Lumber | Engineered Wood
 

The Groupe de Scieries G.D.S. Inc. is a leader in processing and adding value to wood products, offering a wide range of products and services. In the engineered wood products, our company offers first quality finger-jointed lumber, mostly full-dimensioned. Other products such as Nov-I-Lam MC and Jolamtec MC which are patent pending will soon be offered on the markets to fulfil the growing needs in the construction and remodelling sectors.

Since June 2002, Groupe de Scieries G.D.S. inc. has been producing finger-jointed lumber. Finger-Jointed Stud, processed according to industry standards (SPS-3), is being mainly offered at full sizes in various widths and lengths.

Manufacturing Process

Groupe de Scieries G.D.S. inc.’s finger-jointed lumber is made at G.D.S. Valoribois inc. in Matane (Québec). Various finger-jointed processing steps are as follow:

  • Processing starts with the pre-selection of rough lumber pieces to pull out species. This process is aimed at favouring drying uniformity;
  • Short wood pieces (4 to 7 feet long) are then kiln dried in a low temperature kiln calibrated to reach a moisture content of 15 per cent. Before being jointed, lumber is put inside the mill in order to reach a temperature of at least 10oC;
  • Lumber pieces are then trimmed in two steps (pre-trimming and manual trimming) in order to remove major wood defects (wanes, , knots) in order to obtain uniform joints;
  • Finger-jointed of 11/16 inches long are then set at the end of every piece;
  • A glue is then applied in the joints. Nacan Duro-lok (MD) glues mixed with a 42-2301 catalyst are used at G.D.S. Valoribois inc.;
  • Lumber pieces are then jointed together by applying various pressures on them;
  • These rough lumber pieces are then planed to give them their final dimensions. Finally, finger-jointed studs are trimmed according to lengths desired by Promobois G.D.S. Inc.’s clients;
  • Trimmed finger-jointed studs are stockpiled in controlled temperature room for at least 24 hours, before undergoing quality control tests, being wrapped and sent to clients.

Quality Control

In compliance with the NLGA grading standards for vertical use only finger-jointed studs (SPS-3), lumber pieces used to make finger-jointed studs are visually selected by removing wood major defects. Finger joints quality is established by inspection and resistance tests according to established standards.

Quality controls are continuously performed by G.D.S. Valoribois inc.’s employees in Matane as well as, monthly, by QFIC inspectors, in compliance with the NLGA grading standards.

To evaluate the quality of finger joints, samples are taken from production line and sent to our laboratory for mechanical tests. These tests include (face flexion, edge flexion and peeling off), described in part A6 of the NLGA special products standards (SPS-3) and the appendix D and E.


Finished Products

At the G.D.S. Valoribois inc., the finger jointing of rough lumber pieces allows to obtain finished products of equivalent dimensions than solid stud lumber and to remove the surplus of glue at joints, thus providing a very high quality product of irreproachable appearance seek after by our clients.

Species Sizes* Lengths**
 
Nominal (po)
Actual (in) Actual (mm)  
Spruce, Fir (SPF)
2x3
 1.5 X 2.5 38 X 63.5 8 à 10 Ft
2x4
 1.5 X 3.5 38 X 89
2x6
 1.5 X 5.5 38 x 140

* G.D.S. Valoribois inc. also produces “scant” finger-jointed studs from already-surfaced lumber in order to serve certain markets where there is demand for those products.

** Precision End Trimming available (PET).

Our finger-jointed stud contains on average 3 joints per 8 feet of length, thus providing more dimensional stability.

Finger-jointed stud has the same strength than solid stud and both types of studs may be used in an interchangeable way. However, finger-jointed stud may only serve for vertical use in load-bearing and non load-bearing walls in residential or commercial constructions, in compliance with building codes in Canada and the United States.


Benefits

The benefits of finger-jointed studs compared to solid studs are numerous. Indeed, the use of short wood in the processing of higher quality finger-jointed allows an optimal usage of raw materials.

Furthermore, finger-jointed stud is a product that provides more dimensional stability than solid stud. Finger jointed pieces of wood work in opposite directions so that the finished product is more resistant to warp and twist. At last, pieces that make finger-jointed studs are selected, thus the quality throughout the finished product is more constant.

For the finger-jointed stud user, these structural benefits translate in an increased on-site efficiency, because of reduced wastes and time to select pieces; therefore a cost saving.