Method for creating higher grade wood products from lower grade lumber

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a process whereby low-grade lumber, (i.e., lumber having surface defects such as knots, voids, wane, and bark pockets, and warp defects such as twist, bow, crook and sweep), is converted to higher grade lumber and panel products. The process of the present invention involves first categorizing low-grade lumber, arranging a specified number of the categorized low-grade lumber side by side in a manner which offsets the surface defects on adjacent lumber by a minimum distance, and then face-laminating the categorized low-grade lumber together to form a cant. Warp defects such as bow, twist and crook are also offset in the arrangement of the cant and are straightened through the clamping and bonding process. The cant is then re-sawn to produce new, laminated wood products of a higher grade, each new laminated wood product including portions of the original lumber. The wood products may be structural dimensional lumber, 2×4 to 2×12 studs, and panels varying in thickness and width.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.