Time to start another project so I go over to the wood rack pick up some African Mahogany and proceed to rip it, not! On to the band saw, sure that worked but it seemed to warp so bad it entangled my band saw like a python! Thoughts??<!—-> <!—-><!—->
It was a 1×12 board acclimated in the shop for about a week. Now I understand that I could have released some internal stresses but this is ridiculous! The driver at the lumber yard mentioned that heat will have that effect on African Mahogany?? Would I have better luck going with say a 5″ wide board?<!—-> <!—->
Thanks in advance for the input<!—-><!—->
RJ
Replies
Chances are you have either reaction wood, or possibly a board that was kiln dried improperly, such as case hardening. Hard to tell without examining it, but either way, it's a problem to use that wood.
When ripping it, you released internal stresses, causing it to react. You can try letting it rest, but there's no guarantee that when you mill it or cut it again, that it won't do the same thing. Trial and error.
If you purchased it recently, I'd take it back. Every lumber source has a different policy on this stuff.
Jeff
I agree. The lumber yard should replace that board. It's unuseable from internal stresses (whatever their origin).
The problem is, suppliers seldom refund unless you are a known, frequent customer (who buys a lot of lumber) and you are dealing with a small outfit who caters to "pros." Sad but true.
Good luck. You deserve your money back or another board.
Rich
Rich,
I completely agree with the "sad but true" part of it all. Before I began milling my own lumber, I used to be a good customer at Owl Hardwoods, one of the larger suppliers in Chicagoland. Now, I only buy sheet goods from them, which is still quite a bit, but nowhere near what the big cabinet shops buy. I can't get any service from them to save my life. And, I'm pretty sure there is no way that they would take a board back from me because of this issue. The op is probably the owner of some real expensive firewood.
Jeff
Thanks for the heads up guys. I actually called my supplier and discussed the issue with them. It appears that if I hadn't of cut the board then they would have taking it back, well duh, how the hell would I have known then right??? I guess I will just have to keeping the ripping to a minimum and use it somewhere else.
I've had a similar experience. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at the time.
I understand you can minimize the stress release phenomenon by checking the end grain when purchasing lumber, and rejecting tight, i.e., circular end grain.
Good luck. IMO, jim
Dang, and ya know I try to look at end grain but... and color and general grain patterns and...
There's no way to predict how the board will behave before cutting.
I used to buy from a small lumber yard on Maui. They would have replaced any such lumber. I never had need to return anything there.
Haven't bought any supplies in 18 months since I've moved to Arizona. There are 2 small yards in my area and the local cabinet shops tell me they are reliable and stand by their stock. I hope I never have to return goods, but if I do I hope they'll be cooperative. It's unusual today to be able to return wood.
It's an insult for a lumber supplier to tell the customer it's his problem because he's cut the board. That is as dishonest as it gets. That's like a grocery store refusing to take back rotten cereal because the customer has opened the package. How else can one discover the problem?
I advise you never to buy from that source again. Even though the reality is that other yards may have exactly the same policy, the fact that the store actually enforced that dishonesty would keep my business from them forever.
Rich
Edited 3/20/2007 5:13 pm ET by Rich14
Live and learn I guess:( However I have learned and will start asking the question! What if...
Can you do some pictures - might help to see what is being talked about....
These aren't the best pics but I hope you get the idea:)
Picked up some real nice looking NY cherry rough sawn but looked great! I stored it flat and stickered and weighted for about a year.
Ran it through the planer, thin cut each side and off it went! Major twists, ended up cutting it down to final size of 3/16 for making some curved laminations.
Wood can be a major pain at times. I now pick wood that is very close to finish sizes and this helps combat the wild things thjat happen.
Jeff's pretty much on the money re probable causes, although my intital reaction was that allowing just a week for acclimiatisation might be a wee bit ambitious.. I don't suppose you've the means to check the current moisture content of the board huh...??
As a rule, it's probably best to leave stock for a month or two minimum to enable the moisture content to equalise with your local conditions, but even then, that's no guarantee... I've seen me ripping down a board that's been in the shop for 3 years... stayed perfectly flat right up until I tried to take an inch offa one edge... it came off the board looking like a corkscrew... it's an organic media... sometimes weird stuff just happens..
Mike Wallace
Stay safe....Have fun
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