, planks and staves and is made ready for use.
 1.1 Color and Odor PREPARATION OF WOOD
1.2 Specific Gravity1 Lumbering is the term applied to the operations performed in preparing
1.3 Moisture Content wood forcommercial purposes. It involves logging which is the process or
1.4 Grain operation of felling or cutting of tress including its hauling and delivery to
1.5 Shrinkage and Swelling the sawmill for sawing. Sawing on the other hand, is the operation of
1.6 Strength preparing or cutting the logs into its commercial sizes.
1.6.1 Density The methods and manner of a log sawing are:
1.6.2 Moisture content 1. Plain or Bastard sawing: Is the cutting of the logs entirely through the
1.6.3 Presence of defects diameter and parallel chords tangential to annual rings.
1.6.4 Compressive Strength 2. Quarter or Rift Sawing
1.6.5 Tensile Strength a. Radial
1.6.6 Transverse or Bending Strength b. Tangential
c. Quarter Tangential
CLASSIFICATION OF WOOD d. Combined Radial and Tangential
Wood used in building construction are those wood which grow larger by SEASONING OF LUMBER
addition oflayer on the outer surface each year known to botanist as Trees when fallen contains moisture in their cell layer. These moistures
OXOGENS. should be expelled thoroughly to preserve the lumber from shrinkage or
Wood are classified according to: decay. Experiments have proven that the timber immersed in water
1. Made of Growth: immediately after being fallen and squared is less subject to splitting and
a. Exogenous = are those outward growing trees which are most decay. It reduces warping but makes the wood brittle and less elastic.
preferred forlumbering. Soaking timber into liquid is the method of seasoning practiced by ancient
b. Endogenous = are those inside growing trees and are not preferred Roman Builders. Sometimes woods are steeped in oil of cedar to protect it
forlumbering because they produced a soft center core. from worm attack. Salt water makes wood harder, heavier and durable.
2. Density = Density is either: However, wood intended for use in buildings has the tendency to attract
a. Soft moisture from the air.
b. Hard The Two methods adopted in seasoning of lumber are:
3. Leaves: The leaves of a tree is either: 1. Natural or Air seasoning – This is considered as one of the best methods
a. Needle Shape (Conifers) ofseasoning lumber although the period involved is relatively longer. The
b. Broad shape processes are:
4. Shade or color a. Lumber is piled outside where its length is sloped at about 10 cm.
a. White d. Brown to the meter height.
b. Yellow e. Black, etc. b. Lumber is piled in a well-ventilated shed. Each piece is properly
c. Red and evenly spaced from each other for free circulation of air around
5. Grain the lumber.
a. Straight c. Coarse 2. Artificial Seasoning – The lumber is sacked in drying kiln and then
b. Cross Fine exposed to steam and hot air. Artificial seasoning is resorted for quick drying
6. Nature of the surface when sawed: but wood from this process is quite inferior that that seasoned by natural
a. Plain method. The different artificial seasoning methods employed are:
b. Grained a. Forced Air Drying – Fans are used to booster the circulation of the air
c. Figured or marked preparatory process to kiln drying.
b. Kiln Dying – Lumber is dried in a specially built room or chamber by
which temperature and humidity as well as the circulation of air is
controlled.
c. Radio Frequency Dielectric Drying – A very fast method of drying lumber
wherein the use of radio frequency dielectric heat is employed. Drying
through this process may only take 24 hours as compared to other
methods.

MEASURING WOOD From the above figure, find the total board foot that could be derived from
Although the System international (SI) has already superseded the the log for commercial
English System of measure, the board foot as the unit measure of lumber purposes.
popularly and widely used is still presented for reference in preparation for
the transition form English to Metric Approach. Solution:
A board foot is actually one square foot of a wood one inch thick.
The formula being used in computing board foot is:
Baord Foot = (t x w x L)/ 12
Where:
T = thickness in inches
W = width in inches Sometimes lumber is computed by the linear foot method, applied
L = Length in feet to lumber having a width and
This formula is being used for sawed wood of commercial dimensions. thickness of inches or less. The linear foot method is simply multiplying its
Example: length in feet by the
Compute the board foot of the following lumber: unit price.
5pcs – 2” x 6” x 14’ To convert linear foot to board foot.
Bd. Ft. = 5(2 x 6 x 14’)/12
= 70
Note* Under the English measure of lumber, the length is always ordered at
eve length.
The above formula could not be used in finding the board foot of logs.
Instead the following formula is applied:
Bd. Ft. = ((D-4)^2 x L)/16
Where,
D = smaller diameter of the logs in inches
L = Length of log in feet
4 and 16 are slab deduction allowance which are constant in
the formula.
1. Computation/Estimate
Lumbers are sold in terms of board foot.
A board foot is actually one square foot of lumber of one inch thick.

The formula used in computing board foot is:

Board foot (Bd. Ft.) = (T x W x L)/12
Where:

▪ T = Thickness in inches
▪ W= Width in inches
▪ L = Length in feet

Note: This formula is being used for sawed wood of commercial dimension.
Example: Compute the board foot of lumber whose dimension is 2” x 4 “x
12’.
Steps 1. Identify the given data.
Given:
▪ T = 2”
▪ W = 4”
▪ L = 12’

Step 2. Determine what is being asked.

Find the Bd. Ft. = ?

Step 3. State the formula.

Formula: Bd. Ft. = (T x W x L)/12

Step 4. Substitute the given data in the formula, then solve.

Solution:
Bd. Ft. = (T x W x L)/12
= (2” x 4” x 12’)/12

= 96/12
= 8 bd. ft -answer.