Replies

1. 
   StanleyNiemiec | Jan 17, 2003 10:32am | #1

   It's called honeycombing and thick oak that is improperly dried will develop it.  Drying conditions were too severe at the beginning of the cycle  -- the wood began checking and the checks proceeded into the core of the lumber.  The surface checks close but the wood is never as strong as properly dried material.  Likely the entire kiln charge (load of lumber) is so affected.

   The size and number of the honeycomb fissures are the primary determinent  --  a few small ones may be acceptable for structural pieces (or if the mass of wood is sufficient to compensate for these "cracks").  If you have any amount of cross grain because of the leg shape, or an excessive number, I would be worried.

2. 
   johnhardy | Jan 17, 2003 08:59pm | #2

   The wood was kiln dried incorrectly, and this is a defect. I'd take the entire load back and demand a refund.

   John

1. 
   StanleyNiemiec | Jan 18, 2003 02:59am | #3

   I have long advocated that individuals who buy wood should have a stipulated list of purchase considerations (almost a contract). 

   My feeling is that if most people try to return defected lumber, the seller can argue that the material was purchased "as is" and therefore is not responsible for any of the problems.  IF the factory was "unloading" this material, they were probably well aware of the honeycombing  --  it was unuseable to them, so sell it to an unsuspecting ___________.  Caveat emptor sucker. 

   I have offered on several occasions to prepare a useable list of important considerations so that it might be published in FWW, but the editors have been unwilling to provide me with any format details.   Go figure!!!

1. 
   TomMGTC | Jan 18, 2003 06:42pm | #4

   I'm sure many here would be interested in such a list. I know I would. I wonder how many people use such a thing when perchasing lumber and how the suppliers react to it.Tom

3. 
   DB | Jan 19, 2003 09:12am | #5

             douglesso,

     White oak does tend to check more throughout the board .White oak is much denser and not ring porous like red oak . What you describe sounds like what is called cell colapse . Improper drying may have attributed to the condition .

1. 
   StanleyNiemiec | Jan 22, 2003 02:45am | #6

   An individual internal crack that is most often adjacent to a meduallary is honeycombing.

   Collapse on the other hand is considered to be abnormal AND irregular shrinkage that in its more severe forms is manifested by cave-ins of the sides of lumber.

1. 
   ClancysBro | Jan 22, 2003 04:38am | #7

   It wasn't dried correctly and probably rushed- you guys are on the money! (Although for a run of molded frames, with some good prints and glass, this wood - would be great!) White oak's  unique tubular cell structure fords it almost , if not, the best steam bending wood their is. 96% holding power and yet very delicate. Fast growth timber or fast dried- same result.