New product: Radom wood grip reproductions

[DonVoigt]

You are correct for sure Ollie; this is a project full of "snakes".
A lamination joint would be visible from the out side, but probably not too bad.
I'll condition the boards in my "gun room" inside for a couple weeks; then plane them; I do hope they are stable.

The three small boxes I bought and re-worked a year or so ago, were warped. Sanding them flat solved the lid/base fit problem, but made the cut outs too shallow. Had to re-cut the openings.
So I have had some "bad" experience with warping already.

I'm amazed at the two or three original long boxes I have handled, that the boxes are still flat and fit perfectly together.

I made a trial small box from really old oak from some piece of furniture to see how that would work, it was really stable. Made another from Teak which was also well cured and made a nice box-just too figured for a close reproduction.

[Olle]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

You are correct for sure Ollie; this is a project full of "snakes".
A lamination joint would be visible from the out side, but probably not too bad.
I'll condition the boards in my "gun room" inside for a couple weeks; then plane them; I do hope they are stable.

The three small boxes I bought and re-worked a year or so ago, were warped. Sanding them flat solved the lid/base fit problem, but made the cut outs too shallow. Had to re-cut the openings.
So I have had some "bad" experience with warping already.

I'm amazed at the two or three original long boxes I have handled, that the boxes are still flat and fit perfectly together.

I made a trial small box from really old oak from some piece of furniture to see how that would work, it was really stable. Made another from Teak which was also well cured and made a nice box-just too figured for a close reproduction.

Conditioning them is one key, and the longer the better. I don't trust any "kiln dried" wood, much of it seem to be "kiln dried" in a damp basement.

I try to leave the wood in the shop for a few weeks, unless I'm getting it from one of my trusted sources. Another thing I do is to seal the finished product with oil to prevent it from absorbing moisture again, and I suspect this could be the key to the survival of those old boxes. I have had good luck with Formby's, it penetrates well, dries fairly quick, and you can clear coat it after it's completely dry.

[Zorba]

Originally Posted by Olle

Conditioning them is one key, and the longer the better. I don't trust any "kiln dried" wood, much of it seem to be "kiln dried" in a damp basement.

Steinway cures their wood outdoors for 2 years (if I remember correctly) before using it. Most other quality piano builders do something similar.

[Olle]

Originally Posted by Zorba

Steinway cures their wood outdoors for 2 years (if I remember correctly) before using it. Most other quality piano builders do something similar.

Many woodworkers store their wood outdoors in open sheds, it's supposed to cure the wood in a more natural way than doing it the "quick and dirty" way in a kiln. I can only assume that it takes a certain climate to do that though. Not sure if it would work around here, where the humidity can vary from a hot and steamy 95% to a cool and dry 35% within just a few days. Still, some like to do it, there's plenty of people storing in in old barns and corn cribs.

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by Zorba

Steinway cures their wood outdoors for 2 years (if I remember correctly) before using it. Most other quality piano builders do something similar.

Hot and humid NC won't be a good place to do that; but I can think of some places that would be great!

[ithacaartist]

Originally Posted by DonVoigt

Hot and humid NC won't be a good place to do that; but I can think of some places that would be great!

Interesting, in that Hickory and Ashville are areas of major production of furniture!

I worked in Texas as a service man for a furniture store in Austin. You'd be surprised (maybe not) how the difference in humidity between where a piece was built and where it may wind up, influences the ease with which one can open a dresser drawer!

[DonVoigt]

Originally Posted by ithacaartist

Interesting, in that Hickory and Ashville are areas of major production of furniture!

I worked in Texas as a service man for a furniture store in Austin. You'd be surprised (maybe not) how the difference in humidity between where a piece was built and where it may wind up, influences the ease with which one can open a dresser drawer!

For sure on humidity effect; but NC furniture mfg. has moved to China!