{"id":12027,"date":"2000-01-01T14:31:45","date_gmt":"2000-01-01T21:31:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.woodworkerssource.com\/blog\/?p=12027"},"modified":"2019-06-28T14:32:49","modified_gmt":"2019-06-28T21:32:49","slug":"i-got-warped-wood-what-do-i-do","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.woodworkerssource.com\/blog\/woodworking-101\/lumber-help-faq\/i-got-warped-wood-what-do-i-do\/","title":{"rendered":"I Got Warped Wood, What Do I Do?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you ever receive something from us that’s absolutely unworkable, let us replace it for you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The\n more you know about how to remove warp, cups, twist, and crook from \nboards, the more you’ll realize that they’re not as bad as they look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First: Learning How to Fix Minor Warping Problems Is a Part of Woodworking<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Cut your project parts a few inches over size, and then flatten, \nrather than trying to do whole boards. It’s a lot easier, and wastes \nless, to work with smaller pieces than larger ones.<\/li>
  2. Most problems can be fixed with a block plane and a straight edge <\/li>
  3. You can find thousands of how-to videos on Youtube <\/a>to help you out<\/li>
  4. Assemble as soon as is practical after cutting pieces to their final<\/em> sizes<\/li>
  5. Don’t cut & finesse a piece to its final dimension and let it \nsit around your shop for more than a day. Once it’s cut to final size, \nyou need to get it assembled ASAP<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Second: You Need to Understand Some Basics about Wood<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

    To\n a large degree, flattening non-perfect wood is just a part of \nwoodworking. This is because wood moves unpredictably and according to \nits environment and how it’s stored. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Sometimes the movement is \nvery subtle and manageable, other times it’s severe. Kiln dried lumber \nminimizes problems, but doesn’t eliminate them. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Wood \nis a hygroscopic material, which means it absorbs and releases moisture \nto stay in equilibrium with its environment. On a rainy or humid day, \nwood fibers will swell because there’s more moisture in the air. And the\n opposite is true on a dry day. So, as wood expands and contracts, it \nmoves. When wood expands and contracts, it can result in any kind of \nwarping such as cupping, twisting, crooking, or bowing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n