I was looking through my lumber stacks tonight and came across some rough sawn 4/4 cherry. I don’t have immediate plans for this lumber, but would like to plane it down (to 7/8″-1″ or so) to check the quality, grain pattern, etc. for future project planning. After planing, it would go back in the unheated, uninsulated part of my shop.
My question is: Are there any reasons to leave this rough sawn until I have a project? Most of the lumber suppliers I have visited have run their lumber through a planer prior to storage, but I am sure it doesn’t sit in “storage” for as long as mine would.
Thanks,
Tanner
P.S. I have also posted this on Woodcentral for those that go back and forth like me.
Replies
I'd leave it as it is, ratty, except to maybe take a block plane to it here and there to see what it looks like. If you flatten a face and square an edge to it, and then plane it all square, then put it back in storage for a long period, it's likely to move again requiring you to repeat the procedure, therefore in the long run losing a chunk of usable thickness and width.
I'm omitting a bunch of technical stuff in saying what I'm saying, but I'd definitely leave the stuff alone (except the block plane thing, maybe) unless you plan to use it now. Slainte.
Website The poster formerly known as Sgian Dubh
Wallrat,
If I get an itch I scratch it. If you want to see what the wood looks like, go for it. I would only do one board (if they look alike) and keep it as thick as possable. Then start your dreaming. If your wood storage area is dry and out of direct sun I wouldn't worry about it.
Enjoy, Roy
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