Residue-Free Labels Latest in Tools and Supplies
- Wood species
Information on tree species and their uses. March 20, 2001

Lumber Choices for Fence Posts and Rails
A discussion comparing various wood species with pressure treated lumber for use in building fences. March 28, 2012

Cherry Log: Quartersaw or Flatsaw?
Appearance would argue for flatsawn, stability for quartersawn — but it's more complicated than that. October 1, 2010

Rx For Bending Wood
Dr. Gene Wengert offers advice on bending solid lumber in production applications. 1998.

Distinguishing White Oak from Red
Methods for discerning different oak types. May 19, 2004

Cambium miner's effect on lumber grade
Gene Wengert on cambium miners, what they do, and whether the result affects lumber grade. 1998.

Rotted siding
Gene Wengert helps a homeowner with a question about decaying siding. 1998.

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

Calculating moisture content
Using a hygrometer and calculator to determine the MC of kiln samples. September 2, 2002

"Water Oak" Versus "Pin Oak"
Locally common names for Oak varieties can cause confusion. Here's a discussion of some Oak tree varieties and some information on their characteristics. February 9, 2008

Wood Species Useful for Shingles
A discussion of the wood varieties that work for use as exterior shingles. November 25, 2008

Is Eastern red cedar toxic?
Eastern red cedar does not share some of the reaction-generating characteristics of its Western namesake. 1998.

: Redheart, described and defined
"Redheart" is just another name for... 1998.

Do trees freeze?
The short answer is no; Gene Wengert provides full details. February 13, 2001

Acetylated Treated Lumber — What's Up with That?
Here's an interesting discussion about the durability, fastener compatibility, and other properties of acetyl treated lumber, such as "Accoya," with some useful links to more. January 2, 2014

Wood and Water
An excerpt from Gene Wengert's book, "Drying Oak Lumber." May 31, 2001

Calculating the weight of lumber
Formulas, detailed instructions and species-specific charts from Professor Gene Wengert. May 3, 2001

Good species for fence posts
Rot resistance of red oak, white oak and more. February 6, 2002

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

Fresh-Cut Pine for Rafters
In theory, green softwood should perform acceptably for barn rafters. In practice, on the other hand ... well, life is full of surprises. November 28, 2006

Wood dust hazards and safety gear
A detailed look at personal safety precautions for those exposed to wood dust.

Jarah
and we do mean HARD. 1998.

Treated pine vs. cedar
The Wood Doctor offers his prognosis for outdoor projects using cedar and treated pine. 1998.

Moisture variance in red oak
Basic drying procedures and a discussion of bacteria in red oak. February 13, 2001

Loss in air-dried lumber
The Wood Doctor provides typicial loss factors for several speices of lumber, when air-dried. 1998.

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

Characteristics of padauk
Basic characteristics of this beautiful, brilliant-red wood. October 10, 2000

Wood species for outdoor furniture
The Wood Doctor names names: Decay-resistance lumber suitable for outdoor use. October 10, 2000

Red Oak, White Oak, Black Oak, and More
but there's more to the story than that. This thread offers a few little-known facts about oak varieties. June 20, 2005

Good Wood for Handles
Oak, hickory, and elm (if you can find some) work well. October 25, 2006

Mist systems and relative humidity
Mist systems, what they do, and some general information about relative humidty and its effect on wood. 1998.

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

Comparing Western and Eastern cedars
Both Eastern white and Western red cedars have their virtues; the Wood Doctor provides details. 1998.

Cupping of resawn lumber
The two reasons wood cups when resawn. 1998.

Do tropical trees lose their leaves?
The Wood Doctor explains that many species of tropical trees are indeed deciduous. 1998.

Cypress board and batten siding
It's better to kiln dry that cypress before siding your house with it than to let air-drying suffice. 1998.

Kiln drying Mexican oak
Mexican oak can be dried using the same schedules as those used by processors in the United States. 1998.

Temperature maximums for dehumidification units
and that's plenty. 1998.

Spots revealed in dry, planed lumber
Dr. Gene attempts to find the causes of discolored spots on dried lumber, revealed only when the stock has been planed. 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.

Drying green tongue-and-groove pine
Success in drying green, already-machined lumber has much to do with the species. 1998.

Moisture content of walnut -- and measuring it
A woodworker seeks information about acceptable moisture contents for walnut used in furniture, and wonders what makes moisture meters tick. 1998.

