Buying Joinery Timber for Furniture Making: What You Need to Know

All joinery timber is visually graded twice:

1. At the sawmill just after it's sawn from the log
2. After drying (kiln or air), once the timber has stabilised.

These grades are based on appearance only, not strength, and help indicate how much natural character (or lack of it) you’ll find in each board.

< Up to X Not permitted ✓ Permitted
Note: This table is a simplified guide and does not cover all feature allowances. For full grading details, refer to AS2796.2.

Note: All grades are dried and machined to the same standard. More visible features doesn't necessarily mean lower quality, just different aesthetic appeal.

It’s also important to understand that grading is still somewhat subjective, especially at the boundaries between grades. Two Select Grade boards might look quite different — one from the cleaner end of the range, another with more character but still within spec.

Imported hardwoods like American Oak, Walnut, and Maple are typically graded in their country of origin under systems like FAS (Firsts and Seconds) . These are yield-based systems that focus on clear, defect-free areas per board, rather than specific feature limits. While the quality is often very high, colour variation and sapwood are common and not usually matched.

When browsing racks or packs of joinery timber, you’ll often see a variety of chalk marks, tags, and stamps. These can seem cryptic at first, but they’re pretty straightforward once you get the hang of them.

Many suppliers also use chalk or crayon to mark out defects that aren’t included in the measured tally — such as crossing out a split, knot, or end-check. This lets the board retain its higher grade and value based on the usable portion. It’s already accounted for, so there’s no need to request a discount due to those defects.

Joinery timber is rarely a uniform size, but it does follow industry-standard increments. Here’s a general guide to what we typically stock:

• Widths: Supplied in standard increments starting at 25mm wide. Hammer Roo generally stocks widths between 100mm–300mm .
  Tolerance: ±10mm
• Thicknesses: Most commonly available in 25mm , 38mm , and 50mm.
  Tolerance: ±5mm
• Lengths: Typically range from 0.9m to 6m , usually supplied in 100mm increments . Longer lengths are less common and can be harder to source.
  Tolerance: ±100mm

Even with a perfect cut list, timber isn’t like pre-sized panels-there’s always a degree of trimming, defect removal, and layout adjustment during your build.

Also, keep in mind: having the right total lineal metres doesn’t guarantee you’ll get the board lengths you need. If your project requires long components, make sure to check available board lengths or let us know in advance.

One of the great things about buying joinery timber from Hammer Roo is that you can choose it yourself. Prefer to hand-pick your boards in person? Go for it. Need us to select on your behalf? We're happy to do that too. Either way, we’ll make sure you get quality timber that suits your project.

If You’re Selecting Your Own Boards:

• Call ahead. Some species or sizes may be buried in storage or require forklift access. A quick call helps us get what you need ready to view.
• Bring your cut list and budget. Knowing what you're building and how much you can spend helps us guide you toward the best boards for both project and price.
• Pricing is per lineal metre. Timber is sold by the full board, not cut to size. Pricing varies based on species, grade, and dimensions.
• Consider taking shorts. Boards under 1.6m long are ideal for smaller components and often overlooked by bulk buyers. Choosing a few shorts can reduce waste, save money, and help free up valuable rack space.
• Keep the stack tidy. If you’re sorting through a pack, please return boards neatly and in order. It makes life easier for everyone and helps maintain the quality of the stock.
• Ask before testing. Need to run a plane over a surface or use a moisture meter? No problem, just check in with us first before using tools on timber in the rack.
• Plan ahead for transport. Bring straps, measuring and cutting tools, and any PPE you might need. If you can’t fit it in your vehicle, we also offer delivery options.

Whether you're building a custom cabinet or your first side table, we're here to help you choose the right joinery timber. You’re welcome to hand-pick in store or let us choose for you. We pack and ship timber across Australia daily, so no matter where you are, we’ll get the right boards to your door.