list

A list is the narrow strip of wood, typically sapwood, that remains attached to or is trimmed from the outer edge of a board during primary breakdown at the sawmill. It forms along the curve of the log's surface and contains the softer, lighter wood layer that lies just beneath the bark. When a log is squared up on a band saw or circular saw, the four lists are the first pieces to fall away as waste or low-grade lumber.

Lists vary in width from half an inch to three or four inches depending on the log diameter and how the sawyer chooses to position the cut. A small-diameter log produces narrower lists; a large log produces wider ones. The sapwood itself is less stable and more prone to checking and movement than the heartwood beneath it, which is why lists are often separated from better-grade material and sold separately or downgraded.

In carpentry and joinery, lists are generally avoided for structural or visible work. They appear in utility framing, cheap boxing, or are resawn into narrower stock for applications where appearance and stability are less critical. Some workshops collect lists for firewood, shim stock, or as offcuts for small turned pieces. The term derives from the notion of something cut from a list or edge, related to the selvage in textile work.

The presence of sapwood in a list makes it vulnerable to insect damage and rot if exposed to weather or moisture. Species matter considerably: sapwood in white oak or ash is quite durable, while sapwood in pine or fir degrades rapidly outdoors. This difference affects how lists are stored and whether they are treated with preservative in any commercial application.

Modern mills vary in what they do with lists. Some discard them; others bundle and sell them as low-grade No. 3 Common lumber or as chipped fuel for biomass. Understanding what you are buying and receiving as rough sawn stock requires knowing whether lists have been trimmed off or left attached, as this affects both the actual usable width of the board and its price.