Uses for shavings and sawdust A discussion of uses for and the marketablility of waste from the primary processing of lumber. July 18, 2000
Drying Rewetted Kiln-Dried Lumber How to render kiln-dried lumber, which has been rewetted due to flooding or excessive humidity, useful once again. 1998.
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.
Wood weight and highway transport How to accurately estimate the weight of a truckload of air-dried lumber to assure compliance with trucking regulations. Includes access info for resources. August 1, 2000
Comparing wood strengths Wood species has less to do with strength than does grain characteristics. June 21, 2000
Aromatic cedar for closet lining A discussion of drying and machining, aromatic red cedar for closet lining. Includes ideas on marketing the finished product. March 4, 2000
Steaming beech for veneer production Questions and answers on various technical aspects of steaming beech lumber, preparatory to producing veneer. Includes ideas for further reading.
What's Better for Framing, S-P-F or SYP? Southern Yellow Pine has a greater span capability than the mixed-species category "Spruce-Pine-Fir," according to Dr. Gene. January 11, 2007
Is Eastern red cedar toxic? Eastern red cedar does not share some of the reaction-generating characteristics of its Western namesake. 1998.
Spots revealed in dry, planed lumber Dr. Gene attempts to find the causes of discolored spots on dried lumber, revealed only when the stock has been planed. 1998.
Red cedar vs. white cedar siding The differences between the two woods, specifically, their suitability for use as siding. October 17, 2000
Sticker stain solutions A look at potential causes and solutions for sticker stain. July 11, 2000
Quartersawn mahogany, or is it? An architectural woodworker seeks specifications and industry guidelines for what constitutes truly quartersawn mahogany. March 5, 2000.
Raised glue lines after curing A glue line that is raised days after parts are assembled and the glue has cured is a sure sign of wet lumber. 1998.
Cures for sticker stain Drying lumber can suffer from sticker stain for a variety of reasons. June 20, 2000
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.
Woods for outdoor furniture A manufacturer of outdoor furniture consults the Wood Doctor for help with choosing a species to replace beech. 1998.
Characteristics of Catalpa Also called "Catawba," Catalpa wood is light, strong, attractive, and easy to work. February 15, 2009
Gluing white oak panels Because of its density, white oak lumber must be machined carefully for panel glue-up, and assembled within an hour of preparation. 1998.
Air-dried oak for casework? Air-dried lumber needs to live in the environment it will inhabit prior to fabrication. 1998.
White Cedar Durability White Cedar heartwood holds up well in exterior exposures, with or without stain. The sapwood, not so much. March 30, 2008
Calculating longitudinal shrinkage There's no firm factor for calculating longitudinal shrinkage in maple, but here's a place to begin. 1998.
Working with casehardened lumber Casehardened lumber should be returned to the processor, or planed to the desired thickness; resawing is not an option. 1998.
Laminating different species In a triple lamination, it's OK to use two species of lumber, given a few conditions. 1998.
Workbench end caps: Bad idea? Though European workbenches commonly feature caps over the ends of the worktop material, these may hinder natural movement of the wood on this side of the Atlantic.
Wood dust a carcinogen? The Wood Doctor points to two sources of information on the carcinogenic properties of wood dust. 1998.
Relative densities of various birches The Wood Doctor offers resources for information on the relative densities of birch lumbers, and offers an opinion on plastic laminate. 1998.
Controlled spalting Is it possible to control spalting to produce unique turning stock? June 20, 2000
Darkening wood with steam Saturated steam can be an effective way to darken some species of wood, while still green. 1998.
Smelly lauan The Wood Doctor is quizzed about bad-smelling lauan in a commercial bar. Diagnosis: anaerobic bacteria. Prognosis: terminal. Prescription: replacement. 1998.