Wood waste for electric generation?
Could wood be an efficient source for eventual conversion into electric power? 1998.

Raised grain: A pith-side phenomenon
Raised grain tends to appear more on the side of boards which, in the log, faced the pith. Here's why. 1998.

Woods for outdoor furniture
A manufacturer of outdoor furniture consults the Wood Doctor for help with choosing a species to replace beech. 1998.

Gluing white oak panels
Because of its density, white oak lumber must be machined carefully for panel glue-up, and assembled within an hour of preparation. 1998.

Air-dried oak for casework?
Air-dried lumber needs to live in the environment it will inhabit prior to fabrication. 1998.

Calculating longitudinal shrinkage
There's no firm factor for calculating longitudinal shrinkage in maple, but here's a place to begin. 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.

More on blue stain removal
Is there a 100-percent-effective method for removing blue stain from pine? 1998.

Treating wood worm infestations
How to arrest an infestation of wood worms before they migrate to other furniture. 1998.

When holly goes pathological
Only fungus and injury cause color change in normally white holly. 1998.

Drying pine for a trestle table
A brief look at the basics of drying freshly milled, 3-inch-thick pine. 1998.

Workbench end caps: Bad idea?
Though European workbenches commonly feature caps over the ends of the worktop material, these may hinder natural movement of the wood on this side of the Atlantic.

The importance of balanced finishes
or in this case, do unto one side of your project what you did to the other. 1998.

Chemically "aging" cherry
Tips and cautions for using chemicals to quickly achieve the richer colors certain woods attain with age. 1998.

Relative densities of various birches
The Wood Doctor offers resources for information on the relative densities of birch lumbers, and offers an opinion on plastic laminate. 1998.

Tips for drying butternut burls
Butternut burls are dried much like regular lumber. Also, a source for further information on drying burls. 1998.

Darkening wood with steam
Saturated steam can be an effective way to darken some species of wood, while still green. 1998.

Smelly lauan
The Wood Doctor is quizzed about bad-smelling lauan in a commercial bar. Diagnosis: anaerobic bacteria. Prognosis: terminal. Prescription: replacement. 1998.

Ash baseball bats
Where to find the strongest ash for baseball bats. 1998.

Wood technology Web sites
A short list of Web sites with information about characteristics of given species. 1998.

Why is machined teak blotchy?
If you're not familiar with it, one property of freshly machined teak can take you by surprise. 1998.

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

Tooling tips for African wawa
More important than knife angles to obtaining a smooth machined finish is feed speed. 1998.

Underwater wood: Worthless?
Generally speaking, submerged lumber is often a total loss. 1998.

Second-growth cypress -- it's just not the same
Second-growth cypress lacks the natural decay resistance of its first-generation counterpart. 1998.

Use and finishing tips: Cottonwood
Cottonwood is a good quality, light-to-medium duty wood. 1998.

Characteristics of butt log lumber
Denser, darker wood than the rest of that from the same laod may be from butt logs. 1998.

Identifying bird's eye maple
What causes the unique patterns in bird's eye maple lumber? 1998.

Steaming beech and why not
The Wood Doctor cautions against steaming beach for extended periods. 1998.

Drying hard maple for whiteness
Permissible extremes for dehumification drying of maple, to accentuate whiteness. 1998.

Australian lace wood
Characteristics of this unusual wood. 1998.

Discoloration in steamed beech
Tracing the source of discoloration as a result of beech steaming. 1998.

Flame spread rating for oak
Oak is rated at 100 by the ASTM. 1998.

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

Health hazards of wood dust
Studies have shown that breathing wood dust can be hazardous to your health. 1998.

Pressure treated lumber -- O.K. for grape arbor?
A look at pressure-treated woods, then and now, and safety factors to consider in using them. 1998.

Best preparation for bent ash
Dr. Gene advises a fishing-net maker on the best ways to prepare ash for bending into frames for his products. 1998.

Preserving a cedar deck
Best methods for treating and protecting wood decks from decay. 1998.

Buckled veneer is manufacturer's fault
except letting the manufacturer hear about it. 1998.

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.

Twisting cabinet doors
Only changes in moisture content cause wood to change in size or shape. 1998.

Techniques for Equalizing and Conditioning Lumber
The Wood Doctor explains how to complete the final two steps in the primary processing uh, process. 1998.

