D. Select: The last of the better grades of wood; it can be used for furniture and other projects where a good finish is required. It contains more blemishes and knots than the C. Grade.

#1 Common: The best of the regular board grades. It usually has small knots which are not likely to dislodge, and a few minor blemishes. It is the best all-around wood for use where these defects are not a factor.

#2 Common: Frequently employed indoors for flooring and for knotty pine panels. It has more knots than #1 Common but should not have knotholes.

#3 Common: Small knotholes may appear in this grade, being open also to possible dislodgement of small knots under rough handling and working. This grade also will check a bit and more pitch may be present in it.

#4 Common: A low-cost grade which is useful for fences and many other outdoor uses. Bear in mind that it will have more knotholes and more knots than the above grades. However, by selecting good pieces from your lot of lumber and using them in the more exposed-to-view sections, and by using the blemished pieces for some of the less visible parts of your structures, you may save money and still have a perfectly satisfactory result.

#5 Common: This grade is so full of knots and imperfections that it should not be used for any project requiring strength, nor (unless you are in love with knots) used where the grain and beauty of wood should show. However, it can be used for many projects in many ways, particularly where a finish of some sort will be applied over it, saving you money and being perfectly satisfactory. Look it over before you buy it, however. You may decide to purchase the better grades instead.

. . . grades of other woods Other woods are graded similarly to the pine wood listing above. Because pine is usually cheapest, readily available everywhere, and because we feel that, properly treated with wood preservative, pine can last well and be perfectly satisfactory, we shall not go into the grading of other woods. Occasionally you may want to consider making a table top or a bench out of oak wood or some other locally available hard- wood. Here, where they can be treated to preserve the natural grain and beauty of the wood so that it will show and be appreciated, the use of better grades of hardwood will be well justified.