Your first trip to the lumberyard can be a daunting task to say the least.
All the different lengths, thicknesses, grain patterns and colors of wood is enough to make you want to run away.
But not to worry--it's not all that complicated.
Learning about wood can actually be fun; you just need to keep a few things in mind before you visit the lumberyard or home center to buy wood for woodworking.
Choosing the correct wood for your project is key to success.
You don't need to be a wood expert in order to turn out beautiful pieces of furniture but you do need to be well-versed in a few key points.
With a little patience and a little practice (and a good lumberyard), you will have no trouble buying wood for your woodworking projects.
Let's take a look:

• Wood Grades -- All wood has a particular grade assigned to it.
  The grade refers to the quality of the wood; in other words - the defects.
  Boards with knots and cracks will have a lower grade.
  But no matter what the grade is you should always personally inspect every board.
  For most projects you will want wood with the fewest defects and best grain patterns.
  Don't try to get out of it too cheap.
  In many instances, by the time you cut out all the defects you don't have much wood left over.
  So, in most cases, you're better off buying a better grade.
  However, if you will be painting your project you can get by with a lower grade.
  
• Milling -- Wood is milled in three ways: plain-sawn, quarter-sawn and through and through.
  Plain-sawn means cutting the board on all four sides from the outside to the center.
  Quarter-sawn milling produces good boards but is the least efficient way to cut a log.
  When you buy wood for woodworking, quarter-sawn boards are the most attractive.
  However, quarter-sawn boards are the most expensive too.
  Through and through milling is the simplest way to cut a log - and the most efficient as well.
  
• Choosing the Right Cut -- The three wood cuts to be aware of are: plain-sawn, rift-sawn and quarter-sawn.
  Plain-sawn are the most common and economical boards in the lumberyard.
  Unfortunately, because of the way the grain runs, they tend to warp and bend more easily.
  Rift-sawn boards are more expensive than plain-sawn boards because of the straight grain pattern.
  Quarter-sawn boards are more expensive than plain-sawn or rift-sawn boards.
  All three cuts are useful depending on the project you have chosen.
  Which one you choose is entirely up to you and your budget.
  

These are the basics of learning how to buy wood for woodworking.
As a woodworker, you have to learn how to utilize the various types of wood.
Knowing the grades, cuts and different forms of milling can be instrumental in helping you create that masterpiece.
Once you learn these things, your next trip to the lumberyard will be fun - not confusing.