Crown Moulding Expansion/Contraction Problem
Who or what is responsible for gaps appearing at joints after installation? June 4, 2004

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

Measuring/Monitoring Moisture Levels
The hows and whys of monitoring moisture content in lumber. 1998.

Curling of a Cutting Board Set in a Concrete Countertop
Woodworkers attempt to cure a problem created by placing wood in a moist situation on one side. No easy answers here. June 18, 2009

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

Indoor Wood Shrinkage and Expansion
A learned discussion of the way building interior humidity causes dimensional change in wood. December 1, 2005

Durability of Eastern Red Cedar
Short answer: it's the heartwood that is rot-resistant. But you'll learn more than that from this discussion. April 11, 2008

Constructing with poplar
Is poplar appropriate for building? February 6, 2002

Drying Rewetted Kiln-Dried Lumber
How to render kiln-dried lumber, which has been rewetted due to flooding or excessive humidity, useful once again. 1998.

West Coast Live Oak Uses
This discussion of Live Oak lumber characteristics includes some info about the "Sudden Oak Death" disease that is plaguing the West Coast. July 30, 2007

Eastern Red Cedar for Outdoor Use
Thoughts on drying Eastern Red Cedar, and on the wood's value for decks or outdoor furniture. December 6, 2009

Drying wood for musical instruments
A primer on various lumber drying techniques as they relate to musical instrument construction. 1998.

Fabric Softener for Steam Bending
Fact or legend? Rumor has it that fabric softener makes steam-bending easier. October 26, 2007

Understanding Drying Stress in Wood
A complaint about cupping in mahogany door stiles after machining leads to a discussion of what causes drying stress and related movement in kiln-dried wood. June 23, 2006

Choosing Wood for Making Lacrosse Sticks
Hickory is the top suggestion in this discussion from the Sawing and Drying forum. December 1, 2005

20 Steps to Drying Hard White Maple
The Wood Doctor's 100 percent guaranteed, sure-fire, no-snake-oil method for successfully drying hard white maple. 1998.

Durability of Cedar Signs in Outdoor Exposures
Cedar should last 15 years in the weather — if the assembly details and finish are suitable. July 29, 2012

Telling Red Pine from White Pine Logs
Branch whorls aren't much help, but compare early and late wood growth. February 26, 2005

Wood weight and highway transport
How to accurately estimate the weight of a truckload of air-dried lumber to assure compliance with trucking regulations. Includes access info for resources. August 1, 2000

Can Tree Limbs Provide Useful Lumber?
Growth stresses create movement issues with wood sawn from limbs, but it does have some uses. July 3, 2008

Troubleshooting Bow in Kiln-Dried Cherry
A discussion of the causes and possible cures for bowing of lumber. November 14, 2009

Aspen Wood for Cabinets
It's soft, it's fuzzy, and it takes finish unevenly. Hmm... August 29, 2006

"False Acacia" (a.k.a. Black Locust)
Black Locust is known in Europe as "False Acacia." Here's some info about the species and the lumber. October 15, 2010

Kiln dried: Better than air dried?
Why kiln-dried lumber is the best option for wood that will eventually 'live' indoors. 1998.

White Cedar Durability
White Cedar heartwood holds up well in exterior exposures, with or without stain. The sapwood, not so much. March 30, 2008

Wood dust a carcinogen?
The Wood Doctor points to two sources of information on the carcinogenic properties of wood dust. 1998.

Splitting Wood - Green Versus Dry
Wood is stronger, and thus harder to split, after drying. April 11, 2008

-- Architectural Woodworking Forum -- Moisture Effects on Wood (Video)
Wood Doctor Gene Wengert explains in detail about the ways moisture affects wood, in a seven-part YouTube video series. December 31, 2012

Dark liquid from walnut: Toxic?
The Wood Doctor says: Stay away from this stuff! 1998.

Poplar for a Storm Door: Movement Issues
An extended discussion of the behavior of Poplar in an exterior exposure. Science says Poplar is suitable for exterior woodwork, but experience may indicate the contrary. June 3, 2007

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

Black Locust as a Utility Pole
Thoughts on whether to dry a Black Locust pole before burying the end, and related issues. March 28, 2010

Performance Issues with "Roasted Birch"
The process of heating wood to 300°F takes a toll in terms of strength, durability, and workability. December 9, 2008

Beech Lumber for Siding
Exterior siding exposure may not be the best use of Beech wood. June 4, 2012

Electric Moisture Meters
A guide for using portable electric moisture meters on lumber. May 3, 2001

