Educational Resources

Planing defects and how to prevent them

Planing defects such as snipe, ripples and raised, chipped or fuzzy grain can ruin a project. Here are simple solutions.

By Gene Wengert

Checks in cherry lumber

Q. We just started processing some cherry lumber that was planed S2S by the supplier. We are seeing a small number of checks developing, especially in the flat sawn pieces. We are really perplexed as to what is causing this.

By Gene Wengert

Next step after kiln drying and stress relief

Q. After we finish kiln drying and go through stress relief (conditioning), what should we do next?

By Gene Wengert

Machining to the end

Q. We have a machining problem. As we machine a piece, it is good until the last half inch. At this end, we all too often get a piece that chips out all the way to the end. Where should we look?

By Gene Wengert

Powderpost beetle problem

Summary of the pest, the problems it causes, and controls.

By Gene Wengert

Processing wenge and dark finishes

Q. We are processing wenge and have what looks like sap or resin pockets so that the finish does not darken like it darkens the rest of the wood.

By Gene Wengert

Moisture content for incoming lumber

Q. I heard that you said in a webinar that the variation of moisture content for lumber coming into the plant should be 0.3 standard deviation. Is this correct?

By Gene Wengert

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Where are wood prices going?

Q. What is going on with wood prices? Do you have a forecast?

By Gene Wengert

The right humidity level in the plant

Q. What humidity should we keep in our manufacturing plant? Is this 24/7 or can we have other values at night or during weekends?

By Gene Wengert

Poor paint finish on panel

Q. Once in a great while, we see a white paint turn dingy in small regions on a panel. Oftentimes this dinginess shows up a month or two after painting. What is this?

By Gene Wengert

Splinters in crosscut strips

Q. When our crosscut or chop saws cut the end of oak strips, the end has many small splinters. Do these affect or cause the joint failure we see?

By Gene Wengert

End cracks in rough lumber

When we receive rough lumber, there are end cracks, end checks and checking in the rough state. Further processing, drying, rough planning and gang ripping will expose more of these characteristics. Help please.

By Gene Wengert

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Grain pattern showing through painted doors

Q. We have a problem with painted pieces of solid wood in cabinets that we send out. They are smooth when we ship them, but a month or so after they are installed in a house, the grain pattern of the wood shows through the painted finish.

By Gene Wengert