National Conference on Forest Products 51 
per cent of width and same lengths consumer must handle himself, as he 
and some shorter, so it is quite plain can hardly afford to be dependent 
to see that body work really requires upon outside sources, as it has been 
a higher grade of lumber to produce found very unsatisfactory in the past, 
it and a larger amount of large cut- and there is not room these days for 
tings than a great many other wood- very many profits in one article. We 
using industries. have found that it is not very satis- 
The sizes of parts in bodies have factory to even purchase kiln-dried 
been and are now being reduced as lumber, because body work requires 
much as possible commensurate with a thoroughly kiln-dried stock, and 
the strength required. When it comes poor equipment and carelessness can 
to a matter of attempting to get auto- work considerable loss. It is not such 
mobile bodies out of slabs, edgings, a hard task to produce dimension 
and low-grade lumber such as No. 2 stock, but it requires equipment such 
common, No. 3 common and culls, we as dry kilns, machinery such as cut- 
are attempting something which on off saws, rip saws, jointers, planers, 
the face of it is impossible. A few and band saws. Anyone can work to 
years ago bodies required No. 1 com- a stock list which gives sizes, kinds 
mon and better lumber, with a good of lumber permitted in the different 
percentage of firsts and seconds to parts, and one soon learns the defects 
produce this work, due to the fact which can be allowed in the work, but 
that all stock was cut free of season Some semblance of accuracy and pride 
checks and defects. This order is all in producing the dimensions properly 
changed, and in some cases we are must ‘be made. 
now using considerable No. 2 common It can be said of automobile body 
and better, due to the fact that the industries that they are using prac- 
wood in the bodies is nearly all, if not tically every kind of hardwood. Sub- 
all, covered with metal, so that sea- stitution has been taken advantage of 
son checks do not show; neither do jn every way possible, and in addition 
such defects as knots, provided they to the hardwoods many of the soft- 
are sound. The present Tequitemonts woods are also used. 
on cuttings are more and more eac The matter of price of dimension 
Jose or a sound rather than a clear  g,.x js one over which there has been 
ia ptr cit considerable argument, due to the fact 
¢ There are several savings to De y.¢ 5 oreat many people seem to 
aken advantage of in dimensioning pp that all dimension stock is ob- 
stock at or near the source, which tained Irom No. 2 common. No: 3 com 
: 1 £ . , No. - 
are the freight and possibly labor. nd eulls. and should theref 
The weight will be reduced, depend- Be a sno Srgrore 
ing on the state in which the stock is 0% ought at the price of those 
& rn 3, 
shipped, whether dimensioned and groges. The Ne o ne shock 
dressed or completely machined, from can. pe wh > 1 t $ Ay rage cost 
3314 to 50 per cent. This would of the na nan of lpn drying, 
make a saving in freight of from $5 waste, vast om SS nnd Sverhend) 
to $7.50 per thousand feet of lumber and a Cl te 0 prong are 
required per job. This saving to our used to make up the ultimate price 
: : f the stock. If there is a saving in 
company, for instance, if the 200,000,- 0 qT freight it 18 d 
000 feet per year used by them were labor ‘and freig 2 Is due ihe cons 
all handled in this manner, would be Sumer, to assist him in reducing. the 
from one million to one million and a price of his commodity. Supply and 
half dollars per year. If the indus- demand will always govern prices, but 
try as a whole could do this, using the cost to the COnSUmer should never 
possibly three times as much, the sav- be above what his eos) would be on 
ing would be in proportion. One the same parts produced from lumber. 
Problem. however, is. to get a fale 1 'beliove the automobile indusiry 
commodity rate on stock which is fin- can standardize many things to assist 
ished ready for assembly, so that a 1D the conservation of our timber, 
higher classification does not absorb Individual companies can create more 
all the saving in weight. Our com- uniform design requiring a less num- 
pany is already manufacturing fin- ber of thicknesses and in some cases 
ished stock in direct connection with can use thinner stock. The matter of 
the sawmill, which means not only the face gluing for thickness and Linder- 
greatest utilization of lumber, but the man gluing for width will assist, and 
greatest possible saving in freight. the substitution of steel in many 
The matter of producing finished places will help reduce the enormous 
and machined parts at the source is demands of the industries on our tim- 
something which the manufacturing ber resources,