<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE TJ
INTERNATIONAL INC. BALANCE SHEET AT SEPT. 27TH, 1997 AND FROM ITS STATEMENT OF
INCOME FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPT. 27, 1997.  THE INFORMATION PRESENTED 
IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-29-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-27-1997
<CASH>                                          96,771
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   78,758
<ALLOWANCES>                                       400
<INVENTORY>                                     54,739
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                               241,313
<PP&E>                                         591,523
<DEPRECIATION>                                 212,837
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 664,764
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                           93,214
<BONDS>                                         99,790
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                     13,584
<COMMON>                                        17,765
<OTHER-SE>                                     202,534
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   664,764
<SALES>                                        532,569
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               532,569
<CGS>                                          386,051
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                  386,051
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                79,778
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               4,709
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 34,417
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,907
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             21,510
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    21,510
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     1.18
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.12