Are bone-dry biscuits necessary?
Questions about the dryness and size of biscuits. April 24, 2002

What Causes Ring Shake?
Speculations and discussion on science relating to ring shake. April 10, 2005

Construire avec du peuplier
Le peuplier est-il un matériau approprié pour la construction ? 6 février 2002

What Does "Old Growth" Mean
The sawing and drying forum discusses what "old growth" means when used to describe lumber, and what qualities "old growth" wood may or may not have. May 14, 2006

Cracks in log home logs -- and other warnings
Cracks in logs used in log home construction are normal, but not necessarily desirable. August 10, 2000

Warp in Drying
Causes and cures for warpage when drying lumber. May 4, 2001

Maple Hassles
Woodworkers kick Maple's reputation around on this thread — but there's plenty of good information here about how to get the best out of it. April 9, 2008

Drying rough-sawn timbers
A large outdoor project raises questions about drying large, rough-sawn timbers for long-term use. June 20, 2000

Wood Moisture Movement Issues with a Conference Table Top
Here's an extended discussion with photos, about why an architect's wish for a wood table top with mitered corners is impossible to grant. February 10, 2009

Troubleshooting a Cracked Beechwood Countertop
A good case example of the inevitable cracking that occurs when wood moisture-related movement is not allowed for — this time, in a counter of solid wood glued to plywood. February 11, 2010

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

Slabbing and Drying Big Logs
Preventing cracks in Monterey cypress. April 18, 2004

Troubleshooting Buckled Peel-and-Stick Veneer
Indoor humidity has caused adhesive-backed veneer to buckle. Here, pros discuss the limitations and vulnerabilities of the material. November 20, 2005

Is Vacuum Dried Wood Stronger?
With so many variables to control, it's hard to be sure whether any particular drying system gives better results in terms of wood properties. October 29, 2012

Uses for shavings and sawdust
A discussion of uses for and the marketablility of waste from the primary processing of lumber. July 18, 2000

Working with Sapelle
Notes on the workability and machinability of this exotic tropical hardwood. January 8, 2007

Log weight
Locating a chart and doing the calculations. September 2, 2002

The truth about pressure-treated wood
Exploding some myths about the dangers of CCA pressure-treated wood. August 10, 2000

Comparing moisture meters
An assessment of the performance of pin and pinless moisture meters made by major manufacturers. July 11, 2000

Lumber drying for musical instruments
Does the speed of the drying process affect a wood's musical quality?June 21, 2000

Drying sinker wood
How does one begin drying wood that's been submerged in water for many years? June 27, 2000

Is Pin Oak Useful?
Widely planted as a yard landscaping tree, Pin Oak has some drawbacks as a source of lumber. June 18, 2009

Characteristics of Utile Wood
Expert info on that exotic African wood known as Utile. October 23, 2007

Determining MC by weight
Tools and techniques for measuring moisture content by weighing lumber cuttings. January 4, 2001

Yellow Cedar Characteristics
Not a true Cedar, Yellow Cedar grows mainly on the northern Pacific coast of North America. Here is some info about its useful properties. April 2, 2013

Eastern Red Cedar for Buried Posts
The heartwood of Eastern Red Cedar has better rot resistance than the sapwood has. January 18, 2011

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

Vacuum Dried Red Oak
Achieving quality and color. May 19, 2004

Air temp, relative humidity and MC
How much moisture can air hold, and what is the effect on drying lumber? July 4, 2000

Qualities of Butternut
Fuzzy, soft, and nice to look at — woodworkers share their experiences with Butternut wood. December 12, 2008

Cambium miners' effect on standing cherry
A woodlot pest causes gummosis in cherry. June 21, 2000

Comparing wood strengths
Wood species has less to do with strength than does grain characteristics. June 21, 2000

Aromatic cedar for closet lining
A discussion of drying and machining, aromatic red cedar for closet lining. Includes ideas on marketing the finished product. March 4, 2000

Standing dry cedar: Lumber-worthy?
Are standing, dead cedar trees a good source for decking boards? July 11, 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.

