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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
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    Melbourne, Australia
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    Default Structural vs Non-Structural

    Hello everyone.
    I am looking to build a workbench / mitre saw station, that will live in the garage.
    On my hunt for the material I came across the structural and non-structural pine, and the huge difference in pricing.
    Can someone please explain the difference between them ?
    Thank you

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    the sawdust factory, FNQ
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    Default

    okay so wood as a natural material comes with a range of characteristics - things like knots, slope of grain, holes, gum veins and resin pockets, shakes and splits etc - all of which have the effect of reducing the strength in service of a board.
    How much loss of strength there is is determined by the size/location of whatever the characteristic/ group of characteristics is.

    When timber is graded a visual/machine assessment determines just how great that loss of strength is against a known benchmark for clear boards. So from that we get a grade.... Say F8 for visually graded timber or MGP 12 for machine graded pine. (F8 is the same rating as MGP 12.... its just the method of assessment that differs)

    Structurally rated timber will carry a grade stamp (F5/F8/F11 or MPG 10/12/15 for pine) and is strong enough for construction useage.
    Non structural pine is the crap that's not, often found fingerjointed together where they've cut out all the grade limiting characteristics and then glued whats left together to make a board. It may look okay but its got no strength to it.... so its used for non load bearing members like wall panelling or fascia boards.

    Seriously if you aim to keep the thing a while and use it regularly go direct to F14 hardwood and give the pine a miss altogether... but if thats not an option stay with structural pine.

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