Old timer at the lumber yard set me straight today

I was grabbing oak for a table build. Heard him tell a kid that wood moves more in the first year than people think. I always let my stock acclimate in the shop for a week. But he said give it a full 30 days if you can. Anyone else cut corners on drying time and regret it later?

2 comments

2 Comments

mark_mitchell13d ago

Did you ever think part of the reason is that most shops keep their AC or heat running 24/7, while garages and workshops swing with the seasons? That temperature difference can make wood stabilize completely different than the controlled environment it came from. Your old timer probably saw a lot of projects fail just because the wood never adjusted to those wild temperature swings.

umar5913d ago

Consider how different humidity levels affect the glue bond itself.