• Knowledge Base Search Results: 262
    • Your search for moisture meter found 262 documents (of 12646 searched).
    1-262 of the 262 results are displayed below.


    Knowledge Base Results:

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

    Moisture and Swelling Issues for a Porch Ceiling
    Moisture-related expansion could cause beadboard porch ceilings to buckle. Why, and what can be done about it? This long discussion delves deep into the mysteries of moisture. February 8, 2008

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

    A Finish Carpenter's Guide to Understanding Moisture Movement In Wood
    Wood Doc Gene Wengert supplies a scientific and practical explanation of wood moisture content and seasonal movement. December 15, 2009

    Moisture in the Woods
    Knowing the moisture content of your wood is an important step in achieving a finish that will stay problem-free down the road. August 20, 2005

    Is Your Meter Running?
    The value of the moisture meter when drying of oak lumber. 1998.

    Moisture Meter Accuracy
    Moisture meters aren't perfectly accurate, and wood moisture content can also vary within a piece. October 25, 2006

    Solar Kiln Designs 4 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 4
    An in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

    Choosing a Moisture Meter
    A well-informed discussion comparing the cost and characteristics of various pin and pinless moisture meters. October 11, 2012

    Reconciling Contradictory Moisture Readings
    A pin-type moisture meter and a pinless moisture meter disagree during a quality-control check. What's going on? June 16, 2014

    Selecting a Moisture Meter
    A discussion of desirable attributes for a moisture meter used for kiln-drying quality control. June 30, 2007

    Moisture Testing Variability
    A discussion of factors that could account for a discrepancy between a supplier's wood moisture content readings and the customer's. October 12, 2008

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

    How to re-dry -- kiln dried lumber that has been re-wetted
    A guide to this process. February 23, 2001

    Solar Kiln Designs 2 -- Solar Heated, Lumber Dry Kiln Designs - Part 2
    An in depth article by Gene Wengert and Luiz Carlos Oliveira

    Humidity, Temperature, Wood Moisture Content, and Wood Movement
    Basic technical information and an extended discussion of the way wood expands and contracts in response to changes in temperature and humidity. November 13, 2009

    Elevated Moisture Readings after Planing
    Wood that is not uniformly dry will read higher after planing; and the results vary between pin meters and pinless models. June 4, 2012

    Eliminating Wood Problems -- An Industry Review: 10 Ways of Eliminating Wood Problems
    Gene Wengert explains why eliminating wood problems begins and ends with monitoring and controlling the moisture content (MC) in wood -March 18, 2000

    Cupping of a Solid Wood Countertop
    Woodworkers troubleshoot a case of moisture-related movement in a kitchen countertop. April 14, 2010

    The Dimensional Effects of Wood Moisture
    Understanding how moisture interacts with wood can help you avoid problems from moisture-related wood movement. September 13, 2012

    Selecting a Good Moisture Meter
    More money buys a better instrument, but your choice depends on your needs. December 14, 2009

    Finish Failure at Door Frame Joints
    What caused this defect: Wood moisture, glue characteristics, finish issues, or all three? August 17, 2009

    Using your microwave to determine moisture content
    The right way to dry samples in a microwave oven. February 21, 2001

    Verifying moisture meters' accuracy
    A discussion of ways to verify the accuracy of moisture meters. Includes info on calibration. June 21, 2000

    Raised Panel Shrinkage
    Cabinetmakers grapple with the issues raised by installing unfinished cabinetry in an unheated house, mid-project. May 28, 2010

    Woodworking 101: The Basics
    and shows how it can affect various production operations. 1998.

    Moisture Meters: Correcting for Temperature
    Understanding the effect of cold temperatures and freezing on moisture meter readings. October 1, 2009

    Adjusting Moisture Meter Readings for Hot Lumber
    Moisture meters aren't accurate when used on hot wood fresh from the drying kiln. You have to allow for that. June 13, 2014

    Moisture Meter Quality and Price
    What makes a good moisture meter? March 3, 2006

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

    Air-Dried Oak for Furniture
    In theory, kiln-drying is better; but people have successfully made furniture from air-dried hardwood. April 20, 2011

    Whether to Thaw Frozen Wood Before Kiln-Drying
    Here's a long and intense theoretical argument about whether frozen wood can be safely dried without thawing it first. June 13, 2014

    Troubleshooting Drying Stress
    Some general instruction about the causes of drying stress for the owner of a dehumidifier kiln. April 2, 2013

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

    Monitoring Moisture Content During Kiln Drying
    At the critical early stages when wood moisture content is high, moisture meters are not accurate. Here are tips on keeping track of moisture throughout the drying process. May 17, 2011

