• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Need some help from someone who understands wood

I

imported_Phil

Diamond Member
So my girlfriend and I bought some wood from my brother (he works at a wood yard place) - 1.5" thick pieces of pine, to make a Buddhist shrine for my girlfriend.

After a week or two of sitting in our flat awaiting me getting off my ass and doing something with them, they've developed a series of cracks, the worst one running the length of the piece of wood (2ft?), and almost all the way through, plus being on both sides.

My brother's answer to this is that they've been contracting and expanding in the heat, and if they'd been screwed together then they wouldn't have done this.

I think this is horseshit - anyone care to comment?
 
Originally posted by: Rufio
he would know better than u!
Click to expand...

He's only been there a month or two, and it's his answer to everything that goes wrong with wood. I wouldn't put it past him to fob me off; we're not close as brothers.

Plus, if I knew the answer and was 100% confident then I wouldn't be posting on here, would I?
 
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
 
Originally posted by: Dopefiend
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
Click to expand...

temperature fluctuations can cause wood to crack.



 
Originally posted by: armatron
Originally posted by: Dopefiend
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
Click to expand...

temperature fluctuations can cause wood to crack.
Click to expand...

Buggerit.

So if we'd nailed the bits of wood together into some form of furniture, would they have still split?
 
Originally posted by: armatron
Originally posted by: Dopefiend
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
Click to expand...

temperature fluctuations can cause wood to crack.
Click to expand...

Yep, also what is the weather like over there? Has any water gotten into the wood and frozen? Possibly expanding smaller cracks even further. And how big was the temperature fluctuation? A large temp. fluc will cause it to warp and crack.
 
Well he's probably right that it's due to expansion/contraction due to fluctuations of temperature and more importantly moisture content. You would likely see warping though- rarely cracking like you describe but I guess it can happen. I question his solution of screwing them together though... I lay my lumber flat on it's longest side (maximize surface area on the bottom) on top of some scrap wood perpenticular to it. So imagine several pieces of say, scrap 2x4's going horizontal while your lumber lays on top of that in a vertical position. This way the lumber gets adaquate air circulation and has alot of support o minimize warping. Also if you're really anal you'll turn the wood every couple of days.
 
Wood is dynamic & responds to temperature & humidity variations.

Sounds as if the wood you purchased wasn't dried properly or it was exposed to a very harsh environment.

If it wasn't in a harsh environment after you purchased it, I suspect it would have split after it was used.

Where did you have it stored?

If laid on a concrete floor, it'll absorb moisture from the concrete...
 
Originally posted by: Dopefiend
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
Click to expand...

Not temperature, humidity changes.

 
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: Dopefiend
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
Click to expand...

Not temperature, humidity changes.
Click to expand...


Temp & humidity are interrelated...
 
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: Dopefiend
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
Click to expand...

Not temperature, humidity changes.
Click to expand...


Temp & humidity are interrelated...
Click to expand...

My point is that humidity affects wood more than temperature alone.

 
Changes in humidity are the main factors that cause wood to crack or warp. If the wood was green (freshly cut without being dried), then it can split as it's being dried. You probably don't want to build anything with green wood because it will shrink as it dries, and some of the nice joints you made will pull apart.

If the wood is green, then it takes about a year for it to air dry. If the wood you bought is actually dried wood, then you can just put wood glue in the split and clamp it for a few hours.
 
But wouldn't the wood also have cracked had he put it together? Screws holding 2 pieces together are not going to make the individual piece stronger, in fact wouldn't the holes from the screws just create another point it could have split?

I understand why it cracked, I just don't think it would have held up any better if it was assembled.
 
Thanks guys, appreciate the replies.

The wood is being stored indoors, no moisture anywhere near it.
I think I'll just cut my losses, get a couple of new bits from him (only a few £) and actually do something with them this time.

Cheers 🙂
 
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: Pliablemoose
Originally posted by: jemcam
Originally posted by: Dopefiend
Originally posted by: FoBoT
if you need better wood, get some that has been kiln dried
sounds like you got cheap wood
Click to expand...

I thought as much.
So is what he's saying plausible; that the temperature differences have caused it to split?
Click to expand...

Not temperature, humidity changes.
Click to expand...


Temp & humidity are interrelated...
Click to expand...

My point is that humidity affects wood more than temperature alone.
Click to expand...


Agreed. here in TX, I can't think of one without the other🙁
 
humidity changes will crack and warp wood for sure.

now whether it would still warp if it was screwed together Im not sure. you'll have to ask someone who makes furniture.

 
Originally posted by: Phoenix86
But wouldn't the wood also have cracked had he put it together? Screws holding 2 pieces together are not going to make the individual piece stronger, in fact wouldn't the holes from the screws just create another point it could have split?

I understand why it cracked, I just don't think it would have held up any better if it was assembled.
Click to expand...

That's a good point you make. Hmm.

I'll give it a bash anyway, it's cheap wood, and a quick thing to assemble (although having said that, I haven't worked with wood before. Pics of destruction? 😀), and if it fvcks up royally, then we'll just get some decent wood and have someone competant assemble the thing.
 
The problem is that the wood is drying. As you said yourself, it's dry where you stored it. It dried too fast & split.

My dad builds violins, wood has to dry a very long time before it's used in an instrument. When you get good wood that's freshly cut you dip the ends in wax to prevent it from drying & cracking.

Viper GTS
 
Screw the wood together? That's not going to keep it from cracking. In fact, that would increase the stress on it. If you screw two pieces of wood together and they dry at different rates (contracts when it dries), then not only is there inherent stress from the temperature change, there is added stress from the constraint of the other piece of wood. It'd be better to let the wood stand free. Now this won't prevent warping, but pine is junky wood and you almost have to expect warping in a typical 2x4. Sounds like you got some real junky wood though. Pine shouldn't crack in 2 weeks just from sitting around.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top