Reply To: Question about workbench build
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Concerning the re-cupping, I remember a tip that I have read various times:
When you have finished dimensioning your wood, use it right away. I think, this is especially important when the climate in your workshop depends entirely on the weather. Of course, this is easier said than done while making a workbench.
And another interesting information: Wood always tries to straighten the annual rings. If you look at the grain, you can tell, which way it will probably go – it is not always obvious of course. And if you have the annual rings perpendicular to the width of the board (lines pointing to the wide surfaces), the board will not cup much at all. Of course, you usually have to pay for the better grain orientation…
Dieter
PS: I wouldn’t worry too much about the aprons. If you like to minimise cupping, you could cut the boards in half lenghtwise and reglue them after turning one piece around. So one half will cup a little in one direction and the other one in the other direction. Join the other parts accordingly.
PPS: Paul Sellers quoted from memory (roughly): “When a package of construction wood is opened, the boards will coil around for a few days” I think, this was in one of the first Q&A videos.