Lumber & Plywood
Your editorial on air-dried lumber (issue 156, page 8) pointed out the positives about air-dried lumber. I'd like to add my thoughts...
Although named for a figure pattern most often associated with hard maple, I have found it in many other species, including koa, black walnut, cherry, Tasmanian blackwood, and a few rosewoods.
Learn about the different types of figured stock from Rick Hearne, owner of Hearne Hardwoods Inc. in Oxford, Pennsylvania. Rick has been in the specialty lumber business for more than 25 years and carries an inventory of 1 million board feet of lumber in 120 different species.
Puzzled by which wood to use for what? Much of the choice comes down to personal taste, then cost and availability. But until you know the qualities that help you choose one wood over another, the selection process can be confusing.
Over the years, we've created several woodworking-related charts that now are ready for you to download and print at no cost. Then, hang them in your shop for quick reference.
The wood used for furniture and other fine projects differs in many ways from lumberyard 2x4s.
There's no such thing as the perfect board. But you can salvage a lot of "challenged" lumber using these tricks.
Naturally, you want the best face to show when building furniture and cabinetry from hardwood veneer plywood. Often, though, the "two-faced" nature of premium grades makes that choice a difficult one.
Figured wood gives your projects pizzazz. These tips will help you work successfully with this sometimes uncooperative material.
A guide to wood, its uses, grades, and board feet. Buying wood can be just as much fun as working it, if you're informed. The basics here will get you started.
Woodworkers work with dry wood. But as you'll find out, it never remains completely so. And it pays to discover why.
Water, fungi, oxidation, enzyme stain, and decay all cause wood to deteriorate.
According to consulting forester Jim Birkemeier, a properly managed hardwood tree, such as a red oak growing in southern Wisconsin, adds 1/2" to its adult diameter each year.
Discover six surefire tricks for achieving the best look from the boards you select for projects.
Questions concerning medium-density fiberboard? Find out your answers here.
Do you know what sheet goods work best for shop fixtures? Or which ones excel in furniture construction? Armed with our chart, you'll be an instant expert.
Veneers have the reputation of being pretty tough customers once they're installed. But these ultra-thin woods can be cantankerous and downright difficult if not stored right.
Do you really know the difference between riftsawn, quartersawn, and plainsawn? If your answer is "no," let us help.
Oregon craftsman Russ Osterloh advertises for hardwood trees "dead or alive." Aided by his trusty chainsaw, he brings them in. Then, he mills the timber for his custom furniture.
Ash as good as oak? With the right grain selection and stain it can be.
A craftsman selects a certain type of wood for a project because of a number of reasons. Grain is one. Yet, that word has many meanings.
Don't be confused about the quality, grading, and types of hardwood plywood. It can really expand the scope of your woodworking projects.
Caught short of stock for your project? Want to save some bucks on wood? Can't find the wood you need for a missing part? Professional woodworkers, furniture restorers, and furniture manufacturers have long known the value of look-alikes often less expensive woods you can stain and finish to resemble more costly ones. If you're looking for a few good stand-ins, you've come to the right place.
Even the driest wood can change shape due to moisture, no matter what you do to it. But you can learn what to expect.
Impervious to the cannon balls of opposing ships, the frigate USS Constitution earned the nickname "Old Ironsides." Here's a rundown of the wood that contributed to her fame.