Moisture transfer in humid climes Do tropical and sub-tropical species re-absorb moisture when left in their humid, native lands? September 6, 2000
Know your maples A primer on different types of maple lumber. August 23, 2000
What Does "Old Growth" Mean The sawing and drying forum discusses what "old growth" means when used to describe lumber, and what qualities "old growth" wood may or may not have. May 14, 2006
Durable Wood for a Screen Door A craftsman's question about screen door materials kicks off a long discussion about the qualities of various wood species, old growth and second growth. October 4, 2005
Warp in Drying Causes and cures for warpage when drying lumber. May 4, 2001
Maple Hassles Woodworkers kick Maple's reputation around on this thread — but there's plenty of good information here about how to get the best out of it. April 9, 2008
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
Cherry Log: Quartersaw or Flatsaw? Appearance would argue for flatsawn, stability for quartersawn — but it's more complicated than that. October 1, 2010
Calculating moisture content Using a hygrometer and calculator to determine the MC of kiln samples. September 2, 2002
Aging yellow cedar Attaining the look of naturally aged yellow cedar. September 2, 2002
Twisted timbers Determining the cause of twisting in Douglas fir construction timbers. August 10, 2000
Checking Concerns with Massive Wood Posts A custom home project calls for 15-inch-wide solid timber posts. Here's a discussion of the inevitable checking that will occur, and how to minimize it. November 13, 2005
Indoor Wood Shrinkage and Expansion A learned discussion of the way building interior humidity causes dimensional change in wood. December 1, 2005
Troubleshooting a Cracked Beechwood Countertop A good case example of the inevitable cracking that occurs when wood moisture-related movement is not allowed for — this time, in a counter of solid wood glued to plywood. February 11, 2010
WOODPRO - Species Selection Made Easy A free complete working computer program (that can be downloaded at WOODWEB), allowing woodworkers to select the most suitable wood species for any particular application - 1997
Durability of Eastern Red Cedar Short answer: it's the heartwood that is rot-resistant. But you'll learn more than that from this discussion. April 11, 2008
Steambending How much time to allow based on thickness and proposed radius of wood. September 23, 2003
Green barn siding Making board and batten siding from freshly sawn lumber. June 19, 2003
Eliminating springback problems Determining the radius to aim for when creating a curve with vac-laminated plywood. September 23, 2003
Troubleshooting Buckled Peel-and-Stick Veneer Indoor humidity has caused adhesive-backed veneer to buckle. Here, pros discuss the limitations and vulnerabilities of the material. November 20, 2005
"Water Oak" Versus "Pin Oak" Locally common names for Oak varieties can cause confusion. Here's a discussion of some Oak tree varieties and some information on their characteristics. February 9, 2008
Cherry Color After Aging When cherry shelves are constructed years apart, how dramatic will the color difference be? May 8, 2004
Alternatives to Honduran Mahogany A discussion of the qualities of some of the woods used as substitutes for Mahogany, plus an attempt to clear up some of the confusion around the much-misused "Mahogany" label. February 5, 2007
Is Vacuum Dried Wood Stronger? With so many variables to control, it's hard to be sure whether any particular drying system gives better results in terms of wood properties. October 29, 2012
Fresh-Cut Pine for Rafters In theory, green softwood should perform acceptably for barn rafters. In practice, on the other hand ... well, life is full of surprises. November 28, 2006
Working with Sapelle Notes on the workability and machinability of this exotic tropical hardwood. January 8, 2007
Spanish Cedar for Furniture? Characteristics of Spanish Cedar make it problematic, even for porch furniture. January 27, 2007
Log weight Locating a chart and doing the calculations. September 2, 2002
Sycamore for a Post and Beam Frame? Beautiful as the wood is, Sycamore's tendency to twist makes it a questionable choice for timber framing. December 28, 2006
West Coast Live Oak Uses This discussion of Live Oak lumber characteristics includes some info about the "Sudden Oak Death" disease that is plaguing the West Coast. July 30, 2007
White Pine for Stick Framing A few facts about the standards relating to the use of White Pine as house framing lumber. November 3, 2010
What the Heck is "Honduran Black Walnut"? Woodweb pros discuss the opportunities, risks, and unknowns inherent in buying lumber from foreign sources at arm's length. September 7, 2013
Characteristics of Lyptus Wood Cabinetmakers discuss the properties of this lesser-known but increasingly popular wood species. February 28, 2006
Cottonwood for Building Cottonwood has drawbacks, but it can be used. Here's more information. August 18, 2009
Solid Wood Octagon Table Top Failure Wood movement dooms a solid wood "sunburst" table top, and we learn why that will always happen. February 12, 2007
Is Pin Oak Useful? Widely planted as a yard landscaping tree, Pin Oak has some drawbacks as a source of lumber. June 18, 2009
Eastern Red Cedar for Outdoor Use Thoughts on drying Eastern Red Cedar, and on the wood's value for decks or outdoor furniture. December 6, 2009
Working with Jatoba ("Brazilian Cherry") This tropical hardwood is dense, heavy, and beautiful, but prone to movement and hard on tools. Yellow pieces will probably change to match the rest. May 11, 2011
Working with Ash Beautiful and easy to work, ash also ages well. Fans discuss ash and its virtues in this thread from the Architectural Woodworking forum. November 9, 2005
Alternatives to Cumaru for Cabinet Work A client want cabinets made with Cumaru, a Brazilian hardwood. But the cabinetmaker is looking for a more practical species to substitute. Here are a few ideas. December 31, 2012
