Questions tagged [lumber]
Uses and applications of the common raw material also known as timber (British English, in the US/North America timber refers to standing trees).
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Natural pine wood bed has strong chemical odor, why is this and how to stop it?
I threw out my old bed since it was falling apart and this is when it all went downhill. First I got a new bed (upholstered, unfisnished MDF board) that had such a strong odor, it invaded all the ...
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Will 4/4 rough sawn white oak warp over time?
I have a bunch of 9' long by 6" 4/4 rough sawn (flat sawn) white oak in my garage. I'm curious as to whether I should expect it to cup and/or bow over time. It's kiln dried. I have it in stacks, ...
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1answer
117 views
Notching and dimensioning a lot of 2x lumber to a specific size
I need to cut 32 of these:
They're 2x8's, each a foot long, with a corner removed. I'm hoping to cut them safely and efficiently. I thought about running them across the table saw, maybe 3 or 4 at ...
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2answers
1k views
Simple Joint for 2x4 frame to 2x4 post?
I'm finishing up plans to build a rather large, and relatively rough (i.e. this project is more carpentry than woodworking), workbench out of standard 2x4 SYP lumber and MDF for the benchtop and ...
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289 views
Black Walnut logs - comparing value as a unique feature in home vs. cash
About a month ago, I had a black walnut tree felled in my back yard (downtown Lansing, Michigan).
The tree had to come down for many reasons:
juglone from the roots was poisoning the neighbors' yards ...
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1answer
69 views
Best way to source a lot of sub-1× lumber
I am making T&G boards for a roof. Cost is a big consideration.
3" wide (with tongue) and I need 3000 lineal feet of it. It is for a roof that will ultimately be covered with EPDM rubber. The ...
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2answers
130 views
Strength of board from squared branches as opposed to trunk wood
I have a lot of well-dried branches and I was wondering whether it was possible to turn them into constructional lumber by gluing them together as follows:
cut them into equal length parts of about ...
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2answers
550 views
Should I use a track saw to cut through 2x12 lumber?
The track saw I have is the Bosch GKT13-225L, which I usually use to cut plywood sheets. I had to cut some 2x12 lumber to make 2x8's but I don't have a table saw, so I figured I could use the track ...
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1answer
250 views
Submerge wood in a barrel to improve it - Is my wife right that this is a bad idea?
I was about to submerge fresh pieces of wood of various types in our barrel filled with water - to let the saps come out and after some time get good wood. These pieces will be used for small objects, ...
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3answers
290 views
Sourcing Wood for non-commercial DIY Projects
Now to be honest this is specific to the UK, which if this site is anything like StackOverflow, means my question will soon be closed as "too localised". However, please consider that the UK is very ...
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2answers
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Where can i buy really long and thin sheets (ie.4000l x 100w x 4mm) of wood in the UK?
Ive been searching online for a few days on places to buy 3 or 4mm sheets of wood. My only 2 requirements is that it should be at least 3.6m long and no more than than 5mm thick. Am i right in ...
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Dowel vs screwed butt for strongest butt joint in moving structural frame
Hi I am reading about all the different joint types and when to use them.
I am building a frame out of 2x2 lumber, joined at 90% most of the time, that will be under a lot of stress.
I figured out ...
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1answer
124 views
Woodmizer LT40 - smallest diameter of log?
I'm trying to determine the smallest diameter of log that I can use on my new "used" LT40 (safely). I guess I'm trying to find the board feet yield for different size logs, so that I know whether or ...
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1answer
90 views
Building a pergola on a new patio slab - wood quality
I'd like a pergola with natural wood color and grain appearance. I live near the west side of the Sierra Nevada, where drought and beetles have decimated the Ponderosa pines. An acquaintance has ...
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1answer
555 views
2x4's are not really 2x4. How does this affect the integrity of a structure?
2x4's are about 1.5" x 3.5" in reality. How does this affect the integrity of a structure? Or do the engineers just do their math with 1.5" x 3.5"?
