Thread: Please help!! Warped timber

I don't think you can do much except maybe use smaller sizes and get it milled again. only this time, leave it in the house for several weeks to acclimatise to the surroundings and then dress it.

Other than that, don't burn it, use it for another project.

If I were you I'd sticker it and put a few good heavy weights on top.

wet it down thoroughly all round over an hour or so.
While still wet clamp or strap it down to something big, heavy and straight.
Then let it dry out for a month (assuming it was seasoned when you got it)

yup.. the joys of working with figured wood

I suspect you are dealing with the growth stresses that were present in the wood from when the tree was growing. The knots and forks in the original slabs indicate it was a 'interesting' log. When the slabs were broken down into smaller boards the unbalanced stress showed itself. But that neat grain and figure in the wood is what makes us persevere with it

Do you have enough thickness in the pieces to machine them flat again? A router bridge or a planer sled works well for doing that. Even if you had to machine some right down you can still laminate it to some similar 'plain' wood and so still get the neat figure.

I would leave the wood stacked on stickers to stabilise, then see what I could do with it.

Ian

Khaya is pretty unstable at the best of times. Best bet is to sticker and load it up with lots of weight - and wait.

Thank you all for your responses and suggestions.

I originally bought this timber with the intention of using it on the buffet so am not keen to use it on something else.

Ianab. I think you may be right about the stresses being released when machined. The bloke i bought the timber from put a moisture meter on the slabs and they read 10 (percent??) so they should have been dry enough.
The idea to machine them down then laminate them sounds interesting but something as a last resort only i think.

Originally Posted by Exador

Khaya is pretty unstable at the best of times. Best bet is to sticker and load it up with lots of weight - and wait.

Not up there with timber identification Exador. Is Khaya another term for this Mahogany or do you think i have something other than what i thought?

I think my best bet is to throw some weight on to it and try to be patient for a month or so & then see what they are like. Wont be easy.
May have to start something else in the meantime

Again, thank you all for your responses, really apreciated.

Steven.

Originally Posted by spokeshave

Not up there with timber identification Exador. Is Khaya another term for this Mahogany or do you think i have something other than what i thought?

Yup, Khaya is another name for this African Mahogany, native to Africa but grown quite extensively up North..

Some pieces can have a massive amount of tension in them, which is when you praise the action of a good riving knife (read.. wicked binding=kickback!:eek: ).

Also stinks of Ammonia when cut.

Originally Posted by martrix

Also stinks of Ammonia when cut.

Hope it's not dangerous in any way? Inhaling the dust when cutting or routing!!

Or is it just a perculiar smell only?

You've got some nice looking figure in that wood.

How much did you pay for it?

Originally Posted by spokeshave

Hope it's not dangerous in any way? Inhaling the dust when cutting or routing!!

Or is it just a perculiar smell only?

Possibly though I wouldn't know, and I have used it quite extensively and I am still standing on two feet.

The strong odor seems to be more prevalent when you generate some extra heat when you are cutting or routing.

All wood dust these days is considered carcinogenic, so wear a decent mask when making dust......any dust.

Had a similar problem with an old - well seasoned - bench top I salvaged. The top was around 4m long and 900mm wide with a plastic laminate bonded to it. I removed the laminate and glue residue, sanded the board and cut it to the lengths required for the blanket box in the pic below.

The boards immediately started cupping badly. I soaked them on the concave side and clamped them wet sides facing each other. It helped but the cupping partially returned. After cutting the dovetails and glueing up, the box came out fine as you can see.

Originally Posted by craigb

You've got some nice looking figure in that wood.

How much did you pay for it?

The cost of the timber was calculated at $2000 per cubic meter (i think, cant remember exactly now). I just about fell over when i was given the quote. But after a quick measuring of each slab they worked out to be about $80 each. I considerd this quite reasonable.

Not sure if i've been ripped. Never bought this timber before.

All my machined timber (warped or not) is under my bench at the moment carefully tightly taped together in small groups with weight ontop and awaiting a decision by myself as to which direction would be best to pursue after all your kind suggestions.

Cheers.

Steven.

Originally Posted by martrix

I have used it quite extensively

What types of finishes have you used on the pieces you made from Khaya? I'm not after a high gloss finish but more of a satin or rubbed finish.

Some pics of your work would be great.

Thanks.
Steven.