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If you've ever spent much time in a lumber yard, you've probably noticed customers examining each piece of stock by sighting down long axis of the piece. Are they looking for anything in particular, or are they just overly choosy about the stock that they choose to buy?

Well, it is probably both. What they're actually doing is looking for certain defects, to determine whether the piece of stock is acceptable for their woodworking project.

What defects should you look for when you buy your lumber?

Keep in mind, however, that a defect isn't always a problem. Some defects are actually beneficial, as they can lend character to a finished woodworking piece.

Case in point: a number of woodworkers like to recycle long-leaf pine stock from old barns and houses. Once any nails and screws have been removed and the stock has been planed, there are likely to be some old nail holes remaining in the stock. In many cases, these defects are left to be visible in the finished piece, as they lend a lot of character to the project.

In the end, the choice of whether to use stock with a defect is purely up to you.

More woodworking tips & plans here