FDMC Magazine

Bacteria darkens wood

Q: We have been working with red oak for many years, but just this past month we have had several problems with our furniture that are new to us. Specifically, we had one job that we finished with a white-colored paint finish. Several of the individual strips of wood developed a dark, dingy, dirty hue along almost the entire strip about a month after they were put into use. The back sides of the pieces were unfinished and had some mineral in the wood. Do you think that a recent switch to No. 2 Common lumber is involved?

FDMC Magazine

Adhesive help

Q: I have used some contact cement to glue veneers, finished them, and several days later I had some bubbles where the adhesive had let go.

Wood Dr

10 facts about end cracking

Q: Like everyone else, we have some end cracking at the glue joints during the wintertime in our glued-up panels. Our supplier says that the problem is the dry humidity in our plant (about 25 percent RH) and I wonder if it is the high MC in the lumber. What perplexes me is that when we have cracking, we measure the MC and it is always under 7 percent MC and sometimes under 6 percent MC. We are considering increasing the RH in our plant this winter; 45 percent RH has been suggested. Can you comment or direct us in the right direction, as this cracking is expensive?