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Planning and Design » The Wood Handbook

The Wood Handbook

Modified: Sep 14, 2021 by Logcabin · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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The Wood Handbook

Wood as an Engineering Material

If you’re looking for a complete compendium on all things wood related, then The Wood Handbook may be just what you’re looking for. Subtitled “Wood as an Engineering Material”, this encyclopedia of wood knowledge was written by the USDA Forest Products Division, based in Madison, WI. Best of all, the material is available as a free download, either chapter by chapter or the entire book as a very large PDF file.

Centennial Edition: Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
Centennial Edition: Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
  • Laboratory, Forest Products (Author)
  • English (Publication Language)
  • 508 Pages - 04/30/2013 (Publication Date) - CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (Publisher)
$27.99
Buy on Amazon

We have included the updated 2010 version of The Wood Handbook below as a convenient and easy way to download the relevant chapters in a PDF format. Along with each chapter download link, we have added the chapter title and a brief overview of topics from the chapter to give you an idea of what each one covers. This way you can access or download just those parts that interest you.

The Wood Handbook includes sections on engineering with wood, timber resources, the structure of wood, physical properties and moisture content of wood, designing with wood, the mechanical properties of wood, wood fastenings, composites, working with round timbers and ties and much more.

First issued in 1935, The Wood Handbook is considered the preeminent source of information on wood and wood products. Anyone who works with wood will find this one of the most useful books you can own.

You will need Adobe Reader (the latest version is recommended) installed on your computer in order to open and read this file. You can download Adobe Reader here (a new window will open so you can download it without leaving this page).

If you want to open the file in your browser window, just click on the link (not all browsers have this feature). If you prefer instead to download the file to view later, then right-click on the link and choose "Save Target As" or "Save File As." Then select where you want to save the file on your hard drive.

Once you have saved the file, locate where you saved it, and double click to open it.

In order to print, open the downloaded file, and select the "Print" option from the menu.


The Wood Handbook

Front matter (Preface, Acknowledgments, Contributors) (PDF 547 KB)

Chapter 1: Wood as a Sustainable Building Material (PDF 464 KB)Timber Resources and UsesSpecies DescriptionsU.S. Wood SpeciesImported Woods

Chapter 2: Characteristics and Availability of Commercially Important Wood (PDF 2.4 MB)Timber Resources and UsesSpecies DescriptionsU.S. Wood SpeciesImported Woods

Chapter 3: Structure of Wood (PDF 1.2 MB)Bark, Wood, Branches, and CambiumSapwood and HeartwoodGrowth RingsWood CellsChemical CompositionSpecies Identification

Chapter 4: Physical Properties and Moisture Relations of Wood (PDF 1.4 MB)AppearanceMoisture ContentShrinkageWeight, Density, and Specific GravityWorking QualitiesDecay ResistanceThermal PropertiesElectrical PropertiesCoefficient of FrictionNuclear Radiation

Chapter 5: Mechanical Properties of Wood (PDF 2.2 MB)Orthotropic Nature of WoodElastic PropertiesStrength PropertiesVibration PropertiesMechanical Properties of Clear Straight-Grained WoodNatural Characteristics Affecting Mechanical PropertiesEffects of Manufacturing and Service Environments

Chapter 6: Commercial Lumber (PDF 1.1 MB)Hardwood LumberSoftwood LumberPurchase of LumberCommonly Used Lumber Abbreviations

Chapter 7: Lumber Stress Grades and Design Properties (PDF 1.0 MB)Responsibilities and Standards for Stress GradingVisually Graded Structural LumberMachine-Graded Structural LumberAdjustment of Properties for Design Use

Chapter 8: Fastenings (PDF 1.7 MB)NailsSpikesStaplesDrift BoltsWood ScrewsLag ScrewsBoltsConnector JointsMultiple-Fastener JointsMetal Plate ConnectorsFastener Head Embedment

Chapter 9: Structural Analysis Equations (PDF 1.2 MB)Deformation EquationsStress EquationsStability Equations

Chapter 10: Adhesive Bonding of Wood Materials (PDF 1.1 MB)Adhesion to WoodSurface Properties of Wood AdherendsPhysical Properties of Wood AdherendsAdhesivesBonding ProcessBonded JointsTesting and Performance

Chapter 11: Wood-Based Composites and Panel Products (PDF 1.8MKB)ScopeTypes of Conventional Composite MaterialsAdhesive ConsiderationsAdditivesGeneral Manufacturing IssuesStandards for Wood-Based PanelsPlywoodParticle and Fiber CompositesWood-Nonwood Composites

Chapter 12: Glued Structural Members (PDF 543 KB)Structural Composite LumberGlulamGlued Members With Lumber and PanelsStructural Sandwich Construction

Chapter 13: Drying and Control of Moisture Content and Dimensional Changes (PDF 1.6 MB)Determination of Moisture ContentRecommended Moisture ContentDrying of WoodMoisture Control During Transit and StorageDimensional Changes in WoodDesign Factors Affecting Dimensional ChangeWood Care and Installation During Construction

Chapter 14: Biodeterioration of Wood (PDF 958 KB)Fungus Damage and ControlBacteriaInsect Damage and ControlMarine Borer Damage and Control

Chapter 15: Wood Preservation (PDF 1.0 MB)Wood PreservativesPreservative EffectivenessEffect of Species on PenetrationPreparation of Timber for TreatmentApplication of PreservativesHandling and Seasoning of Timber After TreatmentQuality Assurance for Treated Wood

Chapter 16: Finishing of Wood (PDF 1.7 MB)Factors Affecting Finish PerformanceControl of Water or Moisture in WoodTypes of Exterior Wood FinishesApplication of Wood FinishesFinish Failure or DiscolorationFinishing of Interior WoodFinishes for Items Used for FoodWood Cleaners and BrightenersPaint StrippersLead-Based Paint 15-35

Chapter 17: Use of Wood In Building and Bridges (PDF 1.0 MB)Light-Frame BuildingsPost-Frame and Pole BuildingsLog BuildingsHeavy Timber BuildingsTimber BridgesConsiderations for Wood Buildings

Chapter 18: Fire Safety (PDF 1.1 MB)Fire Safety Design and EvaluationFire Performance Characteristics of WoodFlame-Retardant Treatments

Chapter 19: Round Timbers and Ties (PDF 550 KB)Standards and SpecificationsMaterial RequirementsAvailabilityFormWeight and VolumeDurabilityStrength Properties

Chapter 20: Specialty Treatments (PDF 904 KB)Plasticizing WoodModified WoodsPaper-Based Plastic Laminates

Glossary (PDF 404 KB)

Index (PDF 1.0MKB)

Front Cover (PDF 216 KB)

Back Cover (PDF 222 KB)

You may order a printed copy of this entire publication from the Forest Products Society.

Pile of Logs

The research institution of over 200 scientists at Forest Products Laboratory has provided us with The Wood Handbook -- an indispensable reference work for millions of people world-wide who are woodworkers, design engineers, builders, architects and designers. Check out The Wood Handbook for a complete understanding of wood as an engineering material.

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