| How To Select Wood For Your Home Projects | | | | on a flat surface; if bowed, it will rock. Bow is usually |
| The purpose of selecting your wood is so you end | | | | removed with little difficulty if you have points of |
| up with a good final product. While all wood typically | | | | attachment; however; avoid boards that are |
| has flaws, you want to select wood that is | | | | obviously bowed. |
| reasonably fault free. | | | | Cup: Cup is a fault where the edges of the board curl |
| Faults and Flaws to avoid include: | | | | up. Mildly cupped boards will usually pull down when |
| 1) Twist - Do not use twisted lumber. It will always | | | | anchored to another piece of wood. Push down on |
| result in a twisted final piece. Check for twist by | | | | the outer edges of the board. If you can easily push |
| laying the piece of wood on a level (horizontal) | | | | the board flat (into a plane), you can use the board. |
| surface. Use a short level (often called a torpedo | | | | If you use a board that has too much cup, it will split |
| level) to determine twist. Check both ends of the | | | | in the middle as you pull the cup out. |
| board; if the level reads the same on both ends, the | | | | Shake: Shake is a fault that occurs in the wood as |
| piece is not twisted. If the piece is highly twisted, | | | | the tree grows. It indicates that the tree is growing |
| you can see this by looking along the length of the | | | | under stress and typically the heart area splits open. |
| board. | | | | Shake usually results in twist and should be avoided. |
| 2) Moisture - All wood contains moisture, even after | | | | Rot: Rotten wood is discolored and soft. You may |
| being "dried". Be sure your wood has a stable | | | | use the good portion of a rotten board, otherwise |
| moisture content. Standard grade lumber is typically | | | | avoid rot. |
| high in moisture and other flaws. You can dry your | | | | Loose/Missing Knot: Loose knots can be glued back in |
| wood by stacking it with air spaces between all | | | | and missing knot areas can be filled. I like to use a |
| surfaces. Laths are used for this purpose. Be sure | | | | limb the size of the knot hole and transplant a slice |
| that air can get to the bottom of the stack. | | | | into the board. Of course, this process requires time |
| Typically, I stack my bunk of wood on 4"x4"'s, and | | | | so judge accordingly. |
| then use lath between every layer, also leaving 1/2" | | | | Summary |
| open space between boards. | | | | 1) Be fussy about the wood you chose. Your final |
| Stack your wood in a dry area, out of the sun, and | | | | product will be no better than the materials you start |
| give it plenty of time to dry. You can buy a moisture | | | | with. |
| meter to read the moisture content (not necessary) | | | | 2) If the lumber company won't let you sort through |
| 5% to 10% is dry. 1" Thick wood will dry in 1 to 3 | | | | the wood, find one that will. You can usually get |
| months, while 2" thick wood takes 2 to 6 months. If | | | | around their policy by being nice to the yard man. A |
| you buy a premium grade wood, it will be at least | | | | little B.S. goes a long way. |
| partially dry. Have your supplier check the moisture | | | | 3) Don't rush your wood. A home environment is dry |
| content. | | | | and your wood needs to be stable in the |
| As wood dries, wood faults show up, so a board | | | | environment it's going to live in. |
| that looks good may completely become worthless | | | | 4) The extra care you take at the start of the |
| as it dries. | | | | project will insure a good finish. |
| Crown: Crown is a fault that can easily be seen by | | | | 5) Always buy more wood than you are actually |
| looking down the edge of the board or by laying a | | | | going to use. 20% extra is a minimum. Leftovers can |
| straight edge or string line along the board. This fault | | | | be used for something else, and you may not be |
| can be removed by planeing or saw the crown out, | | | | able to match the wood you started with when you |
| but of course, you loose a portion of the board. | | | | go back for more. |
| When working hardwoods, removing crown is just | | | | If you have specific questions, just contact us and |
| part of the process. | | | | we will try to help you. |
| Bow: Bow is a fault that is easily seen. Lay the board | | | | |