I was at the local Home depot and saw a load of twisted lumber going in the cull pile and my thoughts were that I was sure glad I didn’t use any of that wood in one of my projects. I’m sure it was straight in the bundle but warped after it was dried out. I’ve had to replace a few in my life time. I’m looking for a website that may give me more knowledge on what to look for when buying dimensional lumber. I know that most lumber is not Kiln dried but there must be a better way of determining what to buy. Any help will be appreciated. Regards, Dale from Michigan
Edited 1/12/2003 7:41:34 PM ET by harborman
Replies
Maybe that's a local thing. Most I buy is KD but get this - KD lumber is only dried to 19% and that's on the surface.
The longer you can keep it stacked straight and drying to cure straight, the better your chances are so buy ahead when you can. I still expect about 15% waste, depending on type of project and how many shorts can be used up for blocking etc. It also means that HD with low margin and high turnover, will haved it more wet from the kiln on the racks.
Any supplier can have bad runs though of lumber, depending partly on time of year and forestry or import policies.
Learning to read the grain is something that comes from experience and not much to explain in words here, I think.
Excellence is its own reward!
Lumber is a vegetable. Just like tomatoes at the supermarket, sometimes the 2x4 x 10' are great, sometimes they're garbage. I buy ahead, and stack and sticker it with concrete weights on top.
-- J.S.