Has anyone had any problems with laminating cypress and then using it for exterior stile and rail doors. Doors are 2 1/4" thick (3 pcs of 3/4 ) We rarely if ever use cypress in here and wanted to avoid any complications i could be heading for. Thanks for the help !!!
From contributor Da
It moves. I'm used to rift Oak or pattern grade Honduras, so I'm spoiled, but it moves. We built about 12 - 15 doors out of it, and had one warp a stile about 3/8" of an inch before it left the shop. I have no idea why - it was not wet or overdry, nothing obvious to cause such a problem. Spooked me enough to not use it again for doors. We do use it for shutters and even driveway gates. It likes to show a glue line, but that is about it.
The lumber comes in thick, long, pretty clear and either 6" or 8" widths, and is graded as a softwood. Surface checks may come to haunt you. We epoxy fill and sand if they don't plane out. They can be a problem. Ask your vendor what he does to avoid them.
From contributor ca
Thanks david, movement was what i was most concerned with !
From contributor SG
I've not used much cypress myself, but have a close friend that has been in the millwork business for 40 years in an area where cypress is used a lot (SC Coast), and he despises it - I think both because of it's machining characteristics and movement. He also says unless it's old-growth, it won't have substantial rot-resistance, either.
From contributor Ja
I recently finished some cabinetry in pecky cypress, and it was the most difficult wood I have worked with in terms of movement. I had over 300 bd ft, and had to sort through the entire pile to get 4 50" stiles for pantry cabinet doors- If I had to remake one of those doors I would have to order more wood because there isn't another decent 50" piece in the pile. Some of it straight stuff after balanced machining absolutely took off, I have been nervous about those doors since I installed them.
From contributor Ro
Yes it does move. Being from Charleston SC. I like using it for secondary wood but finally gave it up. I also don't think suppliers control the MC very well- like southern yellow pine it will probably be a bit high MC when received. The sapwood will rot. Not the same as the old growth black Cypress available in the 18th century.
From contributor ka
In addition to rotting and moving, it is prone to wane. I quit using it years ago. The last time I used it for bunch of windows the epoxy we used to repair the places where it simply flaked off may have outweighed the wood.
