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Handling Wood Movement

Tips Index

• Moisture related movement is primarily across the width of a board rather than length.
  
  
• Wood changes width by about 1 percent for each 2 percent change in moisture content.
  
  
• Allow about 1/8" of seasonal movement per foot along the width of boards.
  
  
• Use wood that has similar moisture content.
  
  
• Use wood species that have similar rates of movement.
  
  
• Allow wood to equalize to the moisture content of the shop (2-3 weeks).
  
  
• Use wood with small rates of movement for projects exposed to wide swings in relative humidity.
  
  
• Consider using quartersawn lumber to minimize movement across the width.
  
  
• Allow for winter shrinkage if building in the summer and summer expansion if building in the winter.
  
  
• Use truest boards for the longest parts.
  
  
• Mill only the lumber that will be used within a few days.
  
  
• Employ sound joinery techniques that allow wood to shrink and expand, especially in width.