165 – The Global Warping Effect

Video - February 1, 2012

Mother Nature can be quite harsh on wood even under the best conditions. This is why it is essential to protect your outdoor projects with a good quality finish and if possible, use a cover to protect them from the elements. This video shows you a few boards that were left out in the Arizona weather for over two years with no protection at all. While intended mostly as fun, we might be able to glean some useful information by seeing which species are still usable after this torture test.

Thanks to Dan Johns on Facebook for inspiring the title of this episode.

A Desert Outdoor Finish (Video)
Pondering Outdoor Finishes
Difference Between Spar and Regular Varnish
A Better Way to Apply Spar Urethane

Discussion

Bill Akins February 1, 2012 3:26 pm

Very interesting take on wood conditioning. I am working on a project using black locust picked up in Delaware, brought to North Georgia for several years and then to my shop in Atlanta for 3 years. A few checks but it milled up beautifully, and hard as iron.

Reply
- Dan Drabek February 1, 2012 6:30 pm
  
  Black locust was a wood commonly used by the old-time boat builders for cleats, etc. So one would suspect it might hold up well to the weather. The structure of the wood reminds me a lot of osage orange. (I’ve done a bit of work with both of them). I have heard stories of osage, used for fence posts, being dug up after being in the ground for close to a century–and the wood is still sound. Possibly the most durable wood next to teak. Osage is bright yellow when cut, and ages to a nice chestnut brown. Locust seems to be much less interesting in color.
  
  DD
  
  Reply
John Fitz February 1, 2012 3:29 pm

Interesting. I’m sure I have some “science projects” out in my yard :) I think I only got 2 guesses right, including the DF 2×4.

btw, one of the ‘right click to download’ buttons above takes you to the marking gauge ‘mini’ instead…

Reply
matthew February 1, 2012 4:11 pm

So you’re saying I shouldn’t build my deck furniture out of MDF? Craaaaaaap….now you tell us ;)

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James February 1, 2012 4:23 pm

Not directly related, however I came across an article in the Aug2011 issue of Woodworkers Journal that recommends sealing the feet of chairs and such with epoxy to prevent the feet from decaying. The idea here is it prevents water from wicking up through the end grain.

Just thought I’d share.
Thanks for the amazing stuff you do Marc.

Reply
karl February 1, 2012 9:16 pm

I think I failed, I got two wright.

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Tom Wilson February 2, 2012 5:33 am

I built a outdoor BBQ table from cypress. I was going to leave it unfinished but decided to try an outdoor finish. The finish lasted about 8 months in Gulf Coast weather. It now looks pretty much like it would have if I had left it unfinished. The up side is that the cypress has held up well other than looking grey and weather beaten after 2years.

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MarkinPhx February 2, 2012 9:32 am

Thanks Marc, that was a very interesting video. It was also nice to see that pristine top on the new Roubo

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Greg Fox February 2, 2012 4:17 pm

I got the first three right and was down hill after that!

The color difference with the padauk was very impressive.

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Chris Griggs February 2, 2012 5:18 pm

Interesting video indeed. I greatly enjoyed it. Just wanted to add that the cut of the wood in those conditions would also be interesting to see. As in, how a piece of quarter sawn wood compares to flat sawn compares to rift sawn, as well as the amount of difference between heartwood and sapwood. I wonder if these variable would reveal even more dramatic differences, and if the differences in the pieces you showed related as much or more to them as to species. Not that I think you should necessarily waste wood conducting such an experiment – just interesting food for thought…. Thanks!

Reply
Hans_Christopher February 3, 2012 9:27 am

A little late but I would have suggested “An Inconvenient Twist” for the title. And I only managed to quess two right.

Cheers

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David B February 3, 2012 11:51 am

I never have to worry about this problem mark. I only work with ebony slabs. :)

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Don C. February 11, 2012 2:13 pm

I need to study up on my wood recce, I didn’t get any right.

Reply
Arooka February 12, 2012 5:08 pm

This was great to see…thanks so much for having left wood out in the elements and the presence of mind to record this for us all!

Reply
alister April 11, 2012 2:07 pm

what about pine it is all i can get in the uk

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JGreasy September 6, 2012 2:27 pm

Love that you are always looking for the learning experience in life.

I built a porch roof 3 months ago out of pressure treated pine (Yellawood to be exact), and I’ve been amazed at the cracks that have formed in the posts in just 3 months. I expected PT wood to do better.

Reply
bob overcash September 7, 2012 2:34 pm

mark, that aged wood could be great for some projects, 100 year old water loged logs go for
a preaty penny. thanks Bob

Reply
alex December 14, 2012 2:09 pm

I turned a bowl from one of those waxed blanks ( I guess it seals in the moisture?). I turned it and a week later it basically split in two!

Reply
Tom Nagy August 13, 2014 12:33 pm

I’ve watched this video for the 2nd time (6 mos later)–and still learned something. You are an excellent teacher! Even inspiring :-)

Reply
- Marc Spagnuolo August 13, 2014 12:48 pm
  
  Well thank you Tom!
  
  Reply

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165 – The Global Warping Effect

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