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Lumber Calculator
I know how many boards I need and their dimensions. Is there some sort of calculator that can tell me how many long boards to buy so that I lower the cost? For example, I need 2 60" 2x4's and I also ...
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1answer
1k views
Wood types in Southeast Asia
What sort of wood found in Southeast Asia is lightweight and can be used to build teething toys for children?
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1answer
297 views
Reuse old cedar clapboards?
(I'm not sure if this question belongs in this forum. If not, feel free to delete it.)
I have some old (c 1950?) cedar clapboards that I'd like to re-install. However, some are cracked. Some of ...
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2answers
3k views
Lumber Dimensions for Brachiation Ladder (Monkey Bars)
My American Ninja Warrior watching daughter has asked me to build her a Brachiation Ladder (fancy name for overhead ladder or monkey bars). Here's an example:
The interesting part is that she doesn'...
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1answer
584 views
Why is a 1x2 nominal planed to 0.75x1.5?
I know that a 2x4 is actually 1.5x3.5 because the 2 and 4 refer to the rough-sawn dimensions. But when planing a rough 1x2 and other 1 inch nominal thickness lumber into S4S, why do they only take 1/8"...
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2answers
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What is the yellow stain on the end of this pine I bought?
I bought some pine the other day and it has this yellow stain on the end:
I sanded off the yellow before using the pine, but now I wonder what it was and if that was the right thing to do. So what ...
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1answer
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Actual KVH sleepers dimensions
I know that for some kinds of lumber there is significant difference in nominal and actual size (for instance 2 by 4).
How is with KVH (dried and glued up construction lumber used in EU)? What are ...
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1answer
17k views
What would be the UK equivalent of the common US 2 by 4 (not just by size)
I've found a DIY shelving project that interests me and am setting about researching the best place to obtain the wood required for it.
In this project, and others I have seen, the American ...
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4answers
193 views
Using newly cut wood with dry wood
I have offcuts of Macrocarpa that I'd like to use instead of keeping them there doing nothing useful. I acquired some Macrocarpa wood that is still wet, it seems that it has been cut recently, I've ...
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3answers
843 views
How to choose desirable oak slabs for projects
I'm new to woodworking and have recently been given the opportunity to pick up free logs of a recently felled oak tree. (I believe logs is the proper term here, correct me if I'm wrong. Cords? Slabs?) ...
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2k views
What is a board foot?
Considering this lumber sales site, what is a board foot?
I am use to seeing lumber measured width by height, but these products are measured thickness by board feet.
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2answers
442 views
What are suitable indoor storage options for wood
What are some suitable storage options for wood indoors. Specifically for wood planks ranging 8 - 10 feet long by 10 - 18 inches wide. The thickness is anywhere from 1 - 2 inches. I am looking for ...
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1answer
440 views
What are good reasons to return hardwood boards selected by a lumber yard?
I am building a fence with hardwood facing. The lumber yard (not a big box store) selected the lumber, batu decking boards, and delivered it. These are fairly expensive, 1x6 x 8' and 1x4 x 8' boards. ...
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0answers
137 views
Maximum size for an unsupported bench [duplicate]
I intend to make a number of simple wooden benches in the near future.
However, my aim is to make a wider bench capable of seating four across - pew style. Can I reliably assume that the same plan ...
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1answer
690 views
Given final dimensions in mm, how do I choose what dimensional lumber (in customary units) to buy?
I would like to know how to figure out what timber to buy for a 45mm x 46mm x 1.6m part. My lumber supplier sells boards in customary units (2x4, 2x6, etc.). Can anyone provide a solid method to work ...
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Crosscutting 18" diameter logs by hand
I tried my hand at crosscutting a beefy 18" log with a relatively low tooth-per-inch bowsaw today. I eventually made it all the way through, but not without cutting V-slices into the wood to give the ...
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1answer
489 views
What are some guidelines to consider when determining the thickness of boards to use?
Assuming one has the necessary tools to mill their own boards, what are some guidelines to consider when determining the thickness of boards to use in the various parts of a project?
For some context,...
