Production
Mouldings are produced according to customer requirement, often requiring detailed drawings and clearly identified quality criteria. For every new profile there is a set up cost for producing the required cutters. Therefore, for a profile to be manufactured cost effectively, a minimum volume is required.
Many hardwood moulded profiles are dimensionally small, i.e. lippings, beading, dowels, and quadrant, so they can be manufactured either from lower grades of lumber, or narrows and off cuts from other lumber and dimension production. It is also common to find window and door frames, skirting boards and ceiling crowns up to 133.35mm in width, especially in red oak and tulipwood.
Red oak is the main species for hardwood moulding in the American market, due to its acceptance in a range of furniture and building products and its widespread availability. Most commercial hardwood species can be moulded, although some, such as hickory, cottonwood and aspen, need special care with knife preparation, cutting angles and feed speeds. Other species such as tulipwood and basswood are ideal and present minimal technical difficulties.