Timber Products and Uses

Timber has been useful to humans for millions of years. It was and is used to build shelters and infrastructure, furniture, art, paper, and much more. Logging companies must know the myriad of purposes of timber for logging sustainably and selling the timber for the best price. Loggers carefully select timber for various purposes. White oak may go to one lumber mill, while hickory may demand better prices at another lumber mill that sells to furniture and tool builders.

Logging companies usually have a systemic approach to harvesting trees, especially on larger properties. First, they prioritize select logging so they are not destroying an entire forest. They also leave trees that will not command a good price. Mill pricing varies from region to region and by species.

Once the timber is harvested, loggers cut it into lengths as dictated by the mill they sell it to. They load it on logging trucks and haul it to the mills.

Trees that do not command a decent price are left, as are smaller trees that have many years left in them. In the eastern part of middle Tennessee, pine trees, gum, poplar and red maple are often left during selective logging. White, red and chestnut oak, along with walnut, are common trees that mills look for. Some mills will accept hickory, others will accept it but pay less, and other mills want hickory. 

One of the most common and versatile timber products is lumber. Once the logs get to the mill, the mill cuts them into various dimensions to create beams, boards and planks. Dimensional lumber is used in framing, construction, furniture making and flooring.

Each wood species has its own characteristics, including hardness, which make it suitable for various projects. Pine is commonly used in construction because it is soft, strong, and affordable, and hickory and maple are popular for making furniture. Oak is also popular for furniture because of its hardness, but it may be used in some construction applications. 

This wood product is used for decorative purposes. The log has to be perfect and over a certain size to be used for veneer. It cannot have flaws, such as knots or bends. When the mills cut veneer, they use a rotary saw to create one large panel as the log rotates. This method yields the most veneer out of a log and is used for the majority of panels produced in the United States.

Over the years, engineered wood has become more popular because of its versatility and strength. It includes plywood, laminated veneer lumber (LVL), oriented strand board (OSB), and glued laminated timber.

Manufacturers bond wood fibers or veneers together with adhesives to create strong materials used in furniture making and construction, including framing, flooring, sheathing, and decorative elements in architectural design.

Manufacturers compress wood particles, veneers or fibers with adhesives to create rigid sheets. You may know this type of wood as particle board, fiberboard or medium-density fiberboard (MDF).

The panels are commonly used to make furniture and cabinetry and are often used as interior finishes. They offer uniformity and stability and provide an eco-friendly alternative to solid wood as they use wood waste and residues during the production process. 

Wood is also required for specialty timber products, including:

• Wood Pellets: Made from compressed wood shavings and sawdust, wood pellets are usually used for power generation and heat. You can purchase "pellet stoves" that burn wood pellets.
• Wood Chips and Mulch: These are byproducts of timber processing and are frequently used in landscaping applications, erosion control and for gardening.
• Railway Sleepers: These are large beams that are used to hold railroad tracks in place.
• Pulp and Paper: Wood pulp from timber processing is the raw material used to create cardboard and paper products, including the paper you write on, wrapping paper, paper towels, tissues, toilet paper and more.
• Wooden Dowels and Mouldings: These small diameter rods and decorative trim are used in carpentry and woodworking.
• Toys and Crafts: Wooden toys for children and parrots are made from wood blocks.
• Utensils and Kitchenware: Wooden spoons, spatulas and other kitchen implements are often made from wood.
• Wooden Sporting Goods: Items such as baseball bats, archery bows and hockey sticks are often made of wood.
• Musical Instruments: Violins, violas, basses, guitars and other instruments are made from wood. 

Timber products serve many purposes. If you are clearing your land to build a house, contact Miller Farms for a free timber evaluation. We will come out to see if you have marketable timber and, if so, to walk your property lines. We'll ask you to mark any large trees you want to keep. Contact Miller Farms today for a free timber evaluation.