Replies

1. 
   _mj_ | Feb 08, 2022 04:05pm | #1

   You can glue them up and seal them in plastic, effectively "freezing" their moisture content where it is. I use a shop vac to suck the bag flat then squeeze shut and tape up. Store them flat, no need for stickers.

1. 
   jim_hall | Feb 08, 2022 05:53pm | #4

   Thanks for the plastic bag tip, MJ. I have some heavy duty, thick, black plastic trash bags. I'll try using those.

2. 
   esch5995 | Feb 08, 2022 04:12pm | #2

   The answer is maybe, garage shops are notoriously subject to wild humidity changes in most areas of the country. This will work against you.

   Next you need to start with the wood well stabilized with the humidity in your shop. This can mean buying the wood and storing it for several weeks before beginning the milling process.

   Once you do start milling it needs to be done in stages, rough milling to about an ⅛" of final thickness taking care to remove the same amount of wood from both faces, then letting the wood set for at least a week before doing final milling carefully alternating faces.

   Lastly are you being realistic in saying you can complete 2 dressers and 2 nightstands in 1 to 2 weeks? That seems a bit un realistic to me

1. 
   jim_hall | Feb 08, 2022 05:45pm | #3

   You're probably right. It's going to take longer to glue the boards into panels, add the joinery and be ready to glue the cases together. Hopefully plastic bags will give me the extra time I need. I do live in a mild climate here on the coast of northern California. So that's a positive. I think I might just move the panels into the house once there wrapped in plastic and just take them out to the garage as needed. I'll give it a try and see how it goes. They're shaker style pieces, so pretty basic construction.

3. 
   mikaol | Feb 08, 2022 06:31pm | #5

   What are your instincts telling you? You've obviously done all the research on the subject, so follow your gut.
   Mikaol

4. 
   john_c2 | Feb 08, 2022 07:17pm | #6

   I'll cut repetitive parts all at once. Rails, stiles, drawer parts. But glue ups I do as I need them. They go pretty much right from clamps, sized, and assembled. Too many things go wrong leaving glued up panels laying around.

5. 
   lordulrich | Feb 08, 2022 07:51pm | #7

   I'd probably do it. Here are my thoughts.

   I've had some glue ups sit for quite a while without problem (due to life getting in the way or me making something to small and it just going into the stock pile.

   If it is going to warp enough I'd rather know and scrap it. Sure the rest of the carcass will hold it but those are extra stresses I'd rather not have my piece deal with.

   A few weeks is not long and at least in my area whole humidity swings a lot it is not usually just a few weeks. If you are concerned store them in the house if possible.

6. 
   gulfstar | Feb 08, 2022 09:22pm | #8

   Just pile them without sticks between, you could place a plywood sheet on top of the pile if there are large temperature swings. If they bow, they would have in the finished project so better now than later .

7. 
   jharveyb | Feb 08, 2022 09:37pm | #9

   It is really helpful to know what the moisture content of the lumber is, and the relative humidity of your garage. And how recently it has been kiln-dried, if it has. I find cherry recently out of the dry kiln to be quite reactive, with lots of internal stress. I rough out blanks (a bit oversize) for all the pieces with my bandsaw. Ripping a fresh-out-of-the-kiln cherry 1x6 down the middle on a table saw is likely to injure you from kickback, not to mention you ending up with 2 crooked pieces.

   For the flat panels, just make sure you plane them down in stages, flattening each time, and never leave one side exposed differently to the atmosphere from the other. And never one side in the sun and not the other. Also, probably best not to use boards for the panels that cupped or twisted a lot in the initial drying process. If they look unstable, cut them into smaller pieces where it won't matter.
   Good woodworking!

8. 
   eddo234 | Feb 09, 2022 09:48am | #10

   Good advice so far. Another thing to consider is how quickly cherry oxidizes and darkens, even after a day or two. The black plastic bags will prevent that, if you go that route. If not, and you sticker the panels, I would definitely put a tarp over it all to keep the color even.

9. 
   gweb8877 | Feb 10, 2022 01:00pm | #11

   I have done this quite a lot in my garage shop here in central FL to reduce the number of setups, and provide consistency in the look of the project. My experience is that you need to allow the panels at least several days, preferably a week, to cure out before final finishing. I've not had any problems with warping, twisting, etc, but in some instances the glue joints have swelled after final finishing, causing slight ribs at the joints. Leaving them cure longer seems to correct this. When I glue up panels, I use biscuits whenever possible and I always clamp them flat as part of the joinery process until the glue dies, at least 24 hrs. I agree with the comment about cherry darkening quickly, but I've never seen it go all that deep, so it always sands out during the finishing process.