Replies

1. 
   JerBear | Dec 05, 2004 04:56pm | #1

   It helps relieve the tension and stress that is naturally in all wood so the wood doesn't move around as much. (cup, warp, twist, cant....whatever).

2. 
   Sphere | Dec 05, 2004 05:07pm | #2

   It is also so it will lay up flatter at the joint with the wall, the hollow allows it to suck up tighter.

    

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3. 
   Piffin | Dec 05, 2004 05:46pm | #3

   It is called a relief.

   You have flaws and bumps etc art the base of the sheetrock wall where the baseboard sits against it. These will hold the molding away from the wall so it would not fit tight at the top where you see it. They would also induce stress that could lead to checking in the grain of the wood when you nail it tight back to the wall. The relief relieves those stresses and makes it easy to fit the molding tight to the wall so less caulk is needed.

   You find the same in flooring material. The tinyest chip or flaw in subfloor will make flooring strips rock over it. The relief channel lets it sit more stable and tight.

   Casing and a lot of other trim material also have these relief channels

    

    

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4. 
   dryhter | Dec 05, 2004 06:52pm | #4

   The reliefs also help when fitting a joint togrther.Baseboard,plane a little off the back if you come up a little short on length or off the top or bottom if out of plumb.Casing, plane to get thickness right on face or to fit the miter better.