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

    Checking Moisture and Achieving MC Targets
    Higher moisture near the core has a lumber dryer doubting his moisture meter, but drying conditions are the more likely concern. September 6, 2010

    Humidity Control and Cabinetmaking
    A cabinetmaker gets an introduction to moisture-related wood movement and humidity control. July 25, 2010

    Pin and pinless moisture meters
    The pros and cons of pinless and pin-type moisture meters. March 20, 2001

    Shrinkage of Pressure-Treated Lumber
    It's delivered sopping wet, with moisture forced in under pressure. So how much does it shrink? Experts clarify the situation. July 12, 2005

    Troubleshooting a Cupping Table Top
    Moisture-related wood movement works its bad voodoo again. July 15, 2011

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

    Where to "plug" a moisture meter
    How to use moisture meters to assure accurate readings. November 21, 2000

    Moisture Conditions and Furniture Shrinkage
    A discussion of the way changing humid or dry conditions can affect furniture, and how to deal with the risk. April 24, 2014

    Problem with veneer over MDF
    Veneer applied over MDF is splitting and cracking - what could be the cause? March 21, 2002

    Drying Oak Lumber: Step 7, Storage
    The Wood Doctor discusses how to protect dried lumber from damage during storage. August 27, 2012

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

    Is Kiln Drying to 7% Worth It?
    Why kiln dry wood to 7% moisture content when it will gain moisture in storage? Here's an informative thread about proper drying targets and storage based on the intended end use of the lumber. December 31, 2013

    Installing Hardwood Flooring -- Over Radiant Heating
    Hardwood Floors and Heated Flooring Systems Now a Good Match. November 23, 2001

    Troubleshooting a Conversion Varnish Failure
    What caused the bad crazing? Bad formula, bad moisture control, and early re-coating are all suspects. March 17, 2005

    Humidity, Moisture Content, and Lumber Storage
    Lumber moisture content equilibrates to ambient relative humidity. Here are details. December 9, 2010

    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.

    Moisture Meter for Logs
    Advice on moisture meters capable of reading deep into logs. December 14, 2009

    Developing Software to Calculate Wood Kiln Schedules
    The wood drying process is complex, and involves many inter-related variables. So creating software to determine drying schedules is a challenge. June 13, 2014

    Double-Checking Moisture Content
    You can check your moisture meter by drying wood samples and weighing them, but the method has its own uncertainties and imprecisions. August 29, 2006

    Wood Floor Over Concrete Cupping Problem
    Wood floors over concrete can be prone to problems. Here's an example. April 4, 2011

    Test for Moisture when Installing Hardwood Flooring
    "Acclimating" flooring in the house before nailing down is not a sure-fire precaution. You should also provide a vapor barrier, and test the flooring, subflooring and slab for proper moisture content. December 26, 2006

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

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

    Moisture Meters and Frozen Wood
    The science of using a moisture meter on freezing-cold wood. May 27, 2014

    Troubleshooting Glue Line Swelling in Furniture
    In this long and complicated thread, woodworkers and experts try to figure out what's causing a slight ridge to form at the glue line in a wood chair lamination. July 29, 2014

    Veneer Over LVL for Door-Building
    Issues of moisture content, wood movement, and splitting when veneering over LVL for custom door construction. April 5, 2007

    End Joint Splitting in Table Glue-Ups
    Here's a long troubleshooting discussion about splits that form at the end joints between boards in a round table top. August 29, 2014

    Measuring Moisture: Cross-Grain or Along the Grain?
    Different moisture meters are calibrated for different testing orientations. July 29, 2014

    Four Case Histories for Smart Specifying
    December 4, 2001

    Moisture and Cupping with Glued-Up Solid Poplar Panels
    This thread about poplar panels that cupped while stored sheds light on wood moisture movement issues in general. June 30, 2009

    Measuring Moisture Gradient at the End of Kiln-Drying
    Core and shell moisture content can be important things to know in certain cases, but it's usually not vital information for running the kiln. June 13, 2014

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

    Setting Shop Temperature
    A long discussion about how warm (or cool) to keep a shop, whether to turn the heat down at night and over the weekend, and the effect on costs, productivity, and quality of different practices. December 24, 2012

    Water and Wood
    Some options for measuring moisture in lumber during the kiln-drying process. 1998.

