I recently bought some inexpensive 1x12 pine boards from a big-box store and, as expected, they're not the best quality. After letting them sit for a few days and flattening one mild cup, I returned the next day to find that one of the pieces had cupped again. After flattening them all, I was ready to cut dovetails, but then discovered all three pieces were cupped once more. I'm really stuck and considering ditching woodworking altogether in favor of pottery. Any tips on how to deal with this frustrating issue? Should I wait longer, get better wood, or is there something else I'm missing?
3 Answers
Haha, seriously, with all that cupping, you’re basically crafting cups! But in all seriousness, letting your wood acclimate for a bit can really help. Warranty shouldn’t be offered at big-box stores for wood, and usually, it’s not ready for fine woodworking right out of the store. You might want to consider some drying and stacking techniques before working with it.
Using big-box wood often leads to frustration because they cut it too soon. If you want it to behave, try purchasing your wood from a lumber mill—they usually have properly seasoned options available. If that's not an option, try to stick your boards and weight them down while they adjust to the environment for at least a week. It's a hassle, but it'll save you stress later.
It sounds like the boards you're using might have come from near the pith, which is definitely a recipe for warping. Plus, they probably still have some moisture, being fresh from the mill. They'll need some time to acclimate—maybe several weeks. If you can, try ripping them down the middle to get two flatter boards that can be more easily stabilized.
Yeah, I think cutting down to a 1x6 and letting them sit for a couple months might be a better option for your project. Should make for a more stable glue-up later!
I appreciate the laugh! Gotta keep the mood light, right? But for real, patience is key here.