Working with Ipe Wood Woodworkers air their objections to Ipe, which is heavy, hard, and rough on tools. The Wood Doctor adds a little technical detail to the discussion. March 12, 2014
Sawing Dawn Redwood A discussion of the characteristics of lumber sawn from Dawn Redwood. March 28, 2010
African Versus Honduras Mahogany Woodworkers compare the grain characteristics, color, and machinability of different Mahogany varieties. November 19, 2005
Yellow Cedar Characteristics Not a true Cedar, Yellow Cedar grows mainly on the northern Pacific coast of North America. Here is some info about its useful properties. April 2, 2013
Sawing An Old Elm Tree Tension wood from growth stress may call for a modified technique. April 10, 2005
Understanding Drying Stress in Wood A complaint about cupping in mahogany door stiles after machining leads to a discussion of what causes drying stress and related movement in kiln-dried wood. June 23, 2006
Working with Hickory Hard, dense, and splintery, Hickory does not take finish well either. You might want to consider Butternut as an alternative. November 15, 2011
Working with Ebony Ebony is a difficult material to source, and quality varies. January 20, 2011
Osage Orange Color Changes You can't stop Osage Orange wood from turning brown as it ages. February 12, 2007
Catalpa: Uses and Vulnerabilities Catalpa is a beautiful wood, rot-resistant and prized by some wood turners. Standing trees may have heart rot, however. April 24, 2013
Ring Shake in Hemlock Hemlock makes good boards or framing lumber, but wood from trees exposed to grazing animals may be have structural flaws. July 12, 2005
Ring Deformation (Compression Wood) An odd-looking ring pattern in a cross-cut log is explained as compression wood, certain to bend after sawing. April 20, 2011
Aspen Wood for Cabinets It's soft, it's fuzzy, and it takes finish unevenly. Hmm... August 29, 2006
"False Acacia" (a.k.a. Black Locust) Black Locust is known in Europe as "False Acacia." Here's some info about the species and the lumber. October 15, 2010
Working with Silver Maple Like Red Maple, it's a type of Soft Maple. Machines easily, but with a tendency to fuzz. August 29, 2006
Ebony Substitutes for Inlay Suggestions for softer woods to substitute for Ebony as an inlay in a table top, along with a tip on bringing Ebony flush to softer woods during sanding and finishing operations. November 15, 2011
Sweet Gum to Frame a Workshop? Construction may not be the best use for Sweet Gum: its beauty exceeds its durability. October 3, 2009
Durability of Locust Varieties Black locust is the same as yellow locust, and it's more durable than honey locust. December 1, 2005
Salvaging lumber from submerged wood The best chance for salvaging lumber from submerged wood lies in cutting it quickly, and drying it slowly. 1998.
Tulip (Yellow Poplar) Color Fade A large slab of Tulip, freshly sawn, shows some striking and dramatic coloration. But what will happen over time? October 26, 2011
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
Preventing Cupping in a Wide Board Woodworkers discuss the "rip and flip" method, relief cuts, and similar methods of reducing wood movement. November 19, 2005
Black Locust as a Utility Pole Thoughts on whether to dry a Black Locust pole before burying the end, and related issues. March 28, 2010
Paulownia Characteristics and Uses A fast-growing, light and strong semi-tropical wood, Paulownia has enough value to be worth stealing. Here's an example growing on a bathroom windowsill. September 5, 2010
Promoting blue stain How to promote this visual effect in a stack of red pine. March 21, 2002
Black Locust for Window Sash Black Locust wood is naturally durable, but unstable and prone to movement and cracking. April 13, 2010
Pecan Wood for Use as Ties A little info (and some unanswered questions) about the usefulness of Pecan wood for railroad ties.June 14, 2014
Properties of Tamarack Tamarack dries nice and straight, but it's splintery and may have some shake. August 8, 2010
Poplar Is a Hardwood, but Is It Hard? As a deciduous tree, Poplar is classified as a hardwood. Here's some hard info about just how hard it is (or isn't).November 15, 2011
Properties of Yemeri Wood Yemeri is a Central American tropical hardwood that is good for utility lumber. July 18, 2008
Acetylated Treated Lumber — What's Up with That? Here's an interesting discussion about the durability, fastener compatibility, and other properties of acetyl treated lumber, such as "Accoya," with some useful links to more. January 2, 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
Poplar in Exterior Conditions Although some people have noted 100-year-old poplar porch posts that are still sound, poplar generally seems to rot quickly in exterior use. November 10, 2005
Ipe For Cabinet Construction Ipe's coloration, oiliness, irritating dust, and density are disadvantages when it comes to building cabinets. October 27, 2009
Holly and Teak for Boat Decking This thread answers the question of why Holly and Teak are paired in boat decking (below decks only), and continues with a folkloric and historic discussion of Teak for boatbuilding — including on nuclear submarines.October 19, 2013
Teak Finish on Kitchen Cabinets Teak may be naturally water resistant, but in a kitchen environment, even this tough lumber needs some help. February 26, 2005
Mahogany Varieties for Countertops A discussion of the practicality of mahogany for a countertop, and thoughts about similar alternatives. November 7, 2007
Building Cabinets with Lyptus Cabinetmakers discuss the machining qualities and other characteristics of Lyptus (Eucalyptus) wood, and its suitability for cabinet construction. April 6, 2007
- Wood species Information on tree species and their uses. March 20, 2001
Using Lyptus Here's a detailed thread on woodworker experiences using Lyptus wood. April 20, 2008
Travailler le bois d'Iroko On l'appelle parfois « teck africain », mais l'iroko n'est pas du teck et ne se comporte pas comme du teck. 7 mai 2007