Mahogany Warps When Ripping,What Gives?- Question of the Week

April 5, 2007 | Filed Under Blog, Question of the Week 

This week’s question comes from Ron. He writes:

O Reverend Spagnuolo, I am getting conflicting reports on a warping issue I am having with African Mahogany so as a last resort I figured I would ask the master! I purchased one piece of African Mahogany approximately 1″x11″x8′, let it acclimate in the shop approximately a week (typically I would let it go longer but I needed to get started) tried to run it through the table saw and notice some severe warping while trying to rip. This wasn’t going to work so I sliced it with the band saw only to watch it wrap around my band saw like an Anaconda!!
Now I have heard I may have one of the following three issues
1. It hasn’t acclimated enough (forum source)
2. By ripping I have released the internal stresses and letting it acclimate probably won’t help (forum source)
3. That’s what happens with African mahogany especially during the heat (fork lift driver at lumber yard)

My thought:
It really may be primarily internal stresses and by possibly purchasing a more narrow board I could help eliminate some of this problem.

I initially thought it may be a moisture problem but… how often do you use a moisture meter and could you recommend one?

And here was my reply:

“Hey there Ron. I use a Delhorst moisture meter. It was pricey but it’s very accurate. How often do i use it? Next to never. Because of our weather here, its pretty safe to assume most wood purchased locally is pretty darn dry. But its a good thing to have for those times that you actually need it. As for the mahogany, sometimes wood just has a certain plan. I doubt very very much that that warping was due to acclimation issues. There are some woods that do this more often then others, but nearly all woods have the potential to have internal stress. The longer and narrower you are cutting, the more likely it is to happen. I just cut some face-frame stock today and every single piece warped at least 1/2″ over 6 feet. Its just the way it goes. For a face-frame, its no big deal because you can use biscuits to hold it in position. But for wider pieces, you might need a perfectly straight cut. So its always a good idea to rip boards a little over-sized. If warping occurs, just joint the edge again and trim down to final size on the tablesaw. Unfortunately, the warp is so great sometimes that jointing would leave you with a tooth pick. Thats when you pick up a new board and start over. ”

Comments

7 Responses to “Mahogany Warps When Ripping,What Gives?- Question of the Week”

  1. Nicole on April 5th, 2007 9:24 am

    Off topic :) Wow the shop looks great! Those lights really make a big difference

  2. Steve on April 5th, 2007 10:38 am

    Off Topic:

    Light, what a wonderful thing. Now you can put those Sharpies away and refill “Sponge Bob” with new pencil lead and eraser.

  3. dan on April 5th, 2007 1:06 pm

    hey, love your shows very educating. I learn alot from them.
    We have a night stand in our bedroom.That has white rings on it.I am guessing it came from when I was ill my wife put a pan that had a ice bag in it.A couple days later it had a white ring on it.I tryed wax, putting saelac on it no good results. Can you give any advice.
    Thanks Dan

  4. Todd Clippinger on April 5th, 2007 1:23 pm

    I have had the same issues with African Mahogany that Ron has mentioned. A couple of other furniture makers I know of told me that was the tendancy of African Mahogany and that “Genuine” Mahogany costs more per bf but that they had less loss.
    I made a mahogany table with curved legs. I made 7 legs to get 4 good ones, and they would never twist until the final cut. One twisted so bad from end to end it looked like I had wrung water out of it!

  5. Herman on April 5th, 2007 6:53 pm

    I work with western maple very regularly and recieve stock from 3 different suppliers. I now only accept stock from 2 suppliers due to the way they dry thier wood.

    This supplier drys thier wood way to quickly and at higher temputures which induce a great deal of stress which in turn damages my equipment and increases the danger of injury to me. The stock also exibits blown cells that are difficult to see until you have cut into the stock.

    Just recently I recieved some of this stock form my local supplier mixed in among the lift. I imediatly contacted the supplier and requested the wood be taken back and replaced.

    I may have more pull due to the volume of wood I purchase but I firmly believe, if you have a good relationship with your wood supplier, they should either replace or provide a discount on the stock you recieved.

    Don’t let these suppliers be bullies.

  6. thewoodwhisperer on April 5th, 2007 8:38 pm

    Hey Dan. Check this out:

    http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?p=121

  7. Todd Clippinger on April 6th, 2007 10:02 am

    Herman is right, I do have a good relationship with my supplier as well, and they replaced the mahogany that I lost.

    None of the stock that I had exhibited the signs of being dried too quickly though.

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