Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 55 – Lumber Prices…Yet Again Lumber Prices Dropping but still highOn this episode I’m revisiting lumber prices yet again as the craziness may be nearing an end. But I predict pricing will never return to pre COVID levels. It seems the Fed agrees with me too. There are so many […]
54 – How Can We Stretch Our Lumber Farther?
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 54 – How Can We Stretch Our Lumber Farther “Clear” Lumber Creates WasteIn this episode I follow up on some exterior wood questions for a dock and wax poetic about Ipe and Cumaru. Then I get into a heated discussion about wood for a sauna and finally wrap up with […]
53 – Modified Woods
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 53 – Modified Wood & Engineered Wood Engineered Woods vs Modified WoodsEngineered woods are a destructive and additive process where you have to start with saw dust or some form thereof and then assemble it into your finished product like MDF, particle board, OSV, or even plywood. Modified woods start […]
52 – Exterior Woods
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 52 – Exterior Woods What Makes the Best Exterior Woods?Choosing the right exterior woods for your projects doesn’t have to be difficult when you understand the factors that make a good outdoor wood. In this episode we discuss the 5-6 factors that make a good exterior woods.Tyloses Content (White Oak […]
50 – Mahogany and Its Imitators
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 50 – The Mahoganies One Name, Many SpeciesWhen you say Mahogany you think luxury and fine furniture. Maybe you think Ron Burgundy…or is that just me? Regardless the species is synonymous with high quality and fine craftsmanship. So is it any wonder that the name gets attached to hundred of […]
49 – Bow Wood
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 49 – Bow Wood Bois d’Arc is an MOR/MOE StudyIn a recent episode of the WoodTalk podcast someone asked about making a bow. I decided to use that question to delve deeper into what makes a good species for a bow. This bow wood discussion is a good example of […]
48 – Maine Urban Timber Co | Vacuum Kilns
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 48 – Maine Urban Timber Co | iDry Vacuum Kiln Vacuum Kilns Aren’t Plug and PlayToday I welcome Niles Krech of Maine Urban Timber Co on the show to talk about his business. From building a bandsaw mill to learning the ropes of a vacuum kiln, Niles has done a […]
47 – Wood Movement Q&A
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 47 – Wood Movement Q&A You had questions on wood movementI 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 […]
46 – Wood Movement 101
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 46 – Wood Movement 101 Wood Moves, Get over ItYou can’t stop it but you can slow it and you can restrict it. Most importantly you just need to build to compensate for wood movement. Don’t be afraid of it, embrace it. This week I cover the basics of wood […]
45 – COVID Hardwood Impact
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 45 – COVID Stresses Lumber Logistics Shipping Delays Hold Up HardwoodsThis week I delve into the effect of COVID on the Hardwood sector and specifically how shipping and logistics delays are causing the biggest disruptions. Then I answer some of your questions about CITES, color fast finishes, and a few […]
44 – All Wood Turns Grey
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 44 – Things all woods do Things All Woods DoAll wood turns grey with exposure. The sun, wind and rain are brutal and will win out in the end no matter what you do to try and prevent it. In this episode I talk about why this happens and what […]
Episode 43 – Riving Wood
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 43 – Riving Wood Riving wood Capitalizes on WeaknessToday I talk about riving wood. Why do it, what species to consider and when to use a wedge and when to use a froe. Then I talk about the falling prices of Cherry, Buying CITES species, drying turned bowls, and why […]
Episode 42 Steamed vs Unsteamed Walnut
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 42 Steamed vs Unsteamed Walnut Lumber quotes, Moisture Meters, Kiln Fires, and Thickness pricesThis episode I catch up on some questions submitted via email and then spend some time talking about steamed vs unsteamed Walnut. What is the steaming process and how does it work. Why is it done […]
Episode 41 Plywood Glue and Q&A
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 41 Plywood Glue and Q&A Plywood GlueThere are a lot of different types of plywood glue. Many formulations have been put together to address specific use cases. But in general there are 3 main type:Urea Formaldehyde (including new Soy Based variants)MelaminePhenolicFor interior panels Urea Formaldehyde is the standard and […]
Episode 40 Plywood Cores
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 40 Plywood Cores Plywood Cores come in many varietiesThe core of a plywood panel is the largest component and therefore plays the largest role in how that panel will perform. As I mentioned in the first episode of this series on plywood, you need to choose your panel based […]
Episode 39 Plywood Veneers
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · LU38 PlywoodFaces Plywood Veneers Dictate GradeThe face veneers are what we see and therefore it is what determines the grade of a sheet of plywood. Plywood veneers must be peeled and dried to a 100% consistent moisture content so that they lay down smoothly on a plywood core. Moreover when […]
Episode 37 COVID Lumber Prices
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 37 COVID Price Increases $8 a stud?COVID lumber prices have hit us all and we are seeing that framing lumber is up anywhere from 30-80%. This is something that has been brewing for many months and its a good illustration of how the lumber supply chain works. Unfortunately this is […]
Episode 36 Plywood 101 Part 1: Buying Plywood
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 36 – Plywood 101: Part 1 Buying Plywood You Get what you pay forBuying plywood means shopping by price point. Plywood is a manufactured product and as such there are some well defined steps required to make a panel. Each of those steps has a cost associated with it and […]
Episode 35 MOR/MOE Lumber Properties
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 35 MOR/MOE MOR Lumber TestModulus of Rupture is also known as Bending Strength. The MOR lumber test tells us how much force is required to snap a board of a particular species. It is particularly helpful when building something that will experience dynamic loads or more obviously when actually […]
Episode 34 Case Hardening
Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 34 Case Hardening Gravity Dries Lumber TooThis episode I answer some emails and discuss case hardening, compressed cedar, Teak blunting, the Emerald Ash Borer, drying lumber with gravity, and Hophornbeam wood.Industry NewsWe bought a Woodmizer so I’m getting some first hand saw mill operation experience finally.emailsTeak: does it actually […]
