I would guess that it is milled to just over
finished size (1x4, 1x6, 1-1/2x3 or 4 in the case of cove, chair, or
picture molding depending on the profile) before being glued up and then milled
to the finished shape. The length might be cut to size as it comes off the
machine, going in as small pieces with square ends, finger jointed, glued
up cured in a continuous feed, and the output being cut to any length that Home
Depot wants you to have.
Ain't technology wonderful
Finger jointed stock uses all the wood after cutting out the
knots.
OK, paint me a picture. The finished
trim is say, 1" x 4" by 10' or 12'. I've got that. But what
was the dimension before milling? 1 foot x 4" by 10' or
12', then split to 12 separate boards, then milled to profile?
c