- Wood species Information on tree species and their uses. March 20, 2001
Lumber Grading, Quality, and Small Mills Here's an extended discussion of the public policy issues involved in lumber grading, and construction using un-graded lumber, as seen from the point of view of the small sawmill operator. May 18, 2010
Raised glue lines after curing A glue line that is raised days after parts are assembled and the glue has cured is a sure sign of wet lumber. 1998.
Working with casehardened lumber Casehardened lumber should be returned to the processor, or planed to the desired thickness; resawing is not an option. 1998.
Laminating different species In a triple lamination, it's OK to use two species of lumber, given a few conditions. 1998.
Sawn Wood Versus LVL Header Strength Sawmiller needs to verify the allowable bearing capacity of a sawn timber for code inspection purposes. February 9, 2008
Wet Cottonwood with Wind Shake Some comments about the dubious strength and quality of lumber from Cottonwood logs having noticeable wind shake. July 28, 2006
Timber Framing with Red Oak The material needs to be kept dry. Here's info on that, and some other useful tips. November 3, 2010
Table-Leaf Warping Problem Why are extra leaves from a tabletop warping? Experts explain causes and cures. June 28, 2005
Steaming beech for veneer production Questions and answers on various technical aspects of steaming beech lumber, preparatory to producing veneer. Includes ideas for further reading.
A good, cheap end sealant? A discussion of the pros and cons of various sealants used on ends of boards in primary lumber processing. April 22, 2000
Slope of grain How to process lumber to achieve a given slope of grain. March 28, 2001
Wet bulb, dry bulb An explanation of the terms "wet bulb" and "dry bulb" in reference to temperature measurement, and their particular usefulness. March 6, 2000
Casehardening explained The Wood Doctor describes casehardening, its causes, and cure. July 18, 2000
Pilings to Resist Marine Borers Untreated wood is vulnerable to attack when submerged in ocean water. But CCA-treated wood is still allowed for use as salt-water pilings. November 28, 2006
Ripping and Re-Gluing to Limit Cupping The Wood Doc weighs in on the old-timer technique of ripping and re-gluing boards in order to lessen moisture-related cupping. February 19, 2008
Steambending How much time to allow based on thickness and proposed radius of wood. September 23, 2003
Free Span Limits of Cabinet Shelving For wide cabinets with double doors and no center stile, how far is too far for the shelves to span? Here are suggestions for stiffening wide span shelving. March 27, 2012
Intentional Spalting Can you treat logs with fungus and humidity to create spalting on purpose? Some say "yes," but it's more art than science. June 23, 2005
Sawing An Old Elm Tree Tension wood from growth stress may call for a modified technique. April 10, 2005
Keeping solid doors flat Techniques for preventing warpage of solid wood cabinet doors. June 14, 2000
Long-Span Shelves Ideas and resources for dealing with long shelf spans. December 30, 2005
Straightening Old Bowed Floor Joists Overloaded wood deforms over time (it's called "creep"). There's no quick way to reverse the process. December 1, 2005
Epoxy for Laying Up Ipe Stair Treads Epoxy should hold a joint for glued-up stair treads in Ipe wood at 20% MC for an exterior exposure. November 28, 2006
Laminating a Curved Exterior Beam Here's a detailed discussion of adhesive selection and clamping methods for a large, curved, laminated beam for an outdoor structure. March 12, 2014
Plywood Shelf Deflection Thoughts on plywood shelf thickness, ways of reinforcing shelves, and othe ideas. February 26, 2007
The Ultimate Spoilboard - ULTI-BOARD - Specifically Engineered and Formulated for the Ultimate in Spoilboard Performance - Not Your Ordinary Sheet of MDF.
Lumber Grading, Quality, and Small Mills