Understanding Hardwood Grades: FAS and #1 Common Explained
Buying hardwood by grade can feel confusing when a supplier uses American terms such as FAS, Selects or #1 Common. These labels describe the amount of clear, usable timber in a board, rather than its species, colour, hardness or suitability for every project.
For Australian woodworkers, the distinction matters when comparing imported American oak with local timbers such as blackbutt, spotted gum or Tasmanian oak. A higher grade can reduce joins and waste, while a lower grade may offer attractive character at a better price.
What Hardwood Grades Actually Measure
Hardwood grades are appearance-based classifications. Inspectors look at the board’s clear face, the size and number of defects, and how much useful material can be cut from it. Knots, splits, holes, stain, wane and other imperfections all affect the result.
The grade does not tell you whether the timber is structurally strong. A clear walnut board and a clear ash board may receive a similar appearance grade while behaving very differently under load, movement and moisture.
American grading rules are generally based on the National Hardwood Lumber Association system. Suppliers in Australia may use those terms for imported stock, but local merchants can also use their own descriptions, so it pays to ask which grading standard applies.
What FAS Means
FAS stands for “Firsts and Seconds”. It is a premium appearance grade intended to produce large, clear cuttings. Under the standard NHLA system, a board generally needs to be at least 6 inches wide and 8 feet long, with around 83.33 per cent clear usable material on the best face.
FAS is useful for projects needing wide, uninterrupted pieces: dining tables, cabinet doors, architectural panels and carefully matched furniture parts. It is particularly valuable when the design leaves large surfaces exposed and patching or joining would be visually distracting.
The grade does not mean every square centimetre is flawless. A board can still contain a small defect or less-perfect reverse face. Always inspect the actual pack, especially when buying online or ordering timber sight unseen.
What #1 Common Offers
#1 Common, often shortened to “Number One Common”, allows more natural features and smaller clear cuttings. The standard typically requires about 66.67 per cent clear material, with the usable sections arranged in smaller pieces than those expected from FAS.
That makes it a practical option for drawer parts, rails, stiles, shelves, small tables and projects where boards will be cut into several components. A #1 Common board may yield excellent material once it is broken down, even though it is unsuitable for one broad, uninterrupted tabletop.
For a hobby workshop in Melbourne, Brisbane or Adelaide, this grade can provide a better yield-to-cost balance. It also suits makers who like visible knots, colour variation and the character associated with natural timber.
How Grades Affect Project Planning
Grade should be matched to the cutting list, not chosen in isolation. A wide slab-style benchtop needs long, clear sections, whereas a toy train track, stool or set of cabinet doors can use shorter pieces harvested from a lower grade.
Calculate the clear parts required before buying. Include allowances for ripping, crosscutting, jointing and defects that become visible after dressing. A rough board with generous dimensions may produce more useful material than a nominally better board that is narrow or badly cupped.
Australian conditions add another consideration. Timber may move after arriving from a kiln or supplier, particularly in humid coastal areas such as Sydney, Darwin and Cairns. Let boards acclimatise in the workshop, keep them stickered, and avoid planning the final dimensions before moisture content has settled.
Local Timber Terms And Buying Habits
Australian merchants may describe local hardwood using terms such as select grade, feature grade, clear grade or furniture grade. These labels are not automatically equivalent to FAS or #1 Common. “Feature” often signals knots and natural markings, while “clear” usually indicates fewer visible defects, but the exact tolerance can vary.
Structural timber is graded for engineering performance, using systems such as F-grades, and should not be confused with appearance hardwood grades. A length of spotted gum sold for decking or framing has a different purpose from carefully selected boards sold for fine furniture.
Ask the yard about board dimensions, moisture content, grading rules and expected usable yield. In Australia, buying by the board or pack is common, and some suppliers will allow customers to select individual boards. Community resources such as this woodworking community can also help beginners compare terminology used by different sellers.
Working With Reclaimed And Native Hardwood
Reclaimed timber rarely fits neatly into a modern appearance grade. Old boards may contain nail holes, oxidised surfaces, saw marks, paint residue and hidden metal. Their value comes from history and character, so a lower visual grade can be exactly what a project needs.
Native species bring their own selection issues. Blackbutt and spotted gum can show striking colour shifts, while jarrah may contain gum veins and mineral streaks. These features are not necessarily faults, but they should be considered when planning glue lines, exposed faces and finish colour.
Before machining reclaimed boards, inspect them with a metal detector and remove fasteners. For newer makers, practical guidance on beginner woodworking can help with safe preparation, flattening and stock control.
Choosing The Right Grade For The Job
FAS usually earns its premium when the project demands broad clear faces, consistent appearance and minimal waste from joining. #1 Common is often the smarter buy when the cutting list contains many modest parts or when natural variation is part of the design.
A simple yield estimate helps. Measure the clear sections you can realistically cut, not the total board area. Compare that usable yield with the price, machining time and cost of replacing a flawed component.
| Grade | Approximate clear yield | Best suited to | Typical trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAS | 83.33% | Wide panels, premium furniture, long clear parts | Higher price and less character |
| #1 Common | 66.67% | Smaller components, cabinets, mixed-feature furniture | More sorting, joins and waste |
| Selects | Varies by supplier and rule set | Projects needing a cleaner face at moderate cost | Definition can differ between suppliers |
| Feature or reclaimed | No uniform percentage | Rustic furniture, shelves, statement pieces | Defects and dimensions require careful inspection |
Grade names are a starting point rather than a guarantee. A well-selected #1 Common pack may outperform a poor FAS pack for a particular cutting list, while a feature board may be the most appealing choice for a live-edge coffee table.
Making A Confident Timber Purchase
Take the project drawings, cutting list and a tape measure to the timber yard. Look along each board for bow, twist, end splits and wane, then turn it over to inspect both faces. The clearest face may not be the one you expected.
For online purchases, request photographs, actual dimensions and an explanation of the supplier’s grade terminology. Buying from a specialist community resource or reading related maker discussions can reveal practical details that a product label leaves out. Even seasonal craft communities, such as this apple chutney guide, show how hands-on projects often depend on choosing and preparing raw materials carefully.
A supportive maker network can also broaden access to advice about species, tools and sustainable sourcing. With a clear cutting plan and realistic expectations, both FAS and #1 Common can produce excellent furniture in an Australian workshop.