Education & Training - ASHS Guides

Technical Guide Books

One of ASHS’ key objectives is to share and spread knowledge about the Scottish timber industry. Through this knowledge share we hope to increase education and awareness of the benefits of Scottish timbers, and encourage more practitioners to be involved in supply and processing of homegrown timber.

To that effect, over the years ASHS have produced a number of technical guides explaining details of various aspects and practises in the industry. These guides are written by our members and have been produced with support from Scottish Forestry.

Browse the ASHS Technical Guide Booklets

Physical copies are also available through the ASHS Shop.

Joanne Birley Joanne Birley

Standard Products & Specification

This is a practical guide to standard timber products and their specification. It outlines commonly used dimensions, grading considerations, and how timber is described for different end uses, helping improve consistency and communication across the supply chain.

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Joanne Birley Joanne Birley

Secondary Processing of Timber

This booklet offers practical guidance on the secondary processing of timber, covering the stages that take place after initial conversion. It explains machining, sizing, and preparation processes that add value and prepare timber for specific end uses.

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Joanne Birley Joanne Birley

Guide to Sawmilling

This is a practical guide to converting logs into sawn timber. It covers the principles of sawmilling, including log selection, cutting patterns, and methods used to maximise yield and quality.

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