7 Things You Need to Know About Wood (Before Building)
Are you planning to build something with wood? You are to be commended. In a world where people mostly prefer ready-to-use products, a DIY project on woodworking takes a huge leap of confidence. However, using just any type of wood will not work at all. After all, you have to know some things about your wood even before you start building.
Here are 7 things you need to know about wood before building. This will allow you to make the right decisions while working on your project.
1) Wood Constantly Moves
Yes, wood constantly moves as a result of moisture changes in the environment, and in the wood itself. As such, it is recommended to allow the wood flooring to acclimate inside the room by simply leaving it there for some days before installation. This should also be taken into consideration if you are moving wood from one part of the country to another.
2) Take into consideration the end grain of the wood
This is very important because the end grain of the wood determines the overall capacity of the wood. For example, wood with flat sawn edges has the tendency to shrink more compared to other types like rift sawn and quarter sawn. This has something to do with how a board was cut.
3) Understand Barometer Readings
Reading barometric readings will allow you to know the barometric pressure of your wood before refinishing, cutting, or gluing wood. This is the reason why when you look at the back of polyurethanes and paint cans; there is a reminder to use them at the right temperature. Sudden changes in barometric pressure may impact moisture, which plays a huge role in the process.
4) Familiarize your wood
Knowing the characteristics of the wood species you are working on will help you maximize its capabilities. For example, you might have heard that oak is a good option, but you also have to know its dark sides, including being porous. Knowing these will allow you to make a right choice before even starting your building project.
5) Avoid building in one place and later on moving it to another
The reason to this is quite evident. If you build in one place and ending up moving it to another, the moisture change may impact the movement of wood. It is highly recommended to allow the wood to acclimate in the room where you plan to install it so that you will not expect any changes to the wood which may affect the result of your project.
6) Check the wood’s moisture level
Knowing the moisture level of your wood is highly important. If you choose to build using wet wood, it is expected to shrink, also taking into consideration the kind of wood that you are using. To do this, you can use a moisture meter, monitoring your wood before you start building. It should be stable enough for the process.
7) Use a pre-conditioner
Using a pre-conditioner is very important before staining wood. A preconditioner can seal up wood, thus resulting to a less blotchy and even finish. This happens as this substance offers a nice and even base where you can apply your stain.
How do you find the article? I find it as a good guide that beginners in woodworking can take into consideration. As a woodworker, knowing about these things is very important to ensure a successful project.
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