It just doesn’t make sense that a domestic species like Walnut costs more than an exotic one like Mahogany, does it? While on the surface, it might not seem logical, there are many reasons American Walnut has dealt with increased prices along with a downgrade of grading as far as … [Read more...]
Lumber Grading Anomalies: Ebony, Guitars, and B Grade
President of Taylor Guitars, Bob Taylor, used a YouTube video to make a surprising but strong statement about the North American penchant for buying only A Grade lumber: It’s unnecessary and wasteful. Why does his opinion matter? Well, it might not, except when we’re talking … [Read more...]
Constantly Shifting Grading Standards for Plywood and Millwork, Pt 2
One of the key characteristics that sets J. Gibson McIlvain Lumber apart from the competition is our commitment to quality. Since we’re so passionate about this issue, we’re also passionate about helping our customers understand how grading systems work. In recent years, we’ve … [Read more...]
Constantly Shifting Grading Standards for Plywood and Millwork, Pt 1
While plywood and moulding prices have basically remained the same, hardwood and softwood prices have continually climbed. Typically, a price change for raw materials translates into price changes for manufactured or engineered wood products also (even if there is a time lapse). … [Read more...]
Lumber Grading Anomalies: Changing the Grading Scale for Walnut
In the past, we’ve decried the problems with grading adjustments. Generally, the customer loses out, as do manufacturers that can still source or produce A-grade products. At the same time, poor manufacturing seems to be encouraged. It’s a lose-lose scenario. However, in the … [Read more...]
Our Legacy of Serving Furniture Makers Continues To Grow
J. Gibson McIlvain has a long, rich history of selling lumber to furniture makers. In fact, our relationship with them marks the start of the McIlvain lumber legacy, dating back over 200 years. While we’ve expanded into other markets, some aspects of our business, like our … [Read more...]
Buyer’s Guide to Premium Plywood
As we discussed in a previous post, issues relating to the ideal number of layers in plywood hail back to the glue. Glue issues, in turn, typically hinge more on the application than the glue itself, making consistency and quality control in the manufacturing process incredibly … [Read more...]
Expert Installation Tips: Wide Plank Flooring, Part 2
Wide plank flooring can definitely provide a striking look for high-end residential and commercial projects! In Part 1, we discussed how wide-plank flooring (especially the kind that’s made from extra-wide planks in widths over 8 inches) presents some unique challenges. From … [Read more...]
Expert Installation Tips: Wide Plank Flooring, Part 1
Wide plank flooring can certainly offer a striking addition to your next build! Particularly suited to large rooms in today’s high-end residential and commercial construction and remodeling industry, planks topping 12 inches in width are becoming increasingly popular. However, … [Read more...]
Is Buying Exotic Lumber Bad for the Environment? Part 3
Hopefully, you’re convinced that buying imported lumber is actually beneficial for the environment and that thanks to CITES regulations, it’s become very difficult to illegally harvest and export lumber. But how can you be absolutely certain that the imported lumber that you … [Read more...]
Is Buying Exotic Lumber Bad for the Environment? Part 2
As we discussed in a previous post, the lumber industry is not the culprit many people assume it to be when it comes to deforestation. While the lumber industry does contribute to 2-3% of deforestation along the Amazon, logging bans essentially contribute to at least 85% of it! … [Read more...]
Is Buying Exotic Lumber Bad for the Environment? Part 1
In a recent post, we mentioned the idea that contrary to popular belief, composite decking is not actually more environmentally friendly than tropical hardwood decking. A key factor in understanding this issue is to realize that buying exotic lumber actually benefits the … [Read more...]
When Plywood Quality Comes Unglued
There’s no question about it: Plywood pricing and grading can be confusing. The core matters, when it comes to finding quality plywood. It’s not just the materials that comprise the core, but the number of plies and quality of glue that makes a difference. Let’s read between the … [Read more...]
Composite Product Recommendation: NuCedar
For both environmental reasons and plenty of practical ones, we generally steer away from composite materials. We realize that composite products are gaining popularity, but we just haven’t been comfortable entering that market — until a few years ago. Problems with Most … [Read more...]
Lumber Grading Anomalies: Adjusting Expectations for Walnut
Grades are one thing; they’re pretty straightforward, and no one customer or supplier is going to get the system changed. But expectations are different. Not only are they unique to each individual, but they shape the way we experience life and the likelihood of our appreciation … [Read more...]
