Rob Will
03-02-2007, 10:18 PM
In another thread we have been discussing how to dry W I D E boards.
As you know, the bigger the board, the more problem we have with end checking.
So just as an experiment, I came up with this. Who knows if it will work but it looks promising.
I stacked the lumber with the widest most at-risk lumber toward the bottom of the pile. All boards of a similar width were stacked together. A little extra room was left adjacent to the wide boards.
Then I slipped a 3/8" all-thread between pairs of boards and out toward each end. An oak block applies horizontal pressure equally to both boards. An automotive valve spring maintains pressure as the wood shrinks throughout the drying process.
(In this case I used the valve springs and retainers from a 350 Chevy).
Hopefully, this will help control end checking until the wood reaches equilibrium all the way through. Your thoughts?
Rob
As you know, the bigger the board, the more problem we have with end checking.
So just as an experiment, I came up with this. Who knows if it will work but it looks promising.
I stacked the lumber with the widest most at-risk lumber toward the bottom of the pile. All boards of a similar width were stacked together. A little extra room was left adjacent to the wide boards.
Then I slipped a 3/8" all-thread between pairs of boards and out toward each end. An oak block applies horizontal pressure equally to both boards. An automotive valve spring maintains pressure as the wood shrinks throughout the drying process.
(In this case I used the valve springs and retainers from a 350 Chevy).
Hopefully, this will help control end checking until the wood reaches equilibrium all the way through. Your thoughts?
Rob