24
votes
Accepted
Is it better to store wood vertically or horizontally?
Is it better to store wood vertically or horizontally?
It depends a bit on the status of the wood when you store it, but generally it's better to store wood horizontally.
When storing wood, you have ...
- 12.1k
10
votes
Is it better to store wood vertically or horizontally?
I think the answer to this is actually both in terms of real-world applications; the ideal is to store all wood and wood products flat, but that's not always possible. And sometimes it's not needed — ...
- 64.4k
7
votes
Accepted
What steps should one take to avoid spalting when drying timber?
The broader question here is what steps should one take to preclude spalting when drying wood?
Spalting, as you probably know, is the result of fungal attack on the wood. Wikipedia lists several ...
- 12.1k
7
votes
Accepted
What is the proper humidity for a shop and how should I achieve it?
There's a lot written about the ideal conditions for the workshop but you have to be careful about the source since the figures quoted aren't as universal as sometimes implied or stated, some sources ...
- 64.4k
6
votes
Accepted
When is spalting beneficial for wood?
When is [spalting] good for the wood and when isn't it good?
Spalting can provide a lovely patterning to wood that would otherwise be more plain. Please see the image below for an example of spalted ...
- 12.1k
6
votes
Accepted
Building a Cabin; only un-powered hand tools. Need advice
What you're talking about is timber-frame construction, and you're on the right track.
I read somewhere it is best to use fairly fresh cut trees for this, to make the hewing easier.
Yup. Green wood ...
- 813
6
votes
Accepted
Dry Spar Varnish in Oven? Or other methods to speed drying
Is it safe to "bake" these in an oven?
Not really, no. You wouldn't be the first person to try this and you might get away with it as some have in the past, but if it doesn't work as hoped it could ...
- 64.4k
5
votes
Accepted
How much extra thickness should I leave when rough milling green boards?
If you've got a lot to spare, then overdo it. Curves, twists, warps etc will always kill your yield. Flatsawn is apt to be less stable (esp with respect to cupping) than quartersawn.
The milling ...
- 3,821
5
votes
Dry Spar Varnish in Oven? Or other methods to speed drying
I haven't tried any of these methods myself but the following is offered up from a quick google search:
Reduce the humidity in the environment of the drying varnish by running a dehumidifier. ...
- 151
5
votes
What is this pest living in my drying lumber and how do I eliminate it?
There aren't a lot of pests that eat wood. This page provides a pretty good list, including:
Carpenter ants (see this page for id and control details) are large black ants that nest in structures ...
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5
votes
What steps should one take to avoid spalting when drying timber?
Moisture is the largest contributor to wood spalting, especially maple. However, what you are doing will greatly reduce the risk.
The only wood I have used so far that has spalted when kept in a ...
- 15.7k
5
votes
When is spalting beneficial for wood?
In general spalting is not good for wood. It is one of the stages of the wood rotting. But spalting in the early stages can add character to a piece of wood. Such as
Turners use spalted wood all ...
- 15.7k
4
votes
Accepted
Carved kuksa of ash wood has split and oozed water, what has gone wrong?
I hand-carved my first Kuksa a month ago from half an ash log.
There's your problem. Kuksa's are best made from a close-grained wood (traditionally birch burl). Ash, being open-grained, is very ...
- 12.1k
4
votes
What is this pest living in my drying lumber and how do I eliminate it?
Looks like powder post beetles to me. If that is the case you have some nice firewood. Sorry.
- 41
4
votes
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Should I “un-dry” wood for a while after oven drying?
My question is: After I do this but before I plane the boards, should I leave them sit out in the open air (maybe a week or two) to reabsorb moisture from the air?
I think it's certainly advisable, ...
- 64.4k
4
votes
Accepted
How can I dry lumber outdoors for furniture?
I did some more research and thought I'd share some of my findings.
One thing is that relative humidity and moisture content both use percentages but they are describing the idea of "water ...
- 181
4
votes
Accepted
Is it better to mill boards before or after drying? (And does it depend on diameter?)
Generally, it's far, far better to rough-mill while green, dry in a stack with stickers to allow airflow and if necessary considerable weight to put on the stack, then do final shaping with the ...
- 813
4
votes
How long should I leave a green yew stick clamped to a bench for straightening?
How long should I leave a green yew stick clamped to a bench for straightening?
Don't. That's not how to dry wood.
Makers of walking sticks and hiking poles, who harvest saplings and branches from ...
- 64.4k
3
votes
Accepted
Wood Coasters from Tree Branch finish
My question is do you think that they need any type of finish on them?
I think it's vital, yes. The top and bottom surfaces of slices like this are all end grain, and unsealed end grain is absorbent ...
- 64.4k
3
votes
How much extra thickness should I leave when rough milling green boards?
I believe there is just no easy "rule of thumb" when deciding what thicknesses to cut green lumber in an attempt to obtain a certain machined dry lumber thickness, without a lot of waste. Many ...
- 131
3
votes
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DIY Kiln Dry Walnut Plan
would work faster than air
depends on drying stage and the wood (you want to prevent cracking)
not a stupid idea
http://extension.missouri.edu/p/G5507 is a good resource for you.
You'll likely need ...
- 2,416
3
votes
How to store/dry freshly cut lumber (white oak)
Seal the ends as wood loses moisture from the ends faster than the face. You are trying to lower moisture throughout the wood evenly. Latex paint is a cheap effective sealer.
Pick a location with good ...
- 859
3
votes
Accepted
Let pine dry or use it right away for building a work bench?
For fine woodworking, I understand you should let wood dry and get accustomed to your shop (or ideally wherever the finished product will live). Okay so of course that make sense for a huge slab of ...
- 64.4k
3
votes
Drying European hornbeam for knife handles
Does it make sense to try to force dry it?
Only you can answer this, since it's only your requirement that drives the decision to speed-dry versus just waiting for the wood to naturally season over a ...
- 64.4k
2
votes
Drying Wood Methods
I have used dehumidifiers to dry a load of reclaimed wood that was milled to use as trim in a home. It was at 20% moisture content (MC) so I made a frame of 2X material after I set a layer of 6 mil ...
- 848
2
votes
Accepted
Drying Wood Methods
I have heard of sealing the end grain and then just leaving the piece to dry on it's own but then I believe there are even different ways to each of those.
Yes that is the standard way of drying all ...
- 64.4k
2
votes
How to store/dry freshly cut lumber (white oak)
How long does it need to dry before I can use it?
Short answer is, until it's dry enough to use.
Ideal moisture level for seasoned wood is dependent on how it'll be used, dried wood for interior ...
- 64.4k
2
votes
oak has vinegar smell, action needed?
Chances are that you have a red oak board. Red oak is notoriously smelly, described variously as resembling vomit, poop, silage, fermentation - you get the drift. It is widely known as piss-oak ...
- 3,667
2
votes
Wood Coasters from Tree Branch finish
The biggest problem I see with your plan is that discs cut from a branch as mentioned are going to be chronically bending and warping even after they are properly dried out.
One option you could ...
- 1,091
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