    Wood Moisture Content and Equalization
    Understanding how to evaluate wood moisture content when conditions have created a moisture gradient within the wood. April 11, 2008

    Moisture Issues with a White Oak Lay-Up
    Woodworkers consider the potential problems with moisture movement of panels made with oak resawn to 1/8-inch thickness and laminated onto 1/2-inch solid oak cores. September 23, 2008

    Moisture Content for Furniture Making
    Lumber in the kiln is ready when its moisture content is the same that it will see in service. August 21, 2006

    Moisture Readings on a Stripped Door
    Stripper residue may affect moisture-meter readings on woodwork. February 13, 2006

    Acclimating Trim Stock Before Installing
    and use it. April 20, 2008

    Air-Drying Wood in a Grain Bin
    A discussion of air-drying sheds light on issues relating to target moisture content. July 28, 2008

    Wood Doc's Video about Wood Moisture
    Here's Dr. Gene Wengert's video presentation about wood moisture content and wood behavior. August 16, 2012

    Mixed-Species Loads and Moisture Equalization
    Kiln-drying Spruce and Fir together creates difficulty, because they dry at radically different rates and because there is moisture transfer between boards. June 13, 2014

    Crack Prevention and Repair for a Large Wood Turning
    Here's a long, thoughtful technical discussion of humidity conditions, wood cracking, prevention, and fixes, focused around the case of a very large wood turning that has developed hairline cracks. January 20, 2011

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

    Dealing with Variable Moisture Content in the Kiln Load
    Mixed loads with varied moisture contents are an age-old problem with no easy solution. But here are some ways to approach the situation. June 13, 2014

    Dehumidifier Kiln "Hanging Up"
    Dehumidifier kilns sometimes stall as moisture content readings get closer to the target. An extra shot of heat can help a lot. July 3, 2008

    Tools for "Perfect" Miter Cutting
    A solid table saw's your best bet. August 29, 2005

    Moisture Variations in Dried Lumber
    "Wet pockets" in kiln-dried lumber, or occasional wet pieces of wood in a load of dried lumber, are an unacceptable defect.June 13, 2014

    Lumber weight as a drying signpost
    Calculating weight and moisture loss in a dehumidifcation kiln. July 24, 2001

    Drying Oak Lumber: Step 3A, Measuring Moisture Content
    The only reliable method of measuring high MCs is to use the oven-drying method. August 16, 2012

    Wet Pockets in Kiln-Dried Wood
    Bacterial infections can cause streaks of 30% moisture content in wood that is mostly at 7% MC. March 4, 2009

    Electronic RH sensors
    Can electronic relative humidity sensors stand up to the elements in dry kilns? May 2, 2001

    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

    Lumber Moisture Content and Glue Failures
    When you cross-cut and rip lumber at too high a moisture content, then quickly glue up panels (such as stair treads), glue failures may soon occur. February 5, 2007

    How Fast Does Kiln-Dried Oak Regain Moisture?
    Advice on how to measure the increase in moisture content of wood stored in a covered shed after kiln-drying. June 13, 2014

    Checking in Oak
    A discussion of kiln conditions and other factors that can cause Oak to check while drying. October 29, 2008

    Warpage in maple door panels
    Despite a careful glue-up, a woodworker gets warpage in door panels. June 14, 2000

    Sawing And Air Drying Ashe
    12/03/2013

    I've Got that Shrinking Feeling
    Specific information on lumber shrinkage during the drying process. Includes 'typical shrinkage' tables for red and white oak. 1998.

    Plywood Cupping and Moisture Content
    Check panel moisture content when you receive it, advises the Wood Doctor. April 16, 2009

    Furniture for High Humidity Conditions
    Advice on controlling moisture content during construction for furniture destined for a relatively uncontrolled environment. November 15, 2010

    Re-Drying Wood from Outdoor Storage
    Advice on how to best restore wood to useability after it has been left partially exposed to weather in a shed. January 18, 2011

    Lumber Storage After Kiln Drying
    Advice on storing kiln-dried wood in the proper humidity conditions. November 14, 2009

    Moisture-Meter Accuracy for Veneer
    Moisture meters will read a single leaf of wood veneer differently than a thick stack of it. January 11, 2007

    Turbulent Air Flow as a Factor in Kiln-Drying Operational Control
    The Wood Doctor explains why controlling humidity and temperature, not managing airflow turbulence, is the way to maintain optimum drying conditions in the kiln. June 13, 2014

    Milling Wood Flooring on a Shaper
    Extensive advice on how to make hardwood strip flooring on a cabinet-shop shaper. April 19, 2006

    Humidity Control, Warping, and Case-Hardening
    Maintaining the right drying conditions is a tricky problem, and improper control can lead to defects in the lumber. January 2, 2012

