Paper Wrap or Lumber Wrap...

Paper or Plastic Wrap?
There are stories of employees going to mills where they are asked by the customer if they sell paper wrap. Usually, the answer is that "we can supply you with a paper laminated plastic wrap, but what do you mean by paper wrap?"  On several occasions the customer will show us the current "paper wrap" that they are purchasing and it is 100% plastic.

Plastic should not be confused with paper wrap because there are wraps with paper laminates used in the lumber and wood industries. The following guide will quickly go over different types of wrap available for the lumber and wood products. (There are also covers, which will be a later post).

Polyethylene Lumber Wrap:

Paper Laminated Lumber Wrap

PE Lumber Wrap is usually a polyethylene based product. There is a high-density weave which is coated on the front and back with a low-density polyethylene. The weaves can differ, but are usually counted by the number of crossed sections in a square inch. The advantage of this product is the strength provided by the weave and the water resistance allowed by the coating. The black/white coatings that are often seen allow for a cooler package which resists mold and mildew.

Paper Lumber Wrap:
Paper Lumber Wrap is a woven product, coated on one side, with the other side having a paper laminate. While more costly than any other type of package, the paper is claimed to help with moisture absorption. It is true this does have some effect with moisture control. There are a limited number of mills that the employees at www.palletcovers.com would recommend this product to, as most customers have found other solutions.

Polypropylene Lumber Wrap:
PP Lumber Wrap is similar to PE Lumber Wrap. It can be more expensive at times, but often it is similar in price. PP Lumber Wrap is usually more "brittle" than PE Lumber Wrap, making it more difficult to work with during the packaging stage (PE Lumber Wrap is usually more flexible, and easier to apply). Often PP Lumber Wrap by competitors has wider tapes in the weave.

Low Density Polyethylene Sheeting:
There are some customers that choose a LDPE extruded product. This type of plastic is measured in "Mils" which is the equivalent of one thousandth of an inch. The most common thickness is usually around 4-6 mil for the lumber industry, but products shipped in closed-container can get away with a 2 mil on occasion. While not an ideal option for most in the lumber industry, LDPE sheeting can be a cost effective solution for smaller mills, or mills shipping with closed-container methods.

For more information on lumber wrap, the sales department at www.palletcovers.com can provide not only product specs, but help find a lumber wrap which is right for your product and shipping method.