Products / Millwork and mouldings
Casing, base, crown, stops and trim run from finger-jointed pine blanks, primed with gesso or acrylic, cut to length and bundled for distributors and builders.
Primed finger-jointed moulding is the standard paint grade trim in many North American homes. Short clear pieces of pine are cut free of knots, joined end to end with finger joints into long blanks, run through a moulder to the profile and primed so the builder only has to fill nail holes and paint. The finger joints disappear under paint, and the blank is straighter and cheaper than long clear solid pine.
Most buyers order by profile: a number from the WM series published by the Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers Association, such as WM 623 or WM 713, or a custom profile drawing. The quote then depends on the blank size the profile needs, the primer system, the length mix and the packing. A plant that knows your profile list and bundle spec can run repeat containers with little setup.
Name the type on the RFQ. Factories that make one type well do not always make the others.
| Type | What it is | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Casing | Trim around door and window openings, flat or with a profile, in common widths of about 2-1/4 to 3-1/2 in, typical. | Every door and window. Usually sold in the same profile family as the base. |
| Base and base cap | Baseboard at the floor, from about 3-1/4 to 7-1/4 in tall, typical, with an optional cap on top. | Every room. Tall base often needs edge glued blanks as well as finger joints. |
| Crown and cove | Angled profiles where the wall meets the ceiling, run from thick blanks. | Living areas and kitchens. The profile and spring angle must be exact for corners to fit. |
| Stops, jambs and small trim | Door stops, jamb sets, quarter round, shoe and other small profiles. | Door and window shops and builders that buy a full trim package. |
| Primed trim boards | Flat S4S boards in nominal 1 x 4 to 1 x 12 sizes for built-ups, window stools and wainscot. | Builders and carpenters who make their own profiles on site. |
Starting points used across the trade. Your drawing sets the real values, and each factory confirms what it can hold on the quote.
| Spec | Typical value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Profile | WM series number or custom drawing | Send the drawing or a short sample length to confirm the profile, even for WM numbers. |
| Length | 16 ft for most US orders, also 8, 12 and 14 ft, typical | State fixed lengths or a random length mix and the shortest piece allowed. |
| Profile tolerance | About ±0.3 to ±0.5 mm on thickness and width, typical | Matters most where casing meets base and at mitered corners. |
| Moisture content | About 8 to 12 percent, typical | Too wet and finger joints show through the paint as the trim dries in the house. |
| Primer | Gesso or acrylic, one or two coats, sanded, typical | State the system and that the primer is compatible with latex and oil topcoats. |
| Straightness | Bow and crook within about 1/4 in over 16 ft, typical | State a limit. Long thin profiles bend easily if bundles are stacked badly. |
Typical values, not a guarantee. Confirm every value that matters to you on the quote and the approved sample.
The usual process chain, from dried lumber or panels to packed goods. Ask which steps happen in-house and which go out to another plant.
Most primed moulding is sold by the linear foot or meter in full containers, with several profiles mixed in one load. Each profile usually has a minimum run so the moulder setup pays off. New profiles start with a sample length to approve.
Stock a profile list in full containers and sell to lumber yards and builders. They need repeat runs that match the last order exactly.
Buy trim packages for housing projects. They care about straight lengths, clean primer and fast delivery.
Sell primed trim by the piece with barcodes. They need labeled pieces, retail lengths and packing that survives store handling.
With these points stated, every matched factory quotes the same product.
Approve one sample in writing and keep it as the reference for every shipment.
The problems that cost buyers of primed finger-jointed mouldings the most time and money, and how to head them off in the RFQ.
Related guides:
Reference: Wikipedia: Molding (decorative)
It is trim made from short clear pieces of pine joined end to end with finger joints, run to a profile and primed. It is straighter and cheaper than long clear solid pine, and the joints disappear under paint.
Gesso gives a very smooth, even surface that needs little prep before paint, but it can chip at nails and cuts if the trim flexes. Acrylic is more flexible. Many buyers choose by what their installers are used to.
Yes. Send the WM number, a profile drawing or a short sample length. The plant grinds knives to the profile and sends a sample length for approval before the run.
Long lengths let installers trim a full wall or door with fewer joints. Most US distributors stock 16 ft, with shorter lengths for retail. State the length mix you need per profile.
MDF is smooth and has no joints to show, but it is heavier, holds nails less well near edges and swells if it gets wet. Finger-jointed pine is lighter and holds fasteners better. Many lines stock both.
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