Read More Articles by Gene Wengert

Profile picture for user genewengert
Gene Wengert

Gene Wengert (1942-2025) was popularly known as “The Wood Doctor.” He trained thousands of people in efficient use of wood for more than 50 years and authored foundational resources on wood technology. He worked at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Virginia Tech. His popular "Wood Doctor's Rx" column has appeared regularly in FDM and FDMC magazine since 1978. Because so much of his advice was timeless, he asked that we continue to run his columns in memoriam.

glue_up_of_door.jpg

Wood Dr

Drop in gluing pressure

Q. I just noticed that our gluing press has a slight drop in pressure after the peak pressure is reached (caused by a drop in air pressure when another machine kicks in). Is this possibly the cause of our weak joints?
By Gene Wengert, October 14, 2019 | 1:32 pm CDT
doctor-gene-wengertsq_0.jpg

Wood Dr

Planed lumber pieces that are bowed

Q. We have some lumber that we planed on our two-headed planer. We are certain that the lumber was flat going and coming out. We then stacked the lumber and now about four weeks later, we are seeing a lot of pieces that are bowed. In fact, within the stack, all are bowed the same direction…ends down and center up. Where should we look?
By Gene Wengert, September 24, 2019 | 3:51 pm CDT