Shannon's Lumber Industry Update

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 33 Interview with Greg Wilson: Hempwood CEO Hempwood: The New Oak?Back in Episode 28 I first talked about the product Hempwood.  Today I bring the CEO of the company on to talk more about it.  I want to thank Greg Wilson for taking some time out after a long […]

Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 32 Lumber Thickness Lumber Thickness from Sawmill to Lumber RAckToday I talk about the thickness of lumber and understanding how it is sawn and planed to give you the net thickness you may be buying off the shelf vs buying true rough sawn lumber. This is am important factor […]

Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · LU 31 Interview with Timber Woodcraft (plus Solar Kilns) Salvaged Lumber dried by the sunJosh Weber runs Timber Woodcraft with his wife, Krista in Louisville, KY.  Both of them have woodworking in their blood and what started as a side job while teaching has turned into a full time passion […]

Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · 30 – Shearing Strength (and a rant) Shearing Strength is a hint on how a wood will planeThis week I’m talking about a little touted technical property: shearing strength. This is another number to look at when trying to figure out how a wood will work. In this case it […]

Shannon's Lumber Industry Update · Episode 20 Janka Hardness Janka Hardness is good place to start, but not the only numberWhen deciding what species of wood I want to use in a project I will start with the color but then quickly look at the Janka hardness number to determine what the workability of that […]

Plywood Structure, E4E, and Hemp WoodThis episode I talk about how plywood doesn’t tear itself apart with wood movement, bugs in plywood, rounded corners in 2x4s, and a new product called Hemp Wood.Industry NewsThe NYT Magazine did a great article on the genetically engineered American Chestnut, but also recapped the history of the blight and […]

Fuming White OakOn today’s show I talk about changing the color of your wood through ammonia fuming and ebonizing with steel wool and vinegar. How the tannins do their job and how you can pump up the tannic acid with an additional coat to the wood.  Fuming White Oak produces an immediate darkening that will […]

3 Species, 3 Market TrendsThis episode I talk about 3 species: Pine, Cherry, and Yellowheart all with similar questions about pricing and availability.  Radiata Pine vs Common Pine examination shows a shrinking of the price gap while Cherry is hit or miss on the availability.  Finally Yellowheart may not be available at all…for now.  3 […]