Question
Would yellow pine be okay to use for moulding in southwest Texas (Midland, Odessa, El Paso)? I've heard it's too dry to use here and that it would probably move, shrink, or warp with time.
Forum Responses
(Architectural Woodworking Forum)
From Professor Gene Wengert, forum technical advisor:
When yellow pine is dried under 10% MC, it becomes brittle and difficult to machine to a premium surface. Grain raising and shelling are common. If not dried under 10% MC, the wood will move as it dries to the 7% MC level seen in most homes and offices. This movement can be accompanied by warp and grain raising (un-smooth surfaces). So, with all these problems, we seldom see 4/4 yellow pine in any product that needs a premium surface. Other pines are much easier to work and so can be less expensive in the long run.