    Exploring Alternative Kiln Technologies
    Sawmillers try out, wonder about, and report on the Green Dri desiccant-based drying kiln from Japan. June 8, 2011

    Over-Drying and Wood Quality
    Kiln operators discuss what happens to lumber when you overshoot your moisture content target. February 14, 2006

    Equilibrium Moisture Content and Geographic Location
    Here's info on how to estimate the expected moisture content of wood in the outdoor environment in different regions of the country. July 18, 2013

    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

    Black Spots Under Clear Coat on an Exterior Door
    Finishers troubleshoot finish failure on an exterior door sprayed with clear lacquer. September 27, 2008

    Air-Drying Versus Kiln-Drying for High-Value Wood
    Done right, kiln-drying gives you better control over quality. June 9, 2007

    Drying Time for Black Walnut
    Dry slowly to prevent checking, and test with a moisture meter. February 26, 2005

    Usability Of 12/4 Quarter Sawn White Oak
    01/20/2014

    Troubleshooting Cupping in a Bar Top
    A solid Ipe bar top starts to show cupping. Furniture-makers chime in on wood movement and the nature of the problem. January 13, 2006

    Troubleshooting Wood Movement with Outsourced Cabinet Doors
    ztp Cabinetmakers advise a colleague on how to figure out what happened to a set of Maple cabinet doors — and how to manage the resulting situation. November 8, 2007

    Equipment needed for one-man startup
    Advice on budgeting and buying machinery for a new custom cabinet shop. December 12, 2000

    Radio-Frequency Glue-Up Failures with Hardwood
    A door manufacturer gets advice on troubleshooting adhesion failures in an RF glueing process (that occurs only with certain wood species). March 26, 2010

    Pinholes: Causes and Cures
    A finisher reports pinholes in the topcoat, and learns about what may be causing them. June 28, 2005

    Drying lumber - selecting the best method
    Is a solar kiln the best choice for this startup sawmill? December 17, 2003

    Air-Drying and Kiln-Drying Methods for Wide Plank Flooring
    A discussion of the most cost-effective and quality-conscious way to dry wide planks for use as flooring. September 6, 2010

    Dehumidifiers and Lumber Storage
    A dehumidifier in the storage room will keep lumber at the proper moisture content, and will do no harm. December 6, 2012

    Troubleshooting Maple Moulder Tear-Out
    Too-dry lumber, dull knives, complicated grain patterns, or other maintenance and operational issues could be causing this tear-out problem with Maple wood. February 25, 2009

    Epoxy for Joinery in the Marine Environment
    Whether as an adhesive or a finish, epoxy will face unusual stresses when used for yacht construction. January 12, 2009

    Gluing Up a Solid Oak Top From Narrow Strips
    Advice on ripping, planing, sanding, gluing and clamping for a quality wood countertop. February 20, 2008

    Furniture Shipping and Tropical Moisture Issues
    Shipping from the tropics to the temperate zone, how do people deal with humidity changes? Here are some thoughts and possible solutions. November 8, 2007

    Lowering Wood Moisture Content
    A woodworker has some lumber at 12% moisture content that he wants to dry down to 9%. Here are some quick and cheap ways to accomplish that. October 19, 2013

    Humidity and Warping in the Shop
    The key is to get the wood at the right moisture content and keep it there. October 26, 2012

    Conference Table Disaster
    One of life's hard lessons: Moisture-related wood movement has caused severe bowing in an unbalanced conference table. August 21, 2006

    Dehumidifier Kiln Advice
    Detailed conversation about building, equipping, and operating a dehumidifier kiln to dry lumber. September 10, 2007

    Building a Solid Oak Bar Top
    Woodworkers discuss the options for constructing an Oak bar top, including butcher block or strip flooring. January 25, 2013

    Allowing for Wood Expansion in Solid Board Paneling
    A woodworker puzzles over the measures needed to let V-groove wood board paneling expand and contract with seasonal moisture changes in a seaside home. January 2, 2012

    Cupping of newly cut lumber
    Why would all the lumber in one kiln load cup toward the sapwood? January 16, 2002

    Drying rates for hardwood lumber -- How fast can you dry?
    Facts and stats for time-sensitive drying that will produce quality lumber. November 29, 2002

    Building A 32-Foot-Long Conference Table
    ... and then christen it, "The Titanic." March 9, 2008

    Wood Drying Conditions and Musical Instrument Sound Quality
    Instrument makers, musicians, and sawing and drying pros discuss whether kiln-dried or air-dried wood affect the way a musical instrument sounds. February 14, 2010

