End Coatings for Logs and Lumber

Unequal drying of green timber and lumber causes checking and splitting. As drying under natural conditions is more rapid from the end grain than from the side grain, protection of the ends to retard the end drying is resorted to. Suitable end coatings are also effective in preventing development of stain and decay.

In this paper the author tells of studies made by the Forest Products Laboratory with various coatings and the beneficial results that are obtained by reducing the waste from end checks, decay, and stain while timber is seasoning.