How do you know which way a board will cup?
And lucky (or is it unlucky?) for us, you can pretty much predict which way the board will cup simply by looking at the orientation of the end-grain. As you can see in the drawing to the right, the wood typically cups away from what would be the center of the tree, or in the opposite direction of the growth rings.
How do I stop my boards from warping?
Here are a few ways to ensure that you store your wood properly:
- Put wood piles onto flat foundations.
- Place wood boards and the stickers in uniform stacks with boards of the same thickness.
- Align stickers vertically and lay them flat.
- Space the wood out to provide proper ventilation.
Is there a way to stop wood panels from cupping?
Well, we aren’t going to stop the individual boards from cupping. But if one board cups up and the next board cups down, the overall effect on the panel is canceled out. The end result would be a much less noticeable issue. So while its not necessary to alternate the grain, doing so could very well lessen the effect of unexpected cupping.
What makes the top of a cupped panel?
It is drier, tighter and smaller, and the outside edges are pulling together. The top side is wetter, looser and bigger, and its outside edges are pushing apart. These two forces, one pushing and one pulling, are working together to make a cupped panel.
Can a flat wood be bent back into a cup?
No, it can’t really be bent back, but it can be coerced back by doing the reverse of what caused the cup in the first place. The key is understanding the cause of the problem. First, you need to identify the wet side and the dry side.
Do you have to alternate Cup of wood?
Also, some woodworkers say it is not necessary to alternate the cup of the wood if the panel is not too wide. Is this true? Thanks Marc, I love your blog. As far as I’m concerned, there is no rule of thumb for board width when making a panel.