Residue-Free Labels Latest in Tools and Supplies
- 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

Processing trees to lumber -- for the hobbyist
A primer on sawing and drying lumber for projects at home. March 13, 2001

Aching Glue Joints
Diagnoses and cures for a variety of problems related to the gluing up of panels in solid lumber. 1998.

Acidity: Common Cause -- of Panel Gluing Problems
How pH contributes to adhesion problems in glued-up panels. 1998.

Using PEG for dimensional stability
The discovery and use of PEG for stabilizing previously unseasoned lumber. 1998.

Salt pastes and PEG
Polyethylene glycol is high-priced, but the alternatives for stabilizing green wood are few. 1998.

A PEG primer
Some general information on this green-wood treatment. 1998.

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.

MC in imported mahogany furniture
Moisture contents higher than eight percent are suspect, and suppliers must be notified. 1998.

Home DH for drying lumber
Home dehumidifiers versus bought kilns for drying wood. September 2, 2002

Birch for outdoor tool handles?
White birch's comparative weakness renders it a poor choice for handles on tools that must sustain high impacts. 1998.

Troubleshooting vacuum kiln problems
An extensive discussion on vacuum pumps and vaporization of organic compounds in wood. February 28, 2001

Certified construction lumber
Laws governing the lumber used in building. December 17, 2002

Don't send a home dehumidifier -- to do a commercial kiln's work
Are domestic dehumidifiers adaptable for use in drying small quantities of lumber? March 12, 2000

Lumber Strength, Dimensions, Orientation, and Grain Direction
An explanation of factors that influence the strength of a wood floor joist or rafter. October 1, 2009

Glue-ups and growth rings
Does ripping and re-gluing drawer faces reduce cup? June 24, 2001

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

Black locust vs. treated wood -- for barn poles
Comparing black locust to treated lumber for use in barn construction. June 21, 2000

Steam bending and lamination
Switching from glulam to steam bending of curved furniture parts. July 22, 2003

Green Douglas Fir for Timber Framing
Advice on framing with fresh-cut Douglas Fir posts and beams. April 2, 2013

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

Conditioning DH-kiln-dried white oak
July 18, 2000

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.

Cottonwood: O.K. for rafters?
Is cottonwood appropriate for the structural parts of a building? January 31, 2001

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

A facility for storing kilned lumber
What's a good facility for storing kilned lumber without raising its moisture content? May 6, 2000

Estimating BF yields
Some formulas for calculating board foot yields from rough logs. March 1, 2000

Controlled spalting
Is it possible to control spalting to produce unique turning stock? June 20, 2000

Correcting case hardening
Correcting case hardening in processed lumber. July 11, 2000

Drying small pieces of wood
Unusual methods for drying wood, including boiling. February 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

Graduate-Level Information on Woodworking
Ideas on where to find well-researched information about woodworking. 1998.

Black Locust Timbers For Fence and Gate Posts
A long discussion of Black Locust as a utility wood. October 1, 2009

Home-made house materials
Advice on sawing out the lumber to build your own house. February 28, 2001

Buckling Tongue-and-Groove Siding
An example of Ipe siding falling victim to expansion caused by moisture. April 3, 2012

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

Walnut Butcher Block Countertops
Techniques for creating a beautiful butcher block countertop are shared. May 10, 2005

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

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

Installation Tips for Board and Batten Siding
Nail location is important. November 28, 2006

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

"M" particleboard grades
The difference between grades of particleboard is explained. June 14, 2000

Stains on wood
remove. June 27, 2000

Plywood Shelf Deflection
Thoughts on plywood shelf thickness, ways of reinforcing shelves, and othe ideas. February 26, 2007

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