Red Pine Versus White Pine for Timber Framing
Red pine is stiffer and stronger than white pine, but more prone to warping. December 28, 2006

Usefulness of Alder Wood
but it has its own good and bad points. June 28, 2005

Monkey Pod Wood
Here's a little information on Monkey Pod wood, also sometimes called just "Monkey Wood."February 25, 2009

Straight cuts through knots
Knots are extremely dense. Here's advice for keeping cuts on line while cutting through them. June 21, 2000

Usefulness of Gum Wood
Which variety is this, and what's it good for? February 26, 2005

Ring Shake in Hemlock
Hemlock makes good boards or framing lumber, but wood from trees exposed to grazing animals may be have structural flaws. July 12, 2005

Ring Deformation (Compression Wood)
An odd-looking ring pattern in a cross-cut log is explained as compression wood, certain to bend after sawing. April 20, 2011

What's Better for Framing, S-P-F or SYP?
Southern Yellow Pine has a greater span capability than the mixed-species category "Spruce-Pine-Fir," according to Dr. Gene. January 11, 2007

Variability of Cypress Rot Resistance
Old growth Cypress has more natural rot resistance than younger trees. May 15, 2011

Southern Yellow Pine for Timber Framing
Is SYP a good material for a timber frame house? February 24, 2008

Eucalyptus for furnituremaking
A primer on this native Australian lumber. June 14, 2000

Walnut toxicity fact and fiction
Is walnut safe for salad bowls? Horse bedding? June 21, 2000

Working with Silver Maple
Like Red Maple, it's a type of Soft Maple. Machines easily, but with a tendency to fuzz. August 29, 2006

Red cedar vs. white cedar siding
The differences between the two woods, specifically, their suitability for use as siding. October 17, 2000

Sticker stain solutions
A look at potential causes and solutions for sticker stain. July 11, 2000

Quartersawn mahogany, or is it?
An architectural woodworker seeks specifications and industry guidelines for what constitutes truly quartersawn mahogany. March 5, 2000.

Cures for sticker stain
Drying lumber can suffer from sticker stain for a variety of reasons. June 20, 2000

Suitability of Tulip Poplar for Timbers
Can a large Tulip Poplar tree yield large members suitable for structural use in a timber frame? March 28, 2010

Wood Strength Specs for Norway Spruce
Looking for published engineering values for Norway Spruce. May 26, 2011

Thoughts on sweetgum
A quick primer on sweetgum. July 4, 2000

Keeping logs wet before milling
Should logs be stored in water until they can be milled? June 27, 2000

Moisture issues in antique lumber
Is salvaged wood from old barns dry enough to use as one would use kiln-dried lumber? August 23, 2000

Measuring MC by weight
How to measure moisture content in wood without a moisture meter. August 10, 2000

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

Moisture transfer in humid climes
Do tropical and sub-tropical species re-absorb moisture when left in their humid, native lands? September 6, 2000

Know your maples
A primer on different types of maple lumber. August 23, 2000

Case hardening in white oak
Is case hardening common in white oak, and should it be accepted? July 18, 2000

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

Moisture meter for veneer
Finding a moisture meter that can accurately "read" veneer. June 14, 2000

Salvaging lumber from submerged wood
The best chance for salvaging lumber from submerged wood lies in cutting it quickly, and drying it slowly. 1998.

Drying small pieces of wood
Unusual methods for drying wood, including boiling. February 28, 2001

Gross tally vs. net tally
The difference between "gross" and "net" tallies in lumber processing is explained. July 18, 2000

Using a moisture meter
How and where to use a moisture meter. November 14, 2001

Casehardening explained
The Wood Doctor describes casehardening, its causes, and cure. July 18, 2000

Tiger stripe effect -- what causes it?
What causes tiger stripe in wood? July 3, 2001

Quani?? Konnei??
Description: Konnei, a species from tropical Asia. March 2, 2000

Solar kiln construction - and more
are answered.

Removing blue stain
Ideas for removing and preventing blue stains in newly processed pine. August 1, 2000

Effects of humidity swing
How does a swing in humidity affect drying time and MC gradient? February 28, 2001

Ipe's cheap, with good reason
This Asian wood is incredibly durable, but tough to work. June 20, 2000

EMC/RH ratios
Here's a listing of equilibrium moisture content to relative humidity ratios. July 11, 2000

Trouble drying 8/4 oak
Drying 8/4 oak too rapidly will damage the wood. February 29, 2000

Oak cupping and warping
When during drying does oak lumber stop cupping and warping? July 4, 2000

Identifying mixed lumber
The best guide to wood identification. March 5, 2000

Chip-out in certain species
Some woods are tougher to surface cleanly than others. August 10, 2000