    Troubleshooting Pre-Cat Cracking
    Heavy cracking in a pre-catalyzed varnish finish appears to indicate too thick a build. March 26, 2009

    Time to Kiln-Dry 12/4 White Ash
    Estimates on the time required to dry a load of White Ash sawn three inches thick. March 28, 2010

    Troubleshooting Side Tear-Out on a Five-Head Moulder
    Tips on preventing tear-out in a moulder. January 2, 2012

    Outdoor Stair Glue-Ups with Tropical Woods
    Complex glued assemblies have trouble in outdoor exposures. This discussion takes a look at that, and at the difference in performance among various tropical hardwoods. January 14, 2013

    Moisture content oven tests
    Microwave ovens versus drying ovens for MC testing. October 30, 2002

    Glue Choice and Open Time for Veneer Glue-Up
    Veneering sometimes calls for glue that can give the woodworker a little extra time. Here's a discussion of glue choice and veneer gluing technique. November 24, 2007

    Hawaii Solar Kiln Show and Tell
    A forum member from Hawaii shows his backyard solar drying kiln and gets some advice on improving it. May 27, 2014

    Lumber Conditioning Advice
    Info on mixed loads, re-wetting dried lumber, and related topics. September 25, 2014

    Pine for Furniture Drawers
    Furnituremakers discuss whether pine is too unstable to use for making drawer sides. March 13, 2007

    Osage Orange Uses
    Osage Orange is prized for traditional bow-making and other valued uses. April 18, 2009

    Moisture-Related Wall Panel Movement
    Troubleshooting shrinkage in a recently applied wall-panel installation.

    A Small Kiln for Final Drying
    A woodworker needs to get his already kiln-dried stock down to lower moisture content to match indoor end-use conditions. Here's detailed advice for equipment choice and drying methods for a small-batch wood-shop drying chamber. May 9, 2007

    Achieving Sterilization with a Solar Kiln in a Humid Climate
    A woodworker struggles to get his lumber pile hot enough to kill beetles. April 15, 2012

    Dehumidification drying of thin stock
    Simple drying methods for small, thin stock. (Sawing and Drying Forum) March 23, 2003

    Control Issues in a Dehumidifier Kiln
    If you run the kiln too hot, a safety cutoff may shut down your compressor, interfering with the drying process. April 27, 2007

    Accuracy of Kiln Sample Moisture Content Measurements
    Factors including temperature change can reduce the accuracy of MC readings, particularly at high moisture contents. April 30, 2006

    Troubleshooting Glue Joint Performance with Steamed and Bent Wood Glue-Ups
    Lots of advice on the fine points of achieving solid glue joints when laminating steamed and bent wood. October 30, 2010

    Troubleshooting Bubbles in Pre-Cat Finish on Oak
    Finishers offer theories and propose solutions for bubbles that appear during drying in pre-catalyzed finish. December 29, 2008

    Spiral Versus Fluted Dowels
    Is either one better? The question sparks a discussion of how dowel joints work. March 20, 2007

    Warping, Bowing and Cupping of Moulding Batches
    Expert input on what could make fresh runs of moulding move in unwanted ways. October 2, 2005

    Sawing Hickory for Flooring
    Quartersawn may be most stable, but flatsawn is prettiest. February 15, 2009

    Troubleshooting Sinusoidal Waves in Planed Lumber
    We just like saying "sinusoidal." Seriously, here's a look at some issues that can affect planer performance. April 30, 2009

    White lines on RP doors
    Preventing white lines at the panel/frame joint on pre-assembled, raised-panel doors. March 20, 2001

    Locust for Window Sashes?
    Locust is durable and rot-resistant, but it's not stable or easy to machine — so probably not the best choice for window parts. January 23, 2014

    Fine-Tuning a New Planer
    Careful sharpening and adjustment will give better results, but sanding after planing may still be necessary. August 23, 2005

    Producing Stable Part Stock
    With little time and no system in place, can this shop produce parts that won't move over time? October 20, 2004

    Keeping solid doors flat
    Techniques for preventing warpage of solid wood cabinet doors. June 14, 2000

    Mold on Southern Pine
    The wood doctor explains why Southern Pine supposedly dried to 18% moisture content would still support mold after being stacked inside a dried-in house under construction. January 25, 2013

    Re-Drying A Few Wet Pieces to Speed Production
    One way to dry loads of lumber more quickly is to separate out the few still-wet pieces for a second pass through the kiln. June 13, 2014

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

    Keeping Wood Dry in Storage
    How much heat is needed to keep stored lumber dry indoors? December 6, 2011

