The Ultimate Guide to Wood
Wood has been a fundamental material in human history, used for everything from construction to fine craftsmanship. Whether you’re building furniture, installing baseboards, or just appreciating the beauty of natural wood, understanding its properties, processing methods, and terminology is key. And this ultimate guide to wood explores different types of lumber preparation (S2S, S3S, and S4S), how wood is made into usable material, plus provides a comprehensive glossary of essential terms.
Understanding S2S, S3S, and S4S Lumber
When purchasing lumber, you may see designations like S2S, S3S, and S4S. These refer to how much the wood has been surfaced (planed) for smoothness and readiness for use. Here is a quick rundown, for more information check out this article.
- S2S (Surfaced on Two Sides) – The lumber has been planed on the top and bottom, leaving the edges rough. This is great for woodworkers who want control over the final dimensions.
- S3S (Surfaced on Three Sides) – The top, bottom, and one edge have been planed smooth, leaving one rough edge. This is ideal for projects where one edge will be joined or cut.
- S4S (Surfaced on Four Sides) – All sides are planed smooth and square, making it the most user-friendly option for immediate use in projects.
How Wood is Processed for Use
- Harvesting – Trees are felled and transported to sawmills.
- Milling – Logs are cut into rough lumber, with different cuts affecting strength and grain pattern.
- Drying – Wood is either air-dried or kiln-dried to reduce moisture content, preventing warping.
- Surfacing – The lumber is planed to create smooth surfaces (S2S, S3S, or S4S).
- Grading & Sorting – Lumber is classified based on quality, grain, and defects.
- Final Use – The wood is ready for furniture, flooring, cabinetry, or other projects.
Glossary of Essential Woodworking Terms
A
- Air-Dried: Wood dried naturally without a kiln, typically over months or years.
- Angiosperm: Scientific classification for hardwood trees like oak and maple.
- Annual Rings: The rings in a tree trunk that indicate its age and growth conditions.
B
- Baseboard: Decorative trim installed at the bottom of walls.
- Bevel: A sloped edge cut at an angle.
- Biscuit Joint: A reinforced joint using oval-shaped wooden pieces.
C
- Crosscut: A cut made perpendicular to the wood grain.
- Cladding: A protective or decorative wood layer on walls or exteriors.
- Coping Saw: A saw with a thin, flexible blade for curved cuts.
D
- Dado: A rectangular groove cut across wood grain for joints.
- Dovetail Joint: A strong, interlocking joint often used in drawer construction.
- Dowels: Cylindrical wooden pins used for joining wood pieces.
E
- End Grain: The surface of wood fibers cut perpendicular to the grain.
- Edge Jointing: The process of straightening wood edges for a tight fit.
F
- Flush: Two wood surfaces are perfectly aligned.
- Furring Strip: Thin wood strips used to level a surface.
- Featherboard: A safety tool used to hold wood securely while cutting.
G
- Grain: The pattern of wood fibers, which affects strength and appearance.
- Groove: A long, narrow channel cut into wood for joinery.
H
- Hardwood: Wood from deciduous trees, generally denser and more durable.
- Handrail: A supportive rail along staircases.
I
- Inlay: A decorative technique where one material is set into another.
J
- Joinery: The method of connecting wood pieces together.
- Jig: A guide or template used for precision cutting or drilling.
K
- Kerf: The width of a saw cut, determined by blade thickness.
L
- Laminate: Multiple layers of material bonded together.
- Lap Joint: A joint where two wood pieces overlap.
M
- Miter Joint: A joint where two pieces meet at an angle, commonly 45°.
- Mortise and Tenon: A classic, strong wood joinery method where a protrusion (tenon) fits into a cavity (mortise).
N
- Nominal Size: The rough-sawn dimensions of lumber before final planing.
O
- Orbital Sander: A power tool used for sanding wood surfaces smoothly.
P
- Pilot Hole: A small pre-drilled hole to prevent wood from splitting when screwing or nailing.
- Plywood: Engineered wood made from glued layers of veneer.
Q
- Quarter-Sawn: Lumber cut for maximum stability and distinct grain patterns.
R
- Rip Cut: A cut made parallel to the wood grain.
- Router: A tool used for shaping and hollowing wood.
S
- Sanding: The process of smoothing wood with abrasives.
- Sawhorse: A support used to hold wood while cutting.
- Sticks or Stickers: Pieces of wood of uniform size placed between stacked boards to aid drying and give support. They should be of a neutral wood that will not stain the boards.
- Sweep: A long, gentle, natural bend in a log or tree.
T
- Table Saw: A stationary saw for precise, straight cuts.
- Tangential Shrinkage: Shrinkage at right angles to the grain, which can cause cupping on flatsawn wood.
- Tongue and Groove: A joint where one board has a protruding edge (tongue) that fits into a groove in another board.
V
W
- Warp: When wood bends or twists due to uneven drying.
- Wolf or Wolf Tree: A larger-than-average, old tree with a spreading crown and limited timber value, though often valuable to wildlife.
- Woolly Grain: A woolly or fuzzy surface with frayed, rather than cleanly cut fibers, after machining. It can occur with tension wood or be a feature of certain species.
- Wood Conditioner: A product used to ensure even staining.
X
- Xylem: The living tissue in the outer layers of the tree trunk, serving to transport sap and store food; known as sapwood when converted to timber.
Understanding wood and its many uses can help you make informed decisions for any project, whether you’re crafting furniture or tackling a home renovation. This ultimate guide to wood covers everything from lumber preparation to essential woodworking terms, helping you choose the right materials with confidence. For a deeper dive into home remodeling terminology, check out our Home Improvement Glossary for essential definitions. To learn more about sustainable wood sourcing and forestry practices, visit the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) for expert insights on responsible wood use.
