Topics
How To Insure Wood Movement Doesn't Ruin Your Project

I place each species of wood into one of four wood movement categories, they are minute, small, average and great.

Woods should be glued {laminated} whether edge to edge, face to face or edge to face only to other woods within the movement category they are in. Then if the piece is moved to a different environment the woods will expand and contract at approximately the same amount insuring that there will be no unnecessary stress and tension on the glue joint or either piece of wood, which could cause damage {cracks} to the weaker wood. The exception to this would be if using very small pieces of wood.

With cigar humidors for an example, they are normally lined with Spanish Cedar, which is in the minute wood movement category. When wood from one of the other movement categories is used for the box, the Spanish Cedar lining should be left floating or be slotted and stainless steel screws used to affix it. In this way the two woods can slide along one another resulting in no damage to the humidor when it expands and contracts.

You should make a project {all parts} from one length of lumber, larger projects from wood that comes from the same bundle and same business. Even within a species, pieces of wood will vary in specific gravity {from different areas of the country or world} causing them to expand and contract at different rates.

When gluing wood together {especially oily exotics} you should blow the piece off with compressed air {100 PSI} first {safety note: be sure to wear a high quality respirator mask.} This works especially well with opened pored woods to get the dust out of the pores. Then make a sort of tack cloth by applying cleaner to a lint free cloth. Wipe the surfaces to be glued for better glue adhesion. I have found Acetone to be excellent for this, as it leaves no residue, does not raise the grain of the wood, evaporates rapidly and does no harm to the wood. I also use it in the same way, aforementioned above, before applying the first finish coat for better coating adhesion.

All glues have cons; it depends on what cons you want to live with. I have found polyurethane glues work exceptionally well especially on oily exotics. They are very flexible and expand and contract well with joints.

The Four Wood Movement Categories
With Some Woods Listed Follows:

Woods In Minute Wood Movement Category

Alder {Red}
Aningeria
Antiaris
Balsa
Bamboo
Basswood
Camphorwood {East African}
Cedar {Spanish}
Cuchi
Curupay
IPE
Jequitiba
Maracaibo Boxwood
Padauk {African}
Pear
Pine {Yellow}
Rengas
Rosewood {Indian}
Sen
Tatajuba

Woods In Small Wood Movement Category

Apple
Ash
Aspen
Arariba
Balau
Blackwood {African}
Ben Se
Chechem
Curunai
Curupixa
Cuta
Cypress
Ebony {African}
Flamewood
Fang Deng
Freijo
Goncalo Alves
Guatambu
Honey Locust
Hug Lon
Jelutong
Kaki
Kauvula
KOA
Makore
Maple
Mesquite
Muhuhu
Nontsia
Ochoo
Pecan
Prima Vera
Purpleheart
Rosewood {Brazilian}
Rosewood {Cocobolo}
Rosewood {Honduras}
Sarari
Sassafras
Satine {Bloodwood}
Satinwood {Ceylon}
Redwood
Ta Baek
Tarara Canarywood
Teak
Tulipwood {Brazilian]
Walnut {American}
Wenge
Willow
Xang Seak
Yew
Zebrawood

Woods In Average Wood Movement Category

Akossika
Andiroba
Bayo
Beech
Berkung
Blackbean
Butternut
Cancharana
Chakte Kok
Chakte Vega
Cherry
China Berry
Chinkapin
Ebony {Gaboon}
Elm
Hackberry
Indian Laurel
Jabin
Katalox
Kapur
Lacewood {Australian}
Lam Nhai
Leng Man
Lignum Vitae
Maple {Hard}
Machiche
Morado
Oak {Red}
Oak {White}
Paela
Paldao
Palm {Black}
Peroba Rosa
Poplar
Pyinkado
Rimu
Sapele
Snakewood
Sycamore
Taun
Tchitola
Walnut {South American}
Yom Hom

Woods In Great Wood Movement Category

Beli
Birch {Yellow]
Ekki
Esia
Gum {American Red}
Holly
Hornbeam {European}
Pink Ivory
Karri
Keruing
Olive {East African}
Ramin
Rata
Stinkwood

The information in this article is taken from my notes of 21 years of woodworking experience {mistakes included} and working over 350 different species of wood.


This article is free for republishing
Source: http://www.a1articles.com/article_16977_27.html
Occupation: Woodworking Artist Designer
Johnny has had his website and been the webmaster since 1995. 95% of his sales come from his business website and 99% of his orders come from people who live more than 200 miles away from his business location. As a young boy helping his father with carpentry jobs, Johnny Morlan could never guess that one day his gorgeous wood pieces would adorn not only the finest American and European homes, but would even be presented to the President and First Lady of the United States. When Johnny was just seven years old, living in Moberly, Missouri with his family, he began assisting his father, working on various carpentry projects. By the time he was a teen, the artistry that would later make him such a success was already apparent. "My dad would get annoyed with me because I would always want to make the finish moldings and cabinets more intricate," Johnny chuckles. He loved making small wood objects, but was often told by his father and others that there just wasn't a market for such items. "Well, in 1989, I stopped listening to the nay-sayers, "Johnny says, "and I've never looked back." Having already worked for a furniture contractor and in the lumber and hardware businesses, he had a solid base of knowledge as he founded J.W. Morlana's Unique Wood Gifts. But he also had a passion to keep learning and growing in his craft, reading over 220 books on the subject and constantly striving for perfection. Now working in Lubbock, Texas and a recognized master in his trade, Johnny Morlan has worked with over 500 species of wood and keeps more than 125 species in stock. He cares deeply about the environment, works with woods endorsed by the Rainforest Alliance Smart Wood Program, and in the last few years was nominated for several distinguished leadership awards. Johnny has worked with unique woods since 1983. People from over 130 countries have viewed and admired his creations. He is a member of the International Who's Who Historical Society {his short biography is featured in the 2001-2002 edition of the International Who's Who of Entrepreneurs}. He is a member of the following organizations and associations: Rainforest Alliance Smart Wood Program, National Arbor Day Foundation, International Wood Collectors Society, Woodworker's Website Association, Woodworkers Book Club and a lifetime member of Handyman Club of America. Some of Johnny's creations have been bought by or given as presents to professional people, foreign dignitaries of state, celebrities and even the President and the First Lady of the United States.
Related Articles