    Remotely Readable Moisture Probes for Wood Drying
    Probes you can read without going inside the drying kiln are not a lot of help with the most problematic drying-related defects. March 16, 2015

    Are Solid Wood Cabinets Practical to Build?
    A long, highly informative discussion of the practical and other issues involved in building and selling cabinetry made from solid wood rather than plywood or composites. February 26, 2007

    Dry lumber kiln -- buying your first
    Business and technical considerations when getting started in kiln drying. March 19, 2001

    Dead Standing Douglas Fir: Is It Dry Already?
    A discussion about the useability of wood from dead standing tree logs without further drying, and a little bit of kiln-related history. April 27, 2007

    Black Walnut for Windows
    A discussion considering whether Black Walnut is an appropriate wood for constructing custom reproduction window sash. April 4, 2011

    Drying Half Logs for Benches
    Unfortunately, large logs crack as they dry. It's unavoidable. March 16, 2015

    Troubleshooting Adhesion Failure in Conversion Varnish Over Lacquer
    Conversion varnish needs a mechanical bond. Here, pros analyze a case where it's not sticking. May 17, 2005

    Twisted timbers
    Determining the cause of twisting in Douglas fir construction timbers. August 10, 2000

    Troubleshooting Swelling of Doors in a Humid Climate
    Once the doors are fit to the opening they may perform fine for many years. September 18, 2014

    Slippery kiln-dried wood
    What could make dried wood so slippery that it is difficult to machine? August 12, 2001

    Wet Pockets in Infected Wood
    Bacterial infections cause wet pockets to remain in kiln-dried wood. Bad smells and other characteristic symptoms are described here. July 28, 2006

    Dressing Stock, Stress, and Movement
    A discussion of planing and jointing techniques: Does wood need to "rest" between passes? April 30, 2009

    Managing Mold while Drying Cookies with Pentacryl
    In a specialized air-drying situation, a woodworker puzzles over how to deal with surface fungus growth. April 20, 2011

    Heating a Woodshop
    Shop owners chime in on heating options and climate-control considerations. August 31, 2005

    Optimizing Cut Quality on a Door-Making Shaper
    With a specialized machine designed for profiling door parts, it can be tricky to adjust RPMs and feed rates for a good, clean cut. July 11, 2007

    Heat Up Rate in Lumber Drying
    Most wood-drying situations don't require careful control of the rate at which the load heats up. June 13, 2014

    Running a Solar Kiln
    Advice from old hands on operating a solar kiln. August 22, 2005

    Kiln-Drying Reclaimed Heart Pine
    A few simple tips for a new kiln operator. October 2, 2005

    Flooring Joint Profiles
    Is it okay to saw strip flooring with a flat shoulder joint instead of a V groove? June 4, 2012

    Measuring Air Velocity in a Kiln
    Airflow is usually measured exiting the kiln. Here are some details on good practice. June 13, 2014

    Knife Sharpening Frequency
    How many times can you sharpen moulder knives, and how do you know when it's time to do it? January 9, 2008

    Glue Line Splitting
    Glue up jointed pieces quickly after jointing, to avoid problems caused by edge and end drying of the wood. September 19, 2009

    Gluing Up Laminated Timbers Using Green Oak
    Wood movement, clamping difficulties, and glue adhesion issues make this a problematic task. March 18, 2006

    Converting A Shipping Container to a Drying Kiln
    Design, construction, and operation info from folks who've done it. February 26, 2005

    Drying and Sawing Tips for Gun Stocks
    Advice on how to dry and saw walnut for use as gun stock blanks. August 21, 2006

    Drying Apple Wood
    Advice on how to saw and dry a big old Apple tree trunk. May 10, 2007

    Drying Schedule for 8/4 Walnut
    Be careful when drying thick Walnut — drying too fast can damage the wood. January 14, 2013

    Self Air-Drying Versus Kiln-Drying
    Carefully air-drying wood yourself may be preferable to trusting the load to a less-than-perfect kiln-drying operation. January 18, 2011

    Tuning Up a Bandsaw
    Bandsaws for resawing lumber need some careful attention to get and stay in tune. July 3, 2008

    Veneer Splicing Woes
    Here's a long, informative discussion of veneer splicers and veneer splicing technique. January 29, 2009

    Solar Drying Kiln Q&A
    Basic questions and answers on vent sizing and temperature conditions in a solar kiln. January 18, 2011

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

    Steam Bending Alder
    Pondering whether to steam-bend alder for a curved shutter frame, a woodworker hears that other woods, or other methods, may meet his needs better. April 21, 2011

