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  1. #1
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    Default Three letter codes for timber?

    G'day adoring fans,

    Each time I go to my favourite (i.e. only) wood merchant here in Canberra, all the various timbers are coded with three letters in chalk.

    Some are obvious, most are not.

    Wondering if this is a standard of some kind and whether anyone has a list? (so I don't look like such a gump next time I go out)

    E

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  3. #2
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    Had a quick look on Google and the only lists I could find are just two letter abbreviations (initials for want of a better term) of the botanical names, so it may just be done on a place to place basis.

    Got any examples of the less obvious ones?

  4. #3
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    This may be what you are looking for, however it is a purchase only option.

    "AS 2543, Nomenclature of Australian Timbers"

    superseeded by

    "AS/NZS 1148:2001 Timber - Nomenclature - Australian, New Zealand and imported species"

    both are outrageously expensive

  5. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Evanism View Post
    G'day adoring fans,

    Each time I go to my favourite (i.e. only) wood merchant here in Canberra, all the various timbers are coded with three letters in chalk.

    Some are obvious, most are not.

    Wondering if this is a standard of some kind and whether anyone has a list? (so I don't look like such a gump next time I go out)

    E
    That irritates me too. Not as much as the prices, but it's still really annoying.

    Trav
    Some days we are the flies; some days we are the windscreen

  6. #5
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    You're not talking about the obvious like MGP ( machine graded pine ) DAR ( dressed all round ) etc are you ?
    What are some of the letters you've seen ? That would help us shed some light.

    Stewie

  7. #6
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    Here's the most common of ours.
    Ink-stamped on construction timber: COFI and below that: SPF.
    COFI means "Council Of Forest Industries."

    SPF
    Might be Spruce (Picea sp.)
    Might be Pine (Pinus sp.)
    Might be Fir (Abies sp.)

    See? That was easy.

  8. #7
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    Default Dont think so

    Quote Originally Posted by Mobyturns View Post
    This may be what you are looking for, however it is a purchase only option.

    "AS 2543, Nomenclature of Australian Timbers"

    superseeded by

    "AS/NZS 1148:2001 Timber - Nomenclature - Australian, New Zealand and imported species"

    both are outrageously expensive
    Just had a quick look...
    1148.pdf
    It doesnt appear to indicate any three letter acronyms... however does give botanical names.
    (be aware: above attachment will "expire" so if you want to keep it - PRINT IT OUT! )

    Hope it is helpful to someone!

  9. #8
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    https://web.archive.org/web/20130807.../pricelist.php
    This is a link to an old price list of Anagote Timbers that might be the codes you are looking for. I notice that they no longer have this list on the website, so I would not depend on the prices (or the availability of each timber I guess).

    Cheers
    Peter

  10. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Evanism View Post
    G'day adoring fans,

    Each time I go to my favourite (i.e. only) wood merchant here in Canberra, all the various timbers are coded with three letters in chalk.

    Some are obvious, most are not.

    Wondering if this is a standard of some kind and whether anyone has a list? (so I don't look like such a gump next time I go out)

    E
    Watch you talkin about Willis?
    Being in chalk it may be an in house thing. Can you give us an example?

  11. #10
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    HeavensAbove has it. These are the same codes that are on the timbers at Monaro.

    Good stuff.

  12. #11
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    I think that while a great many have become widely used, like NRG etc, these acronyms are still mostly an in-house thing, with variations from seller to seller. I noticed that Anagote use 'CAR' for Australian Red Cedar, whereas it's more commonly associated with 'ARC'. Also, instead of the usual 'NRG' for New Guinea Rosewood, Anagote use 'RNG' and for Silky Oak, 'ONS' rather than the more common 'SO'.

    I might be wrong, though.....
    ... Steve

    -- Monkey see, monkey do --

  13. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by rustynail View Post
    Watch you talkin about Willis?
    Being in chalk it may be an in house thing. Can you give us an example?
    I ran into this same problem as Ev, I purchased FUT and EDB from the same supplier and i couldn't for the life of me remember 6 months later what the FUT stood for. If it wasn't for me coming across my receipt to see that it was an internal code that translated to African Utile and European Beech then i wouldn't have found out. Few handy resources in here though

    Although expensive this would be a great resource

    Forest Trees of Australia
    300 of Australia's Most Important Native Trees Described and Illustrated

    by D.J. Boland,
    M.I.H. Brooker,
    G.M. Chippendale, N. Hall, B.P.M. Hyland, R.D. Johnston, D.A. Kleinig, M.W.McDonald & J.D. Turner

    5th Edition


    Forest Trees of Australia, DJ Boland, MIH Brooker, GM Chippendale, N Hall, BPM Hyland, RD Johnston, DA Kleinig, MW McDonald and JD Turner, 9780643069695

  14. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by delbs View Post
    I ran into this same problem as Ev, I purchased FUT and EDB from the same supplier and i couldn't for the life of me remember 6 months later what the FUT stood for. If it wasn't for me coming across my receipt to see that it was an internal code that translated to African Utile and European Beech then i wouldn't have found out. Few handy resources in here though

    Although expensive this would be a great resource

    Forest Trees of Australia
    300 of Australia's Most Important Native Trees Described and Illustrated

    by D.J. Boland,
    M.I.H. Brooker,
    G.M. Chippendale, N. Hall, B.P.M. Hyland, R.D. Johnston, D.A. Kleinig, M.W.McDonald & J.D. Turner

    5th Edition


    Forest Trees of Australia, DJ Boland, MIH Brooker, GM Chippendale, N Hall, BPM Hyland, RD Johnston, DA Kleinig, MW McDonald and JD Turner, 9780643069695
    Got that book, it's a heavy duty read though.
    Put out by the CSIRO
    Pitty it's black and white, would have been excellent in colour.
    Found it in a second hand bookshop for $60

  15. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by Barterbuilt View Post
    Got that book, it's a heavy duty read though.
    Put out by the CSIRO
    Pitty it's black and white, would have been excellent in colour.
    Found it in a second hand bookshop for $60
    Oh very lucky! i can only find it brand new for roughly $140 paperback or $100 for kindle. yes i read that it was in black and white. a shame but still it must be packed full of information.

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