Alder color
The effects of age on the coloration of lumber cut from alder logs. August 10, 2000

What can be dried with black walnut?
How to determine what species are compatible for drying with black walnut. June 20, 2000

Drying hackberry
Drying hackberry is easy, provided you move quickly. June 5, 2001

Timetable for final processing of walnut
Stock in cants form should be processed in a timely manner. March 26, 2000

Uses for applewood
Applewood. Huh! (Good God, y'all) What is it gooood for? August 10, 2000

Black locust uses
The best uses of black locust, then and now. January 4, 2001

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

Holly and Teak for Boat Decking
This thread answers the question of why Holly and Teak are paired in boat decking (below decks only), and continues with a folkloric and historic discussion of Teak for boatbuilding — including on nuclear submarines.October 19, 2013

Hemlock for homebuilding
The virtues and pitfalls of hemlock as a house-framing material. June 20, 2000

How milling impacts figure
How milling influences figure in sawn lumber. November 15, 2000

Bugs in air-dried ash
Can a stack of ash be saved from an infestation of powderpost beetles? June 20, 2000

Hackberry sawing and drying
How to saw and dry hackberry to avoid chemical staining. March 7, 2000

Black ash uses
White ash, black ash, and their various uses. July 26, 2000

Heat considerations in solar kilns
Solar kilns get hot enough to handle some aspects of lumber drying, but not all of them. March 6, 2000

Bowing in kiln-dried pine
What causes warpage of kiln-dried pine boards? August 23, 2000

Preventing discoloration in rubber wood
The two causes of discoloration in rubber wood, and how to avoid them. August 10, 2000

Drying Cedar Siding
Fresh cedar boards need only a quick air drying for exterior use. October 30, 2005

Utilisations du robinier faux-acacia
Les meilleures utilisations du robinier faux-acacia, hier et aujourd'hui. 4 janvier 2001

Fissures dans les rondins de bois des maisons en rondins – et autres avertissements
Les fissures dans les rondins utilisés dans la construction de maisons en rondins sont normales, mais pas nécessairement souhaitables. 10 août 2000

Comparaison des résistances du bois
L'essence de bois a moins à voir avec la résistance que les caractéristiques du grain. 21 juin 2000

Aging yellow cedar
Attaining the look of naturally aged yellow cedar. September 2, 2002

Checking Concerns with Massive Wood Posts
A custom home project calls for 15-inch-wide solid timber posts. Here's a discussion of the inevitable checking that will occur, and how to minimize it. November 13, 2005

Steambending
How much time to allow based on thickness and proposed radius of wood. September 23, 2003

Alternatives to Honduran Mahogany
A discussion of the qualities of some of the woods used as substitutes for Mahogany, plus an attempt to clear up some of the confusion around the much-misused "Mahogany" label. February 5, 2007

Eastern Hemlock for Post and Beam Construction
Beetle kill is taking a toll on Eastern Hemlock. Is the wood worth harvesting for timber framing? December 8, 2012

Static charge on wood
Troubleshooting and resolving static problems on freshly planed boards. October 9, 2002

Claro Walnut Characteristics
Details on the origin and behavior of Claro Walnut wood. October 23, 2007

Is Western Hemlock Suitable for Doors and Window Sash?
A discussion of the properties and best use of Hemlock. September 7, 2013

White Pine for Stick Framing
A few facts about the standards relating to the use of White Pine as house framing lumber. November 3, 2010

Cottonwood for Building
Cottonwood has drawbacks, but it can be used. Here's more information. August 18, 2009

Working with Jatoba ("Brazilian Cherry")
This tropical hardwood is dense, heavy, and beautiful, but prone to movement and hard on tools. Yellow pieces will probably change to match the rest. May 11, 2011

Working with Ipe Wood
Woodworkers air their objections to Ipe, which is heavy, hard, and rough on tools. The Wood Doctor adds a little technical detail to the discussion. March 12, 2014

Sawing Dawn Redwood
A discussion of the characteristics of lumber sawn from Dawn Redwood. March 28, 2010

Clear face in a log
Clear face, cat face and trim, defined. March 4, 2002

Characteristics of Honeylocust Wood
Thoughts on Honeylocust, a little-known but attractive and useful wood species. June 30, 2007

Is Eastern Red Cedar Suitable for a Sauna?
Potential toxicity and non-durability of the sapwood are issues that could affect the decision. March 12, 2014

