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HOW TO ORDER TIMBER.

6th July 1926, Page 29
6th July 1926
Page 29
Page 29, 6th July 1926 — HOW TO ORDER TIMBER.
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Useful Inside Information for the Body-builder, Fleet Engineer, Repair Foreman and for the Order Clerk.

By a Timber Clerk.

VERY often unnecessary delay and needless correV spondence, involving much waste of valuable time, are caused through ignorance of the correct way in which to order timber.

Many woodworkers in all trades, clever enough with their tools, are completely lost when it comes to ordering the wood. Of course, I do not mesa to say it is always the practical men who are guilty of doubtful and incorrect orders. It is sometimes the office people who are at fault. They, being as -a rule unacquainted with timber nomenclature, frequently mix up the sizes and description in copying the requisition of their foreman. However, the result is the same, and the timber merchant receives an order which leaves him in an exasperating state of uncertainty as to what is really required by his customer. Should he send the timber according to his own interpretation of the order and it turn S out to be wrong, the customer will expect him to take it back without paying the cartage for the lost journey. Naturally, this added expense irritates the timber merchant, and the delay irritates the customer —result, general dissatisfaction all round. A. few hints may, therefore, be helpful.

In ordering timber, first state the number of pieces or planks required; then the lengths, 'thickness and widths ; and lastly the sort of wood. Thus ;— • 15 12-ft.

24 10-ft. 1-in. by 11-in, planed yellow, 16 9-ft.

starting with the longest length at the top. Or :— 12 squares (in lengths to cut 9 ft.) Fin. by 4-in. yellow V-jointed matching, But bear in mind that all planed softwoods—deal matehings, floorings, battens, boards and quarteringsare of nominal thickness and width. So if you ordered the size, say, 1-in. by 11-in, planed yellow or white, the actual size you would receive would be in. by 10! ins. The board was 1 in. by 11 ins, before it was planed. If you really want it 1 in. thick when planed, you must order it "1 in. full." All tulplaned timber should hold up to the stated dimensions.

Always state the exact length (where possible) in which you are going to use the boards. Do not order 21 ft. when you are going to cut them up to 7 ft. The timber merchant may think they are going to be used in the 21-ft. lengths and tell you he has not them in Stock, whereas he may have plenty of 14 ft. that would cut to 7 ft., or even 7 ft. already in stock,

How Softwoods are Sold.

All softwoods are sold by the foot run. In the ease where a large quantity is required, floorings and matching-s are sold by the "square." For the information of those who do not know, a "square" is 100 square, or superficial. feet, or 10 ft. by 10 ft., which equals 100 sq. ft. Therefore, a "square" of 4-in, matching would contain 300 feet run ; if of 6 ft., it would contain 200 feet run, and so on according to width. So should you at any time want 100 feet run of 6-in, flooring or matching, which is half a "square," do not ask your merchant his price per foot run ; ask him the price per " wpm " and buy it at " square " rate. Most merchants will sell half a "square," but not less, at the "square" rate. You will find it considerably cheaper to buy by the square instead of by the foot run, where the quantity permits.

Hardwoods, such as mahogany, oak, walnut, whitewood, ash, teak, etc., are measured, not by the feet run, but by the feet super, or square feet, which the board or plank contains in face measure, disregarding The thickness. And each plank should be marked with the number of feet it contains on the face. It is sold, not at per foot super face measure, but at per foot super as 1 in. This often causes confusion in ordering and pricing the timber. The customer will ask the timber merchant for a quotation of, say, 140 feet super 1i-in. American oak. Suppose the price quoted is is. per foot super; this would mean that the price is is. per foot super ; as 1 in.' not face measure. Therefore, the planks being 1i ins, thick, the actual price would be Is. 6d. per foot super.

To find the foot super of a board or plank (it is a " plank " if over 1 in. thick), multiply the length by the width and divide by 12; that will give you the face measure, If it is U ins, thick, add on a quarter of the result. A board 16 ft. long by 1 in. by 9 ins, would contain 12 feet super. If it were If ins, thick it would be 12 ft. plus 3 ft. (a quarter), which equals 15 ft.

Trade Customs in Ordering.

Nearly all practical men, of course, know the custom of the timber trade regarding the measurements of hardwoods and how they are sold, yet timber merchants are continually receiving orders which baffle them and others which are doubtful. An order will be received by the timber merchant thus :— "About 200 feet super 2-in. ash."

No widths or lengths are mentioned, and another question is: Does the customer mean 200 feet super face measure or 200 feet super as 1 in.? The width is most important to know, for the width governs the price in all hardwoods. The wider the wood the more expensive it is. Does he want English ash or American ash, square-edged planks or log-cut? Is prime or second quality required? Timber merchants are not thoughtreaders, therefore the order is delayed until inquiries are made.

The correct order is found to read as follows:— "About 200 ft. face 2 ins. by 8-in./10-in. prime American sq.-edged ash, lengths not particular ; or, if mahogany is required :— " 12 lads. 1-in. by 16-in./20-in. prime Honduras mahogany, lengths not to be under 10 ft."

If you are not sure of the class of wood you require, state the purpose for which it is wanted. The timber merchant will most likely know what to send, for you are probably not the only customer on his books doing the same work.

Never wait until you are _" standing still" for the wood before you order it. Always give the timber merchant as much time as possible. Remember, timber is not handled easily and to select it from a pile is a long job. If you hurry him he will " chance " the'boards Or planks "as they rise from the pile" and you may get inferior and faulty wood. Do not be annoyed with the timber merchant because he does not happen-to have a piece of wood exactly to the size you require. Always be prepared to take a little waste. To keep every conceivable size in stock would necessitate having a yard about four times the size of Hyde Park, with the Bank of England to finance it.

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Organisations: Bank of England
People: Repair Foreman

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