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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.

Southern Cypress

Wood Dr

Problems with cypress

Q. We seem to be having more troubles with cypress lumber. Problems include cupping and brittleness. We are in Colorado where conditions are dry, so we like to get fairly dry lumber when we order. What can we do better?
By Gene Wengert, August 30, 2018 | 11:15 am CDT
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Wood Dr

Checks in dry wood

Can dry humidity in a home cause oak furniture to face check or crack? These are within the wood pieces and not at the glue joint.
By Gene Wengert, July 31, 2018 | 11:23 am CDT
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Wood Dr

Drying lumber after large storm

Q. Due to a recent severe storm with lots of rain, some of our kiln-dried lumber in storage has increased its moisture above the acceptable moisture content. How can we dry this out?
By Gene Wengert, June 22, 2018 | 8:05 am CDT
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Wood Dr

Using hurricane-damaged trees

Q. We have some trees in our neighborhood and throughout the city that came down during the recent hurricane. It seems a shame to let these go to the clean-up piles that are sent to the dump. Are there any issues with using these trees for lumber?
By Gene Wengert, June 21, 2018 | 9:54 am CDT