Most fine woodworking projects are made with hardwood or wood from deciduous trees. This lumber is often available in a wide variety of grades and levels of surfacing. The range of grades includes FAS (first and seconds), Number 1 Common (1C), Number 2 Common (2C) etc. In addition to the grade, hardwood is often sold with varying degrees of surfacing as shown in the chart below:

'Rough lumber' refers to boards that are not surfaced at all and it is sold as cut from the sawmill. The faces of this wood are, as the name suggests, rough. Such wood must be surfaced before it is useful in most woodworking projects.