Storing Wood

[morpheus83uk]

Hi All,

I have recently purchased some pine for some projects I am doing and I have found that since its been in the garage up on the rafters its warped quite badly and I am wondering how it would get like this? How can I prevent it? and how can I unwarp it?

I don't have much space in my garage so the only place really to put it is up on the rafters so that its out of the way while I work.

Any help or advice is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

James

 

[Trevanion]

its been in the garage up on the rafters

I imagine the recent extreme heat we've had has cooked the roof of the garage which has heated up the pine and caused it to warp. Wood will move anyway, especially thin pine. I've planed dead straight pieces of 3" hardwood only to leave it overnight and come back to it and it's bent and twisted, That's wood for you.

How can I prevent it?

Best way to prevent is evenly stacking on top of close together bearers (In your case rafters) and putting sticks between each layer of timber. Also keeping it at a constant mid temperature and low moisture level where it doesn't get overly hot or overly damp will help.

how can I unwarp it?

Best way is to plane it out if it's not too severe. Might be best to cut the timbers up for the project with the worst warped pieces being used for the shortest pieces and the not too bad ones being used for the longest, and then planing them to remove the twists. There's no real way to unwarp a board easily. If you're using it to make garden furniture and you're planning to screw it together the twists won't be too much of an issue.

 

[morpheus83uk]

Thank you.

This is not for in the garden and it will be glued together. The issue I have is that its all twisted quite badly and I dont really have the money to go out and buy new so I am kinda stuck at the moment it sounds like

As for stacking I only have three pieces on top of each other and then a 5 and another 5. What is the reason for having the sticks between each board? Is it to improve airflow or allow moisture out or something?

I am not sure I can keep the garage in them circumstances which is not good as its the only place I have to store any additional wood I have.