    Should I Season Timbers Before Framing a Barn?
    Timber-framing works well with green or partially dried timbers, but you should allow for some drying-related movement after construction. May 9, 2007

    Sawing and Drying Cedar
    Cedar is forgiving because of its natural rot resistance. Here's some advice on handling it. May 13, 2013

    Raised-Panel Wainscoting for a Spiral Stairwell
    true frame-and-panel wainscoting with concave panels rising up a spiral staircase. Woodweb's top trimwork minds chime in on this one for a top-flight discussion of a very tricky topic. July 9, 2007

    Making Money with LEAN Systems
    A thread that starts out with a question about stock versus custom cabinetry turns into a lesson in LEAN systems. October 13, 2010

    Repairing Warped Interior Doors
    The fix for some closet doors that developed a bow along a long stile could include some innovative hardware — or not. March 22, 2013

    Rough lumber dimensions
    Understanding basic lumber dimensions and how to calculate board footage. April 20, 2001

    Mixed Wood Species in an Exterior Door
    A woodworker describes a failure in an exterior door built out of Walnut and Oak on two different faces. But was it the wood, or the construction method, that caused the problem? August 15, 2012

    Moisture Monitoring in Kiln Operations
    A technical discussion of how to keep track of drying conditions in a kiln in real time. April 18, 2010

    How to Deal with Stair-Tread Glue Joint Failure
    Shrinking Jatoba wood stair treads are failing at the glue line. Here's a discussion of the causes, with ideas for prevention or repair. December 6, 2007

    Managing Fungus on Cedar
    Advice on handling and cleaning a Cedar slab that wasn't properly dried and now harbors fungus. October 19, 2014

    Gluing Wet Cedar for Exterior
    Advice on glue choice for outdoor architectural designs built with Cedar. August 6, 2008

    Finding Quality Cabinet Plywood
    02/21/2015

    Building a Small Drying Kiln
    A long discussion of the considerations involved in building and operating a small backyard or garage kiln. August 8, 2008

    Board-Foot Lumber Measurement Confusion
    A woodworker tries to figure out how to make sure he's ordering and getting the amount of wood he actually needs. January 20, 2010

    Drying Oregon Madrone
    Pacific Madrone is prone to drying movement, but that can make it interesting to woodworkers. May 13, 2009

    Drying Bowl and Platter Blanks
    Rough-turn the pieces before drying for better results. August 30, 2005

    Best Ripping Width to Avoid Cupping
    A discussion of the workable range of widths for ripped lumber intended for gluing up into panels. February 16, 2014

    Air-Drying Cuban Mahogany
    This stable wood may dry fast indoors, but kiln-drying would also eliminate pests. September 14, 2006

    Winter Sawing, Blade Breakage, and Lubricant Choices
    A long and detailed thread on blade cleaning and lubricating fluid, sawmill characteristics, and blade durability during cold weather. August 31, 2009

    Thick Slab Table Top Construction
    Thoughts and stories about large slab table tops, and some interesting examples. December 14, 2009

    When to use waterbornes
    Applications where waterborne coatings will and won't work. May 22, 2002

    Sawing and Hewing Timbers in the Bush
    For a project in Africa, advice about working timbers for framing. November 25, 2008

    Vacuum Kilns - Pros and Cons
    Testimony from operators who have used vacuum kilns. May 11, 2005

    Solid Wood Passage Doors
    Woodworkers scratch their heads over a challenging door construction problem. October 26, 2013

    Spray-Applying Contact Cement
    Advice on contact-cement application techniques. December 27, 2006

    Solid Poplar Versus Laminations for Door Stiles
    Solid poplar has a good track record for door construction, but LVL stave cores may have their own advantages. June 8, 2008

    Wood Choices for Exterior Shutters
    Spanish Cedar, Redwood, Cedar, and Cypress lead the list. May 24, 2010

    Shop Temperature and Wood Machining
    Is it okay not to heat the wood shop at night? Could be, but humidity changes are a potential problem. August 26, 2008

    Time to Air-Dry Thick Lumber
    Many variables affect drying time. Here's a discussion about the typical drying-time window. November 16, 2011

    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.

