QSWO expansion question

Andy Dingley wrote:
> On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 01:52:10 GMT, "Mike S." <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>
>>I understand that wood expands mainly across the grain.
>
>
> Rule of thumb - tangent is twice radial. Bit more for some species,
> bit less for others.
>
> Your other rule of thumb is 10% wet to dry tangential (so 5% radial).
> This isn't so accurate, so look up the real numbers for your humidity
> range and your species if you want better.
>
> US Wood Products handbook (paper copies from LV, or download and read
> on line) or else Hoadley's "Understanding Wood".
>
>
>>Since I'm using QSWO for the tops do I not have to worry about
>>expansion?
>
>
> You have to worry. There'll be either framed panels or breadboard ends
> in there, and that means cross-graining. It's an easy style to deal
> with though - it just means making the right allowances on framed
> panels. Throw the design and numbers back at us if you want to know
> more.

There is an interesting article in the latest P.Woodworking from Flexner
about this and how finishing both sides of a board (like a table top)
really has little effect on preventing warpage and cupping. With regards
to your QSWO, it will expand less than other cuts of the wood and it
should expand evenly on both surfaces (won't "cup"), but it'll still
expand. Design, build, and attach the top with this in mind.

-BR



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On Mon, 13 Sep 2004 01:52:10 GMT, "Mike S." <[email protected]>
wrote:

>I understand that wood expands mainly across the grain.

Rule of thumb - tangent is twice radial. Bit more for some species,
bit less for others.

Your other rule of thumb is 10% wet to dry tangential (so 5% radial).
This isn't so accurate, so look up the real numbers for your humidity
range and your species if you want better.

US Wood Products handbook (paper copies from LV, or download and read
on line) or else Hoadley's "Understanding Wood".

>Since I'm using QSWO for the tops do I not have to worry about
>expansion?

You have to worry. There'll be either framed panels or breadboard ends
in there, and that means cross-graining. It's an easy style to deal
with though - it just means making the right allowances on framed
panels. Throw the design and numbers back at us if you want to know
more.
--
Smert' spamionam

In article <[email protected]>,
"Mike S." <[email protected]> wrote:

> I understand that wood expands mainly across the grain. Now the question, I
> building my daugters some Mission style tables, sofa table, coffee table
> etc. Since I'm using QSWO for the tops do I not have to worry about
> expansion?

The US Forestry Service has a very detailed set of 21 PDF files on all
things wood - The Wood Handbook. I don't have a URL handy but it
shouldn't be difficult to find.

Anywhozle, what you're looking for begins in chapter 12, page 15.
There's a formula plus a chart for various woods on the next page
showing the dimensional change coefficient for either radial
(quartersawn) cut or tangential (flatsawn)cut. Then there's a chart on
page 12-4 of various US cities indicating the avg. equilibrium moisture
content of wood for each month of the year.

For example, in Portland, Oregon there's a swing of equilibrium MC from
11.7% to 17.4% through the year. Using a 48" wide quartersawn White Oak
tabletop:

Dimensional change= dimension * (coefficient * (MC high-MC low))

D change = 48" x (.0018(17.4-11.7))
D change = 48" x (.01026)
D change = .49248"

Another question which I didn't look up is the amount of variance in MC
that occurs in today's modern houses. Not sure how much that would
affect the overall MC range...

--
Owen Lowe and his Fly-by-Night Copper Company
--

"Osama WHO?" asked *.