Have you ever eavesdropped on conversations people have with Depot employees? The majority of people have no idea what they're looking for and don't know the names of anything. Those guys have the patience of a Saint.
@@monkeygraborange in the case where I know what I am looking for but not a name I start with "Here is what I am building and, at this point I need this particular item-it's about XYZ, this and that shape and made of..." That really helps key them in on what I am looking for.
I really like how your videos are fact based and straight to the point with no fluff or hype! Thanks for the info! Always learning something new from you!
@@monkeygraborange Actually bought at a builders surplus place for almost half off the price, paid before l knew what they were or would have purchase many more.
I got a good one for you a home Depot employee I talked to didn't even know what cull number was and he worked in the lumber department. Love that 70% discount
I live in Tillamook, Oregon. I work for Stimson Lumber, a stud mill. We run Douglas Fire, Spruce and Hemlock. Love my job in the planer.....Thank u for sharing this info with us👍👍
I'm familiar with spf and syp, but I have to admit I have no idea what most of the other abbreviations mean. I know kd is kiln dried, but that's about it so I'm looking forward to part 2!
Thanks Monkey! Yep, he is kiln dried and ht is heat treated. I know about 60% or so of what I see on most lumbers, but I’m gonna have to do a lot more research to get a fuller picture 😁
I don't do a lot of framing, but love working with wood. I can spend hours in a hardwood store looking for pieces with the best grain for "character". The SYP you show has nice, well-defined grain with great contrast. I also like "knotty" woods; they take more planning and wastage to get the knots away from cuts and edges, but the "character" is worth it.
Some area building codes require the use of a certain species of lumber for framing members...ie: Doug Fir is common in large header uses... I love the channel! Even after 20 yrs of carpentry, I learn new things!! Thank you for what you do!
Home Depots around me used to carry spf and d fir. I used spf on jobs, but for for my house, and certain projects where I didn't want any warpage I used for. Fir also stores well, you could buy it on sale, and keep it for a while. A lot of exterior wood doors were made of d fir too. I haven't seen d fir 2x4's in quite a while.
Thank you for this very informative video. I’ve always wondered why southern yellow pine isn’t available in Los Angeles area big box stores. I love the grain pop from SYP I see on RU-vid builds when stain is applied.
New subscriber and 55yr old DIYer here from Richmond, VA! I'm quickly liking your very informative and not drawn out videos (some folks take forever to get to the point, haha). About 75% of the info you shared was new to me. I've always heard about Ponderosa Pine in my area. The siding on my house is lapped Cedar and I hate how much it costs as I have many areas that need repair. Looking for an alternative, less expensive product that matches my exterior. Great job, enjoying being here. Nice to know your in NC.
@@hellbillyBob I've been in the game 8 years Bob. And I can guarantee you my home is not spf. You know why? Because my home is made of stone and mortar. Like an honest to god castle. And mine is not the only one in the area. So maybe, just maybe, you don't know everything Bob.
This is all new to me, and I'm grateful for the education. I come to woodworking with an existing interest in trees and the natural world in general, though. In that light, while I was watching this, I was also thinking about the history of the American chestnut and wondering what place it might have had in this discussion had it not been for the introduction of Cryphonectria parasitica to North America.
Excellent information. I've been buying lumber for 30 years. I knew there were different types but had no idea what they were or what made them different. Thanks for the great info!
It's basically down to Covid. Most lumber comes from Canada, and they had already reduced their supply in 2019 due to Trump's tariff wars => Lowered reserves in the supply pipeline. Then everyone had to reduce staff and/or even shut down due to Covid in 2020 => much less wood available for stores than normal and no easy way to restock. In places like California, you also had huge fires (one local lumber company had over 90% of its woodland burned) => even less supply of local softwoods like redwood, cedar, and fir. Everyone else was stuck at home, bored, and big-box stores were open, so people were doing home improvements (either DIY or using contractors) => much higher demand than normal So, greatly reduced supply and inflated demand => hugely higher prices (think triple in some areas).
@@stainlesssteellemming3885 I’m in Alberta, and our town mill, which does huge dimensional lumber numbers, was reduced to minimum personnel for months. It really slowed production to a standstill
Thanks for informing us without acting like a know it all. I appreciate that more than you know as a WOMAN who has all the boy toys for MY building projects.
Hope to see you mention in a future related video (or modify this one?) that if your work is being inspected (Building and Safety is the agency in many areas), the inspectors won't sign-off if the lumber doesn't have these important markings. Thanks for sharing, I look forward to each video you make.
Very good point, Daniel! Hadn’t even occurred to me while I was making this video, which is mostly for newer DIYers-but I will definitely mention it when I come back to the subject of stamps. Thank you!
Here in New Zealand Radiata Pine is THE main building material for homes. Even multi-dwellings up to 3 and 4 stories are often framed with it. It takes and holds CCA pressure treatment better than any other timber too.
Great information on the different wood species and some of their uses. Much of what you said I knew absolutely nothing about.so video is very good to know in the future.
Old house…upstairs bedroom has douglas fir floor, I’m a fan. Also have a douglas fir China cabinet built by wife’s great grandfather, no knots, 1x12 stock.
If you have any questions regarding hardwood floors, please let me know. 20 years exp. and all our work is high and I would love to be a beacon of information for you. As always love your content and what you’re doing my friend.
Where I am (northeast), it’s all Doug Fir. You can buy white pine sometimes, but there is much less selection and it’s often lower quality. Often you’ll only see it in smaller dimensions like 2x3’s and 2x4’s, nothing larger than that. We don’t have any SYP here, which is too bad as it’s a great, relatively cheap wood for workbenches and similar projects - heavier and denser than most SPF. Interesting that most of the DF grows in the Pac NW, since that’s not near us, and yet that’s all we get generally.
This is all good information and would like to know more. It helps us as woodworkers of the hobbyist kind. I look forward to the upcoming videos that explain more of what all those markings mean.
I knew what SPF was, but didn't know the difference about SYP. That's very helpful. Had no clue about the D FIR designation and appreciated that nugget of info. I've been thinking about a new shed and thought it might be fun to have exposed framing. Sounds like the D FIR will be a great option to consider.
I'm catching up on all your old stuff and I'd love to see a follow-up on this one with more info about what everything means on those tags. Great info!
I love that you’re doing these videos. I’m just getting started in wood working as a retirement project. I have yet to buy my required skill saw, lols, as you advised on another video. Finding out what the wood markings are, was “fun” knowledge. Would you please do a video on a simple reloading bench???
Great explanation, I have no idea what the codes mean when I'm looking through the lumber section and most employees can't help me...your videos are quite helpful.
Great video and like all of your videos, I learned so much in a compact presentation. Seems that I knew some of this but forgot most of it and it's GREAT to refresh or relearn (if that is a word). Thanks for putting this type material on your channel, big fan of your video where you explained framing from bottom to top. Your videos are of GREAT benefit to all, thank you.
I had no clue there were codes stamped on my 2x4 and wider lumber. I did wonder why some were heavy and some were really light weight. Thanks for the info!
I'm a carpenter and I didn't know any of this but I have noticed the difference in some pine woods. I made a picture frame out of an old door casing and I guess it was yellow pine because the frame had a reddish orange color.
I apprenticed under my grandfather from 1956 to 58. He explained all the difference woods, but there was no marking system back then. I was expected to identify by smell, color and density. I never got very good at it. I ended up as Captain on jets for the airline.
