Industry standards for recognition of marginal wood defects

Abstract

This study of 46 U.S. wood products companies that manufacture a variety of hardwood products found no consistently applied formal or standard definition of what constitutes a marginal defect. Analysis indicated homogeneous yet nonspecific rules are used. While there were wide variations in criteria, similar quantitative terms were used. Two distinct classes of defects emerged. One group, encompassing holes, knots, and checks, appears to be well defined, while the other, encompassing stain, mineral, color harmony, and incipient decay, is left to subjective evaluation.

Citation

Huber, Henry A.; Ruddell, Steve; McMillin, Charles W. 1990. Industry standards for recognition of marginal wood defects. Forest Products Journal 40(3):30-34