    Seasoning a Large Hardwood Slab
    A premium slab is a treasure, but drying it properly requires patience — and nothing will stop it from moving as it dries. April 30, 2006

    Veneer softener
    Details on the use of GF-20 veneer softener. June 20, 2001

    Longitudinal Versus Tangential Stress
    A discussion of how to evaluate and troubleshoot drying stress in kiln-dried lumber. June 13, 2014

    Feed rates and spindle speeds
    Programming CNC machines at the proper feed rates. August 13, 2002

    Laminating Stock for Arched Casings
    Here's a wide-ranging discussion of gluing and clamping processes for laying up arched casings using multiple thin laminations. November 26, 2007

    Home-Built Dehumidification Kilns
    Here's a long discussion of small, inexpensive dehumidifier kiln design, including a consideration of the fire risks involved. September 17, 2012

    New Shop Layout
    Efficient shop flow for increased profit. February 28, 2004

    Joinery for a Solid Teak Table
    Furnituremakers advise on a tricky table construction project. January 18, 2011

    Large Double Pedestal Dining Table Construction
    In this interesting thread, a furniture maker first asks advice on an extending dining table concept, then reports back after the project is built. October 19, 2013

    Evaluating a Down Oregon White Oak
    Sawyers advise a colleague on how to assess the quality of lumber he's likely to get from a White Oak that has been on the ground for two years. July 10, 2007

    Filling grain
    Basic methods for filling grain and finishing. April 9, 2003

    Feed speed and knife life
    How the former affects the latter. January 15, 2003

    End Checking in Beech Blocks
    Drying cracks in imported Beech blocks may be the re-opening of existing cracks, related to changes in atmospheric relative humidity. November 27, 2007

    Finishing Delays and Wood Movement in Solid Wood Cabinets
    Woodworkers discuss the risks involved when one side of a solid-wood cabinet panel is finished a week or two before the other side. June 18, 2009

    Obtaining a Supplier Response -- by Writing an Effective Product Specification
    Buying and Selling Wood on the Internet: Part 2 March 14, 2002

    Fans Size and Drying Kiln Dimensions
    Considerations regarding fan capacity, kiln size, and lumber pile size in a dehumidfying kiln. January 25, 2010

    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

    Infra-Red Tube Heaters
    Shop owners say gas-fired infrared overhead heaters work well, with good heat, quick recovery, and no worries about over-drying stored lumber. February 13, 2009

    Re-Sawing or Re-Wetting Partially Dried Wood
    Either would be a mistake. January 14, 2009

    Peruvian Walnut Drying Defects
    Peruvian Walnut shows wide variability, which can create drying and machining difficulties. June 13, 2014

    Micro-Scale De-Humidifier Wood Drying
    How to cobble together a miniature dehumidifier wood-drying kiln. September 17, 2008

    Mitered Doors in a Production Shop
    Quick tips on the top issues involved in making mitered raised-panel doors in volume. October 2, 2007

    Machining Problems with Red Pine and Southern Pine
    Chipped or torn grain from moulder or planer knives in Southern Pine is related to an over-dry surface. September 6, 2011

    Ideal relative humidity in woodworking plants
    Determining the best relative humidity level for your operation. 1998.

    Causes and cures for sticker stain
    The Wood Doctor weighs in with comprehensive information about the causes and prevention of sticker stain. 1998.

    Drying with Moderate Heat
    Here's info on how various types of wood will respond to conditions in a home-built drying room that doesn't get much warmer than 120°F. There's a useful lecture here on how case-hardening occurs. May 16, 2008

    Dowel Construction Advice
    A cabinetmaker who has just invested in a horizontal boring machine gets help making the transition to dowel construction. August 22, 2013

    Digital hygrometers
    Kiln operators discuss options for measuring conditions in their lumber drying and storage facilities. July 26, 2000

    Dehumidifier Kiln Chamber Size
    A discussion of constructing the drying box to fit the dehumidifier capacity and the intended lumber dimensions and quantity to be dried. October 26, 2011

    Drying Koa
    Insight on the ins and outs of drying Koa wood in Hawaii. April 20, 2011

    Cutter Profiles for Tongue-and-Groove Flooring
    Tips on the fine points of profiling tongue-and-groove floorboards. September 10, 2007

    Breaking in a Wood-Shop Apprentice
    Advice on structuring the workload of a new hire for optimal learning. March 12, 2014

    Drying Schedule for Red Oak
    Advice for a kiln operator on drying rates and humidity and heat settings for drying Red Oak in a dehumidifier kiln. October 3, 2009

    Drying Walnut Boards
    Tips on handling, and how to dimension for best value. February 26, 2005

    Air-Dried Wood for Furniture
    As this example demonstrates, when a people tell you your air-dried lumber won't make a sweet (and sweet-smelling) piece of furniture, sometimes it's because they want to take your wood away for free. January 11, 2007

      ---   Return to Top   ---