Can anyone please tell me what the definition of a *short* is? I’ve looked on NOFMA’s website and can’t find their definition anywhere. Doing a Google search shows a few sources that suggest either between 9″-18″ or less than 18″. Is it strictly defined by length or is it a proportion of plank width to length. Is it dependent on joist spacing? Much thanks!
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I'll bet if you ask five builders, you'll get five different answers. And if you ask some cabinet shop managers, you'll get even more.
For me, a 'short' is any piece of wood that I have no intention of keeping, because it's too small. As a result, I have some very small pieces of epensive burl that I keep, but no 2X4's shorter than 93-5/8".
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No industry definition to offer, but I would personally consider anything shorter than 18" a "short".
J. D. Reynolds
Home Improvements
Yeah, "short" is a different thing to different people.
If your shop makes face frame cabinets, then a "short" is anything that can't be used as a filler behind a dummy drawer.
Or, if your shop uses a hogger, then a "short" is anything not to big to go in the pickup of the hogger (which occassionally has to be explained to the rocket scientist running the hogger, "Darryl, if you see an 8' stick, put it on the cart to take back to Cutting . . . ")
The sawyers I used to know, back in the old-fashioned days of the timber biz (all of 20-25 years ago), a "short" was any rough cut that was not the full length of the flitch--which would be a dimension that would likelyconfuse most flooring retailers (but a hand-full of shiny new pennies can have a similar effect on that cohort . . . )
I don't believe the National Hardwood Lumber Assoc. defines exactly what a short is.....they allow standard lengths down to 4' (4', 5', 6', 7', then 8' and up). So going by that, you could argue shorts are less than 4'...in common usage, people in my neck would sell 3'-6' as shorts. I don't see people in the lumber business thinking about anything less than 4'. There is a good trade in shorts; works for furniture, and lfooring to some extent.
Once it gets inside the plant doors, companies may have their own usage for the term 'shorts', but I've never heard of a standard.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
Thanks everyone for your input. I did receive a call back from a gentleman at NOFMA and he stated that their definition of a short is "a foot and a quarter". I had never heard flooring described like that...I like to think I'm half way intelligent anyways ;-) and asked him if that meant 15". We both laughed and he said "yup"!
Take care and happy building!
Mark
If you ask Lumber Liquidators, they won't know what you're talking about...
Expert since 10 am.
"Shorts" in hardwood lumber vary in length according to the grade of the lumber. FAS, (firsts and seconds) have to meet criteria that specifies the yield from a particular board. In the FAS grade, shorts are anything under 6'. In the #1 common grade, the shorts can be 4' or less.
http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/forestry/g05052.htm
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
FAS, (firsts and seconds) ...........
Hardwood grading terminology has "FAS" meaning "Fine and Select" -- at least that's the way I learned it.
Support our Troops. Bring them home. Now. And pray that at least some of the buildings in the green zone have flat roofs, with a stairway.
I just checked my grading book (2007 NHLA).....FAS 'standard' grade requires a minumum board size of 6" x 8'. Selects can be 6'. The standard grade is modified for some species....for example in walnut a 6' board still grades FAS. But yes, I agree with you, what a short is based on grade. http://www.natlhardwood.org/pdf/2007_Rules.pdfCabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.