10 minute read
Rules Corner
High Log Inventory Can Result in Stain and Defects — Are you Prepared?
with Chief Inspector Dana Spessert
The Covid-19 pandemic has the hardwood industry and the world facing unprecedented circumstances. Some industries, such as the restaurant and hospitality industry have adapted to take-out and delivery service to stay afloat, while other industries have been forced to completely close. In March, the Department of Homeland Security deemed the hardwood industry to be “Essential and Critical” to the security of the country, recognizing the life-sustaining importance of the wood industry. This declaration has allowed sawmills to stay open and has certainly saved our industry! This month, I would like to address issues with staining and other defects that are going to be on the rise as inventories continue to build in many areas of the country. Logs and lumber begin to dry immediately upon being cut. Sawmills would normally accept all the logs they could get their hands on during this time of the year, but as some mills are currently working at half-staff, there are a lot of logs stacking up.
The lack of consumption at the mills is also going to cause logs to sit around longer than optimal, causing some of the white woods, such as hard and soft maple, to begin to stain. Stain, either chemical or fungal, is caused by the slow drying of wood, either in the log or lumber form. Due to the drying process beginning as soon as a tree is cut, time from tree felling to lumber on sticks becomes critical, especially when the daytime temperatures reach summer levels. To mitigate some of these conditions, steps need to be put into place to minimize the amount of time that the logs and lumber are sitting on the yard before being sawn or stacked for air drying.
STEPS INCLUDE: 1. Awareness of time from tree to mill as a log.
a. Old logs already stained cannot be improved in quality
2. Log Inventory Rotation
a. White woods should receive priority b. First in, first out plan c. Lower your inventory
3. Cutting white woods Monday-Thursday allows time for stacking on drying sticks
a. Utilize properly charged dip tanks for fungal stain
4. Lumber yard inventory rotation
a. Require all white woods to be put on sticks within two days
5. Lumber yard airflow and water drainage
NHLA has programs and resources that can assist you in achieving higher returns on your valuable assets. A visit from an NHLA National Inspector is a great place to start! I encourage you to reach out to your area Inspector for a ONE-ON-ONE CALL or a VIRTUAL CONSULTATION.
As COVID-19 is forcing companies, and all of us, to change the way business is conducted, NHLA is also adjusting the way we deliver education and resources to its membership. In the coming days, NHLA will be offering free webinars on such topics as hardwood lumber grading, kiln drying, basic quality control and benefits of the NHLA yield analysis program.
Webinar information will be shared as soon as they become available.
We also encourage you to utilize the knowledge and skillsets of the NHLA Inspection Services team during this time. The team is working and available to discuss any issues or problems you may be having. Please reach out to your area inspector and arrange a one-onone consultation via phone call, FaceTime, or virtual Zoom meeting.
If you have any questions regarding the upcoming webinar training or have a specific question for the Industry Services Team, contact Dana Spessert at 901-827-1773.
Dana Spessert Chief Inspector 901-399-7551 d.spessert@nhla.com
Mark Bear Territory: USA - South Centrai and Midwest 205-295-8018 m.bear@nhla.com
Tom Byers Territory: USA - Northeast 814-431-5699 t.byers@nhla.com
Mark Depp Territory: USA - Mid-Atlantic 814-246-4941 m.depp@nhla.com
Jack English Territory: USA - Northeast, Pacific, and Pacific-Northwest 518-366-1161 j.english@nhla.com
Kevin Evilsizer Territory: USA - Midwest 417-260-5416 k.evilsizer@nhla.com
Barry Kibbey Territory: USA - North and Midwest 814-566-2023 b.kibbey@nhla.com
Simon Larocque Territory: Canada 819-712-1640 s.larocque@nhla.com
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Register for classes at www.nhla.com/Education. NHLA PROVIDES EDUCATION AND TRAINING TO IMPROVE YOUR BOTTOM LINE
JUNE 1-5
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
Venue: Hardin County Extension Office Elizabethtown, KY Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector
JUNE 8-11
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
Venue: Yoder Lumber Co., Inc. Millersburg, OH Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector
JULY
27-29
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
Venue: Franklin Industrial Commercial Development Authority - Emerging Technology Center Franklin, PA Instructor: Tom Byers, NHLA National Inspector
JULY
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
27-31
Venue: Rowan County Courthouse Morehead, KY Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector
AUGUST 10-21
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN
Module 2: Online study Module 3: Three weeks hands-on training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
AUGUST 24-26
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
Venue: Northwest Hardwoods - Marion Branch Marion, NC
Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector
COVID-19 IMPACT: At the time of publication, these educational courses are being offered. However, due to the unknowns of the COVID-19 pandemic please visit nhla.com for the latest information or call NHLA headquarters at 901-377-1818 to confirm that these courses are taking place.
