Don’t Make These Lumber Mistakes!

I imagine most people think wood is a fairly simple material. But the more you work with it, the more you can appreciate the subtle peculiarities of wood and what it takes to work with it effectively. Over the years, I’ve made a number of mistakes with regard to purchasing and cutting lumber and plywood and hopefully this list of tips will save you some heartache.

• Wood Moves After Milling
• Wood Can Move During a Cut
• Plan for Expansion and Contraction
• Don’t Cheap Out on Plywood
• Crap In, Crap Out
• Buying Thicker Lumber and Resawing Is Not Cheaper
• Shop Around for Best Price
• Finish Doesn’t Forgive Crappy Wood
• Learn to Paint With Grain