Here are 3 common causes of less than perfect lumber & how to prevent them.
How to Avoid Warped and Cupping Lumber
Have you ever milled straight looking lumber, only to come back to it later and find that it’s cupping? Cross-cutting the grain is likely the culprit here. It can lead to warping or cupping—even if you lumber initially comes off the mill straight.
When setting up to mill, it is important that you compensate for the taper in the log. Raising the small end up using toe boards will allow you cut parallel to the growth rings on the tree. If you’re milling material to make cabinets and furniture, the best color and grain patterns will come from cutting this way as well.
How to Avoid Tapered and Flared Cuts
The most common cause of a tapered cut is too much overhang from the last bunk on your mill. As a rule of thumb, you should keep your log overhang within a foot or less of the bunk.
Depending on the lengths you are working with, this may mean cutting longer than you need (for example, cutting 12 ft even though you’re trying to produce 9 ft). We’re sure you can get creative with the cut-offs, anyway.
If you frequently work with oddball sizes, another option for you would be to add an additional bunk to your mill. This sort of situation is one of the reasons why Norwoods are component system mills. You can customize it to work for your exact application.
Depending on the lengths you are working with, this may mean cutting longer than you need (for example, cutting 12 ft even though you’re trying to produce 9 ft). We’re sure you can get creative with the cut-offs, anyway.
If you frequently work with oddball sizes, another option for you would be to add an additional bunk to your mill. This sort of situation is one of the reasons why Norwoods are component system mills. You can customize it to work for your exact application.
Dry Your Lumber Properly
All of the effort you put towards milling your boards goes down the drain if you do not sticker and stack them properly.