I recently built an outdoor play set for my kids using ACQ-treated
pine. The wood was a bit damp when I built the play set, and I
expected a bit of shrinkage. I've been checking the tightness of the
carriage bolts about every other week.
I've found on 3 occasions, the bolts felt surprisingly loose, and
required one or more turns of the nuts to tighten.
I'm surprised how much the wood is shrinking. How long can I expect
this to go on? Will the wood eventually reach a stable point? Or will
this be a constant battle?
Thanks,
Eric
Eric Goldsmith wrote:
>I recently built an outdoor play set for my kids using ACQ-treated
>pine. The wood was a bit damp when I built the play set, and I
>expected a bit of shrinkage. I've been checking the tightness of the
>carriage bolts about every other week.
>
>I've found on 3 occasions, the bolts felt surprisingly loose, and
>required one or more turns of the nuts to tighten.
>
>I'm surprised how much the wood is shrinking. How long can I expect
>this to go on? Will the wood eventually reach a stable point? Or will
>this be a constant battle?
>
>Thanks,
>Eric
>
>
About a year.
Eric Goldsmith wrote:
> I recently built an outdoor play set for my kids using ACQ-treated
> pine. The wood was a bit damp when I built the play set, and I
> expected a bit of shrinkage. I've been checking the tightness of the
> carriage bolts about every other week.
>
> I've found on 3 occasions, the bolts felt surprisingly loose, and
> required one or more turns of the nuts to tighten.
>
> I'm surprised how much the wood is shrinking. How long can I expect
> this to go on? Will the wood eventually reach a stable point? Or will
> this be a constant battle?
>
> Thanks,
> Eric
It will eventually stop shrinking. A general rule for drying lumber is
one year for every inch of thickness. The shrinkage will initially be
rapid and will slow as the wood becomes drier.
--
Jack Novak
Buffalo, NY - USA
(Remove "SPAM" from email address to reply)
Eric Goldsmith wrote:
> I recently built an outdoor play set for my kids using ACQ-treated
> pine. The wood was a bit damp when I built the play set, and I
> expected a bit of shrinkage. I've been checking the tightness of the
> carriage bolts about every other week.
>
> I've found on 3 occasions, the bolts felt surprisingly loose, and
> required one or more turns of the nuts to tighten.
>
> I'm surprised how much the wood is shrinking. How long can I expect
> this to go on? Will the wood eventually reach a stable point? Or will
> this be a constant battle?
Are you sure it's shrinkage and not the nuts working loose from movement
during play?
> Thanks,
> Eric
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)