SEPTEMBER 1-Nov. 20
Inspector Training School 193rd Class Traditional 12-week hands-on training to achieve the certificate of completion in Hardwood Lumber Inspection.
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN
SEPTEMBER 14-17
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
Venue: WV Wood Technology Center Elkins, WV Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector
SEPTEMBER 14-18
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
Venue: Wood-Mizer, LLC Indianapolis, IN Instructor: Barry Kibbey, NHLA National Inspector
AUGUST 24-Sept. 4
Inspector Training School Online Training Program MODULE 1 Two weeks of hands-on training. Venue: Northwest Hardwoods - Marion Branch Marion, NC Instructor: Mark Depp, NHLA National Inspector
Module 2: Online study Module 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
Here you will find our current job listings. To see more details or to post a job, visit www.nhla.com/industry-services/job-board.
HARDWOOD LUMBER INSPECTOR
Identify, measure and grade lumber according to the NHLA rules and regulations. Working on a green chain marking lumber according to grades.
Skills & Experience Required Graduate of NHLA school. Experience preferred but not necessary.
Salary & Benefits Health insurance, (6) paid holidays, paid vacation, life insurance, 401K.
How to Apply Please send resume and application to Damon Clinger at dclinger@ahiwood.com
American Hardwood Industries 1317 Augusta Lane | Amissville, Virginia Phone: 540-347-4528
NHLA CERTIFIED LUMBER GRADER
Primary duties and responsibilities include consistent and accurate grading of hardwood green lumber. Highly dependable.
Skills & Experience Required NHLA Certified
Salary & Benefits Excellent pay. Retirement Plan. Insurance Paid. Vacation. Great work environment.
How to Apply Please send resume and application to office@churchandchurchlumber.com
Church and Church Lumber Company 863 New Browns Ford Road | Wilkesboro, North Carolina Phone: 336-973-5700 | www.northcarolinalumber.com
LUMBER INSPECTOR
Mackeys Ferry Sawmill is looking for a Lumber Inspector to grade dry and green hardwoods to NHLA standards, as well as, grading softwood on occasion. Must be able to operate machinery that is relative to the grading process, and have the ability to grade lumber with a specific grade marking system. All other duties as assigned.
Skills & Experience Required • Familiarity with lumber grading rules, grading pencils, crayons, and other grade markers.
• Previous experience grading lumber is a plus.
• Ability to stand for long periods of time while grading.
• Ability to lift and turn boards as they come down the grading chain.
Salary & Benefits Mackeys Ferry Sawmill provides a competitive benefits package that includes: Medical Insurance, Dental, Vision and other supplementary insurance, paid time off, retirement and bonuses
How to Apply Please send resume and application to Mark Delosreyes at markd@jwjoneslumber.com
Mackeys Ferry Sawmill 7436 Mackeys Road | Roper, North Carolina 27970 Phone: 252-771-2497 | www.mackeysferrysawmill.com
KILN OPERATOR
Missouri Walnut is looking for a dedicated Kiln Operator that can assist our Boiler/Kiln Manager in managing the every day operations of our kilns.
Job Duties Include Controls dry kilns to dry lumber to specified moisture content: Measures moisture content of lumber preparatory to drying, using moisture meter, or cuts, weighs, and places lumber samples in curing oven and reweighs samples periodically as they are drying to determine rate and percentage of moisture reduction. Determines drying cycle and schedule, considering factors such as species, dimensions, and quantity of lumber to be dried, initial moisture content of lumber, or moisture reduction rate of lumber samples. Presses buttons or turns valves and control knobs to activate, control, and record temperature, humidity, and ventilation of dry kilns. Reads recording gauges and weighs lumber samples periodically during seasoning process, and readjusts temperature and humidity controls to regulate moisture reduction rate and avoid damage to lumber. Measures moisture content of lumber at completion of drying cycle, using moisture meter, to ensure that specified amount of moisture has been removed. Maintains records of species, dimensions, and footage of lumber dried, and initial and final moisture content of lumber. Changes graphs on pen-graph recorders as required. May direct workers engaged in loading lumber onto kiln cars, placing cars in kilns, and removing dried lumber from kiln.
Skills & Experience Required Must have at least 3-4 years of working knowledge of kilns Drying Hardwood preferred Walnut experience preferred. Knowledge of how to manage schedules and work within computer systems and exce. Ability to work amongst various departments.
Salary & Benefits Missouri Walnut provides a competitive benefits package that includes: Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, and 401K. Added other benefits are production-based bonuses and a profit-sharing bonus.
How to Apply Please send resume and application to Gage McKinnis at gmckinnis@missouriwalnutgroup.com
Missouri Walnut, LLC 11417 Oak Road | Neosho, Missouri 64850 Phone: 417-455-0972
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