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2answers
364 views
Would a slab constructed from 2x4s be stable?
I have a fairly simple project I'm considering which will require slabs of approximately 3-4 inches thick.
Because of its light weight and price I thought I might use 2x4 dimensional lumber to make ...
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2answers
1k views
Are there any extra considerations to gluing pressure treated lumber?
I am in the process of designing a floating raft, which will be built out of pressure treated lumber. There are various elements I would like create from gluing together some smaller boards rather ...
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4answers
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What are the techniques to seal or remove sap?
For starters this is not green-wood.
I have been cutting up some 2x4 into small blocks for painting and decoration. The block were cut and then sanded. About 3 days later I had the time to paint them....
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4answers
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Building A Table - Help With Wood Selection and Joints
I am wanting to build a table that will hold a Large Big Green Egg grill. I've created a mock up using SketchUp (Just learned how to use it today, so it is kind of rough)
My design is based on a ...
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2answers
976 views
Is dimensional lumber kiln-dried differently than a kiln-dried board meant for woodworking?
It may just be the species that are normally used for this purpose, but dimensional lumber such as studs, 2x6, 2x12, etc. works differently than any other wood I've used. It requires more effort to ...
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3answers
633 views
Using green cedar for planks on a boat
I am building a Swampscott Dory as per "The Dory Book" by John Gardner.
What I am doing is using local wood (Red Cedar) and mills. As such, I am starting from the log, milling it, and then making my ...
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3answers
734 views
Does dropping boards really relieve internal tensions?
A Fine Woodworking article I read a while back has a picture of Steve Latta dropping boards onto concrete.
The caption reads:
Drop relieves stress. For larger doors, like those on armoires, Latta
...
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4answers
5k views
Hollowing out a piece of timber
Wood, well most wood, is heavy. Is there any such thing as people ever hollowing out the inside of the wood to make the finished product lighter?
For example, let's say I have a 4in. x 4in. x 8' ...
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2answers
2k views
How do you remove bed bugs from lumber?
I have access to a large amount of lumber that is infested with bed bugs.
Is there an extermination technique that I can do at home to rid this wood of the infestation? I am open to applying pretty ...
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3answers
303 views
Protecting wood from powder post beetles
I have some rough sawn maple that I'll be storing for a while, I've read that as long as there's no bark on it, it's safe from new infestations of powder post beetles; is this true? Is it better to ...
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2answers
753 views
How can I ensure my wood is ethically sourced?
Many exocitc woods, particularly well colored and figured species that have been heavily logged in the past, are endangered. I know that there is illegal harvesting in various countries, and I want to ...
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3answers
5k views
What are the different uses for plain sawn (flat sawn), rift sawn, and quarter sawn boards?
When shopping for lumber, how do you identify each type of board, and what are some examples of when you would choose to use each one?
In other words, what are the visual and physical characteristics ...
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1answer
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Considerations using lumber stored outside
I don't have a shop. My reclaimed wood and what little lumber I have are stored in my shed which doubles as workshop and yard storage. As such it is subject to winter and while it is protected from ...
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8answers
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How do I shop for lumber to use in home wood working projects?
When I took wood working as a student, I learned to finish rough wood - cut it to rough size, joint it, plane it, rip and cross/cut on a table saw, etc. As much as I'd love to own large versions of ...
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4answers
43k views
How to straighten a warped board
So you have a board removed from a pallet that, once removed, shows significant warping. Or perhaps you bought some lumber and you didn't notice an imperfection.
This is visible along the width of ...
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2answers
18k views
When is it best to use kiln-dried vs. air-dried vs. green wood in a project?
Kiln dried wood is usually recommended for woodworking projects since it's more stable than green and air dried lumber.
On the other hand, I've been told kiln dried wood is bad for lathe work, and in ...
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3answers
29k views
When building an outdoor structure, should I use pressure-treated lumber or something like cedar?
I am building a pergola (~10'x10') on my patio (and plan to build a gazebo out in the yard), but before I build it, I want to make sure I'm using the best option for lumber.
Should I use pressure-...
