Thread: Greg Wards Wood Movement

I beg to differ, sometimes these outlets are selling timber that is often only fit for firewood. The guys packing the rack probably has no or little experience. Once the supplier checked the timber before he put it in his rack and yes all timber has the ability to move but some of this stuff is just crap that should never have left the mill. The other side of your agument is very right though, some woodworkers don't realise that even the best cut of prime quality timber will wander off of it's own free will. There is fault on both sides. I think it would be wise if people who embark on the woodwork journey got some books out and did a little theory on timber and it's qualities. Not all of timbers qualities are logical and some are downright bizarre

Originally Posted by chambezio

My pet hate is the comments I hear about people grizzling about timber they have bought that isn't straight or cupped or bowed. I wish that they would realize that timber is NOT plastic or concrete and that it it has the capacity to move with the weather. Even MDF reacts to humidity. Even though it may be in a form far removed from a tree with leaves and birds, it still reacts. We are in the "business" of working with the stuff and we should be prepared to work with not against the nature of the material after all that is part of our fascination with using the stuff.
The other day on this Forum was a comment from a frequent contributor who vowed he would never purchase timber from the major hardware sheds because it was never up to his standards! Any body can machine a length of timber to width, thickness and length perfectly today only to discover tomorrow it has a bow or twist in it. Its not the suppliers fault or the timber's fault its the nature of the material and the prevailing weather.

Please Ray, I am not having a shot at you at all, I am just having a rant
I have 5 Camphor Laurel logs about 1500 long that I need to mill into boards but I dare not, for another couple of months due to the weather.
Leave a piece of MDF melamine in the sun for a couple of hours and watch it turn into a saucer, then turn it over and it will return to its former flatness.

This in no way was grizzling or having a shot at Greg Ward I couldn't do that to such a nice fellow or Mal. I was pointing Greg to look at what has happened. As when I got it it was almost flat and storing for it for a few weeks flat under a bench. It was after cutting it and again storing it flat and weather being as it has in Sydney for weeks almost overnight as you say it did what it did.

My pun in using "Greg Wards wood movement" was in jest I hope he has not taken a fence sorry offence.

If you had read into it I was grizzling then it should have been in relation to the weather not my wood supplier.

I learnt at a very young age about warping, twisting timbers from my dad, then at school, TAFE and here on this forum.

I have watched wood almost shrivel into a pretzel in full sun, ply and Masonite curl up to a U.


Pity your so far away I'd love some nice Camphor if I had room. In your case being at Moonbi you have ice and snow to contend with also as well as rain and Country Music.

Originally Posted by Claw Hama

I beg to differ, sometimes these outlets are selling timber that is often only fit for firewood. The guys packing the rack probably has no or little experience. Once the supplier checked the timber before he put it in his rack and yes all timber has the ability to move but some of this stuff is just crap that should never have left the mill. The other side of your agument is very right though, some woodworkers don't realise that even the best cut of prime quality timber will wander off of it's own free will. There is fault on both sides. I think it would be wise if people who embark on the woodwork journey got some books out and did a little theory on timber and it's qualities. Not all of timbers qualities are logical and some are downright bizarre

Absolutely spot on, in some yards words from merchants such as "Oh you can mill it out"........"Plane it straight"............"bend it back, just wet it a bit" and this is dressed timber just the size your after

Ray, I have been reading for some years now on the Forum your frequent messages and have appreciated that you have knowledge and experience and therefore my comment about "grizzling" was definitely NOT aimed at you.
I moved from Sydney to here 35 years ago and the first thing that came to my notice was my hammer handle became loose and took a couple of tightening up episodes before it would stay tight. It was then soo much dryer than Sydney. Every year since then the humidity is higher. The winters are still cold and frosty and therefore dryer as well. When I was working we were reluctant to do Brushbox kitchens any further out than Gunnedah because the dryer air out there was not conducive to Brushbox behaving itself. We would buy them from Coffs Harbour so you can imagine how they would have to acclimatise out here. At the same time Laminex was selling solid timber doors that were sourced from Brisbane. I told the rep about the difficulties we had with Brushbox and he just said his doors were guaranteed and any problem doors would be replaced. My answer to that was "What does it do for your reputation?" to have on going problem doors.
A few times I have had a job finished and ready to go only to find an end check that only appeared that morning. It happens.
To let your stuff from Greg Ward "rest" before doing too much to it is a lesson others should adopt. In this age of instant this and instant that, we need to look at our material for projects and let it decide on a delivery date.
The Camphor I have is going to be a surprise as far as colour goes. Just looking at the ends of the logs is no real indication of what will be revealed. Stay tuned

Hey Guys

Rosewood is noted for this many cabinet makers refuse to use it as it can be stable for years then turn into a contortionist. To my way of thinking by straightening it in the sun will not achieve any result in the end , better to turn the item and let it do its thing I don't think you will stop it. I love it to turn never had any problems with it when it is turned.

Cheers Tony

Keep it civil guys

Throw in another timber "problem". Some timbers are prone to "collapse", black bean is one of the worse offenders. Timber is a forever moving medium. Timber doors and windows will bind in wet weather, even though they are well painted.
Jim

Thanks Chambizo no harm done at all.

Tony once I start turning it (this piece in particular) I'll be watching it very carefully as its the middle platter. Time will tell.

Jim PP your dead right.

One of the problems we were taught during TAFE is early vintage/veteran and classic autos imported from the UK although they worked with seasoned wood it still had moisture content. Then bring it to downunder and it dried out where as in the UK as it ages and tighten up constant damp.

The Rosewood its got to sit for a bit as other work must be done first.

My post was more about weather and wood and how much it can move. I love turning Rosewood its better than smelling of body odour I get more hugs. smells better than spray can stuff.

Neil I must have missed something???