Straight Lining / S3S
Furniture-grade edge prep, straight-lined and surfaced on three sides, done in-house in Gainesville, Georgia. Gluing up a panel or tabletop? Pair with planing for full S4S.
One Straight Edge Changes How a Board Mills
Rough lumber rarely has a true straight edge, which means a cabinet shop or furniture maker has to rip and joint every board before the next step can start. CAG Specialty Wood runs straight-lining and S3S, surfaced on three sides, in-house in Gainesville, so boards show up with one true straight edge and two flat, parallel faces, saving you the shop time on prep work that should already be done.
This is one of the most requested finishing steps for contractors and cabinet shops buying in volume, since it turns a stack of rough boards into ready-to-use stock in a single visit. S3S is what we typically stock, listed under our planing services. If you're gluing up a panel, tabletop, or any assembly where the boards need to sit flush on all sides, you'll want full S4S, surfaced on all four sides, which pairs straight-lining with a planing pass on the remaining face. S3S alone is not glue-up ready; it leaves one face unplaned.
From First Call to Finished Wood
Tell us the order size
Board count, species, and whether you need straight-lining only or full S3S.
Get a quote for the job
Billed hourly, or quoted as a standing order for recurring volume.
We prep it in Gainesville
One straight edge, or straight edge plus two flat faces, depending on what you need.
Pick up, local delivery, or ship
S3S or full S4S, whichever your project calls for.
Straight Lining / S3S Options and Pricing
Straight-Lining
One true, straight edge cut on each board, ready for ripping or jointing downstream.
S3S (Surfaced 3 Sides)
One straight edge plus two flat, parallel faces. What we typically stock, listed under planing.
S4S (Surfaced 4 Sides)
Straight-lining plus a final planing pass on all sides. Required for glue-ups: panels, tabletops, and any assembly where boards need to sit flush.
Volume Orders
Standing orders for cabinet shops and contractors buying boards by the stack, S3S or S4S.
| Service | Rate |
|---|---|
| Straight-lining | $150/hour |
| S3S (surfaced 3 sides) | $150/hour |
| S4S (surfaced 4 sides, for glue-ups) | Quoted with planing |
| Volume / standing orders | Quoted by the order |
Georgia Woodworkers Trust CAG
★★★★★ 4.8 average, 98 Google reviews
"This is an awesome place for people who love to work with wood. They have an incredible selection of many types of wood for any type of project."
"They did a great job at a reasonable price, I couldn't be happier."
"I love this place. Incredible lumber selections and super helpful staff."
Our in-house shop in Gainesville, GA, where every straight lining / s3s job is done on our own equipment.
Questions About Straight Lining / S3S at CAG
What does S3S mean?
Surfaced 3 Sides: one straight-lined edge plus two flat, parallel faces. It's what we typically stock, listed under our planing services.
Do I need S3S or S4S for a glue-up?
Glue-ups need S4S, surfaced on all four sides: straight-lined and planed flush all the way around. S3S alone leaves one side unplaned, which can throw off a tight glue line on a panel or tabletop. Tell us it's for a glue-up when you order and we'll quote the full S4S.
Do you do straight-lining without the full S3S?
Yes, straight-lining alone is available when you only need the one true edge and plan to handle facing yourself.
Can you handle a standing volume order for a cabinet shop?
Yes, we regularly set up recurring straight-lining, S3S, and S4S orders for contractors and cabinet shops.
Does S3S or S4S bring the board to final thickness?
Not always exactly. We can pair either with a final planing pass to hit your precise finished thickness.
What species can you straight-line?
Most domestic hardwoods we stock, plus lumber you bring in yourself, regardless of species in most cases.
Is this available on lumber I didn't buy from CAG?
Yes, straight-lining, S3S, and S4S are available on material you bring in from another supplier.
Local Pickup, Or Shipped to Your Door
Every order is handled at our shop at 4050 Old Cornelia Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30507. From there, it's your call: pick it up in person, have it delivered locally, or let us ship it to you, wherever you're building.
Communities we serve directly:
Atlanta Savannah Athens Augusta Macon Columbus Rome Dalton Warner Robins Valdosta Albany BrunswickOutside these areas? We ship lumber, slabs, and milled orders nationwide.
Ready to Get Started?
770.869.3377 Request a Quote4050 Old Cornelia Hwy, Gainesville, GA 30507 · Mon-Fri 9am-5pm · Sat by appointment