Troubleshooting Wood Flooring Shrinkage
Moisture change is always the culprit when wood shrinks. Here, pros a case of gapped-out wood flooring. July 28, 2006

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

Sawing An Old Elm Tree
Tension wood from growth stress may call for a modified technique. April 10, 2005

Tips for creating spalted maple
Creating spalted lumber by creating the correct conditions. January 4, 2001

Northern Versus Southern Red Oak
The characteristics of Oak vary from North to South. Here's more. April 15, 2013

Teak Fence-Post Durability
How long will the buried end of a Teak fence post last? June 26, 2009

Yellow discoloration in oak
Causes of yellow staining in kiln-dried oak are discussed. October 2, 2001

Quality of Southern Grown Oak
Though slightly different from northern wood, it's suitable for furniture. July 12, 2005

R-Value of Log Walls
Wood rates about R-1 per inch, but air-sealing is also an issue with log buildings. July 13, 2006

Osage Orange Color Changes
You can't stop Osage Orange wood from turning brown as it ages. February 12, 2007

Machining and Stability Characteristics of Birch
A few facts and some hands-on impressions of Birch as a cabinetmaking material, compared to other similar woods. July 8, 2014

Uses for Black Gum Lumber
Sawyers discuss how to handle Black Gum wood, and what you can make with it. June 30, 2009

Sawing Norway Spruce for Lumber
Norway Spruce doesn't saw into the finest lumber going, but it's not trash either. February 22, 2011

Gluing Up a Cherry and Maple Tabletop cherry & maple
A woodworker gets advice on allowing for movement when gluing different wood species together. December 20, 2005

Comparing Tropical Woods for Use in Outdoor Furniture
Utile, Sapele, and Ipe compared and contrasted. Which works better for exterior furniture? June 13, 2011

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

Cottonwood for Barn Siding
Advice on using Cottonwood for board and batten siding. June 18, 2010

Rot Resistance of White Pine Versus White Spruce
Unless it's old-growth heartwood, neither species is particularly durable in outdoor exposures. March 28, 2010

What is the Hardest Wood on Earth?
Trivia for wood lovers. There is some hard wood out there, people. April 11, 2008

Mixing Maple and Poplar
Maple and Poplar have similar characteristics, and can be combined in a paint-grade project. April 2, 2013

Iroko Wood Tearout
This tropical hardwood (a good substitute for teak) can be tough on saw blades and moulder knives. December 1, 2005

Durability of Locust Varieties
Black locust is the same as yellow locust, and it's more durable than honey locust. December 1, 2005

Causes for warpage after planing
Why boards may warp after surfacing. January 16, 2001

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

Uses for Hackberry Wood
don't toss those hackberry logs. February 14, 2006

Exterior Performance of Balau Wood
Here's a little information on Balau, a durable Southeast Asian tropical hardwood. October 19, 2013

Stains on wood
remove. June 27, 2000

Southern Yellow Pine for Log Cabin
Southern Yellow Pine has grain issues that make it less suitable for log building. October 19, 2013

Hard vs. soft maple
Can these maples be mixed, and what are the differences? January 21, 2002

Paulownia Characteristics and Uses
A fast-growing, light and strong semi-tropical wood, Paulownia has enough value to be worth stealing. Here's an example growing on a bathroom windowsill. September 5, 2010

Promoting blue stain
How to promote this visual effect in a stack of red pine. March 21, 2002

Planer is tearing-out -- on white oak, but not red
What could be the culprit when a planer is tearing out on one type of oak, but not another? June 14, 2000

Burmese Versus Plantation Teak
A quick discussion of Asian and South American varieties of wood marketed as "Teak" July 13, 2010

Building with Green Water Oak
Building with timbers that have not been dried creates some degree of risk. September 27, 2008

Black Locust for Window Sash
Black Locust wood is naturally durable, but unstable and prone to movement and cracking. April 13, 2010

Poplar Is a Hardwood, but Is It Hard?
As a deciduous tree, Poplar is classified as a hardwood. Here's some hard info about just how hard it is (or isn't).November 15, 2011

Basic lumber grades
An overview of NHLA grades. October 15, 2001

Mahogany Varieties for Countertops
A discussion of the practicality of mahogany for a countertop, and thoughts about similar alternatives. November 7, 2007

Variétés d'acajou pour comptoirs
Discussion sur l'aspect pratique de l'acajou pour un comptoir et réflexions sur des alternatives similaires. 7 novembre 2007

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