Q. We have some white oak lumber that has a dark outside color, but the inside is whiter in color, which creates a big issue. Do you know what is going on?

Q. We are having problems with our door panels cupping and the glue joints showing. Any insight?

Q. We buy steamed walnut. Sometimes we love the results. Other times, the color is not very uniform. What should we use to judge the customer's steaming process?

Q. We are having some issues with old growth western red cedar paneling. The wood is interfering with finishing. Any help?

Lauan is one common name for lumber from a large number (over 120) of species in the Shorea genus. These trees are grown in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

Q. We get our lumber at 6 to 8 percent MC. We check its moisture to confirm. So, should we set the plant at 7.0 percent EMC (halfway between), or should we set the plant a little drier, like 6.8 percent EMC because we want to discourage any drying at all?

Q. Our customers like the white-colored, hickory sapwood lumber that we produce. The problem is that, especially in the summer, the sapwood is pink in color. Why is this?

Q. Can you suggest some alternate species, at lower cost, for oak, maple, walnut and cherry?

Q. What causes buckle in veneer? Is it something that my supplier or that I am doing wrong?

Q. We made some built-in furniture last spring with Douglas-fir. Now, about six months later, the wood is dripping sap on the carpet. We cleaned the sap off the wood surfaces, but now sap is oozing again. What happened and what can we do?