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10/01/2007 1:41 PM

Cherry problem

I've got lots of cherry (maybe 500 board feet or more) rough cut 1"
and 2" thick that I've had for 11 years. I got it from the original
owner after he died. It was cut maybe 25 years ago. It was properly
stored with stickers through every layer and the ends were sealed. It
has always been stored inside (unheated).

My problem is that whenever I use a piece, it warps after being
surfaced. A 10" board might have as much as a 1/4" - 3/8" crown a
few days after being surfaced.

I've tried surfacing one side and waiting but no luck. I've heard of
case hardening. Is there any solution?


This topic has 7 replies

tt

"tom"

in reply to [email protected] on 10/01/2007 1:41 PM

10/01/2007 11:40 AM


[email protected] wrote:
> I've got lots of cherry (maybe 500 board feet or more) rough cut 1"
> and 2" thick that I've had for 11 years. I got it from the original
> owner after he died. It was cut maybe 25 years ago. It was properly
> stored with stickers through every layer and the ends were sealed. It
> has always been stored inside (unheated).
>
> My problem is that whenever I use a piece, it warps after being
> surfaced. A 10" board might have as much as a 1/4" - 3/8" crown a
> few days after being surfaced.
>
> I've tried surfacing one side and waiting but no luck. I've heard of
> case hardening. Is there any solution? Unless, by the term "crown", you mean "cup". If it's cupping cross-grain, you may have to rip to smaller widths, mill, and then edge-glue them back together. If it's along the grain, try rough-milling, allow it to move as long as possible, preferably in its intended environment, then mill down to final specs. HTH Tom

Rd

"Robatoy"

in reply to [email protected] on 10/01/2007 1:41 PM

10/01/2007 11:54 AM


[email protected] wrote:
>[snip]

> Is there any solution?

No there isn't. You need to take a deep breath and disassociate
yourself from that pile of rubbish.
I'll send a truck right away to help you with that process.

It sounds like it will only be good enough for flooring...and who on
earth would want a cherry floor?
Cherry floors have been known to turn that ugly colour.

Your address please?


r------> who truly hopes you can salvage that pile, it is my #1
favourite wood.

r

in reply to [email protected] on 10/01/2007 1:41 PM

10/01/2007 2:44 PM



On Jan 10, 3:14 pm, "George" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > I've tried surfacing one side and waiting but no luck.

I have had the same problem with some 8/4 birch. However, when I
surfaced both sides equally it was OK. Make sure you flip the board
each time that it goes through the planer.

sd

"stanley_clifton"

in reply to [email protected] on 10/01/2007 1:41 PM

10/01/2007 4:33 PM


[email protected] wrote:

> I've got lots of cherry (maybe 500 board feet or more) rough cut 1"
> and 2" thick that I've had for 11 years. I got it from the original
> owner after he died. It was cut maybe 25 years ago. It was properly
> stored with stickers through every layer and the ends were sealed. It
> has always been stored inside (unheated).
>
> My problem is that whenever I use a piece, it warps after being
> surfaced. A 10" board might have as much as a 1/4" - 3/8" crown a
> few days after being surfaced.
>
> I've tried surfacing one side and waiting but no luck. I've heard of
> case hardening. Is there any solution?


Thanks for the warning. I love cherry and have been meaning to make
something in it. The timber seems to have a reputation for being easy
to work, but your post seems to indicate that it can be 'tetchy'.

As my workshop is a damp garage, I usually rough cut all my project
components and then bring them into the house for the central heating
to dry out before I start the serious work. Where I have tried to short
cut this I've generally has shrinkage and the problem of joints
parting.

Have you tried rip cutting and re-jointing with the grain alternately
reversed? The problem with this is - if you've not tried it - is that
it takes bloody ages and you can lose a lot of material trying to joint
perfectly square and then squaring the resultant component (although I
must be pretty cack-handed I admit).

I hope that this is useful.

JW

Just Wondering

in reply to [email protected] on 10/01/2007 1:41 PM

10/01/2007 12:10 PM

[email protected] wrote:
> I've got lots of cherry (maybe 500 board feet or more) rough cut 1"
> and 2" thick that I've had for 11 years. I got it from the original
> owner after he died. It was cut maybe 25 years ago. It was properly
> stored with stickers through every layer and the ends were sealed. It
> has always been stored inside (unheated).
>
> My problem is that whenever I use a piece, it warps after being
> surfaced. A 10" board might have as much as a 1/4" - 3/8" crown a
> few days after being surfaced.
>
> I've tried surfacing one side and waiting but no luck. I've heard of
> case hardening. Is there any solution?

Ship it to me, I'll see what I can do.

Bb

"Bewildered"

in reply to [email protected] on 10/01/2007 1:41 PM

10/01/2007 8:01 PM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've got lots of cherry (maybe 500 board feet or more) rough cut 1"
> and 2" thick that I've had for 11 years. I got it from the original
> owner after he died. It was cut maybe 25 years ago. It was properly
> stored with stickers through every layer and the ends were sealed. It
> has always been stored inside (unheated).
>
> My problem is that whenever I use a piece, it warps after being
> surfaced. A 10" board might have as much as a 1/4" - 3/8" crown a
> few days after being surfaced.
>
> I've tried surfacing one side and waiting but no luck. I've heard of
> case hardening. Is there any solution?

Do you let it acclimate to your workshop before prepping it? If not, try
that.

Last year I bought some oak that the guys father had put up 50 years ago.
No problems with that at all, except that half of it is insect damaged.
Don't know if it is a matter of luck or the species.

Gg

"George"

in reply to [email protected] on 10/01/2007 1:41 PM

10/01/2007 8:14 PM


<[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I've got lots of cherry (maybe 500 board feet or more) rough cut 1"
> and 2" thick that I've had for 11 years. I got it from the original
> owner after he died. It was cut maybe 25 years ago. It was properly
> stored with stickers through every layer and the ends were sealed. It
> has always been stored inside (unheated).
>
> My problem is that whenever I use a piece, it warps after being
> surfaced. A 10" board might have as much as a 1/4" - 3/8" crown a
> few days after being surfaced.
>
> I've tried surfacing one side and waiting but no luck. I've heard of
> case hardening. Is there any solution?

Is it stickered now, or close-stacked? If close-stacked, it's entirely
possible that you have the down side several percent above the up in
moisture.

Good practice would be to select your boards, sticker and acclimate for a
week or so _where they will be milled_, and then begin working.

Ability to use wide boards is nice. Current project had a need for some
boards wider than my jointer - easy to do - and all I had in cherry was some
I had purchased years ago. #1 common for $250/MBF, and loaded with twists
and knots. I spent a day with my scrub and jack getting a flat face to
plane to on some 16 pcs. Hard work for an old fart, I can tell you.

Fortunately this wood had been stored indoors in the same conditions as I
was going to be working it, so once flat, it stayed there.


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