You had questions on wood movement
I asked for questions on wood movement and y'all delivered big time. Hopefully I got through them all and did my best to combine duplicate questions. The best way to understand anything is in context so digging into the details of specific situations should explain wood movement. So this episode I am answering your questions on the topic and your situations that have come up in your projects. Wood moves, nothing we can do about it. Just remember these two points:
- Plan for the maximum wood movement and you won't go wrong
- Wood will always move no matter how you try to stop it, but you can slow it down
Industry News
Ipe decking prices take a 33% jump practically overnight! I question the viability of the species as a commercial product for the very near future.
Wood Movement Questions
- Adam and Brendon both had questions about slabs and inlaid C channels
- Don and Ryan ask how the finish relates to movement
- Tim wonders if having lumber milled at the yard can pose a problem with movement
- Jeff asks about guitars and movement in older woods
- To breadboard or not asks Brendan
- Andrew asks why different species move differently
- Doug asks how to deal with outdoor pieces vs indoor pieces and movement
- What about veneer over solid stock asks Joe
- Michael asks why acclimate to your shop and not your house
- Marc wonders why wood moves differently in tangential vs radial planes
- Scott asks how to determine how much wood will move over a set moisture change
- Jason asks why sheet goods don't move
- Scott wonders how figured woods and burls move
- Charlies asks is bound tension can be predicted
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Hello Shannon, I am once again late to the party, but have wood movement question or seeking clarification on its impact. Re-reading a 2010 Polular Woodworking series, Magobei’s Dining Table by Toshio Odate. They are using massive beams with sliding dovetails to secure the, also massive, dining table top. He makes a point (backed by images) of flushing the beams with the top. I’ve used similar approach to several pieces but always used stopped sliding dovetails at front to allow the top’s movement. Generally leave a gap in rear so beam does not protrude. Do not make any attempt to disguise the top’s dovetail opening as they are usually against a wall. Any thoughts to share on Toshio’s design? One could glue the front and let back go in and out, but a dining table does not really have a front & back. I’ve never glued sliding dovetails when holding a top to allow removal for relocating. I do often glue front of sliding dovetails in case construction to send movement rearward. Thanks much, tom buhl