Wood warping?

[Dave Monk]

I've worked with wood a long time but new to scrolling. As thin and delicate as these projects are, do you have much problem with your projects warping? What can you do to prevent it? Thanks, dave

[jerry1939]

Hi Dave,

 

I work with a LOT of 1/4" oak from Menards (don't waste a trip to Lowes). Warping is a major problem. Will break down and buy a table saw when it's spring in Iowa. Will rip everything into about 3/4" widths, flip every other one over and glue them back together. Have been ripping with the scroll saw & sanding the edges. Be sure to mark each piece for gluing. i.e Every other one "upside down"

 

jerry

[LarryEA]

Dave, I had a small piece of 1/8 maple that I painted, went to kitchen, got a cup of coffee.

Back to shop within 5 minutes and that wood had warped.

You know wood.... it reacts to changes in invironment..

I'm not sure what you can do......... use laminated...plywood, luan,.........

I do a lot of cutting on 1/2...3/4 wood and just say a prayer after i'm finished that it likes where it's going.

[hotshot]

If you only finish one side of your work, you are in for a warping nightmare.  A good finish all over should help stablize it.  If you are cutting fretwork, use thin plywood instead of solid.

 

Jerry, I like how you think.

 

---------Randy

Edited January 14, 2016 by hotshot

[Lucky2]

Dave, I lay all of my thin stock flat with weight on the top, this helps keep it flat until I want to use it. After I've made something out of it, I make sure to treat both sides of the project. If I have any amount of thin stock, I usually sticker pile it and leave it unsanded. Doing what I do seems to help, or, at least I think it does as I have very little stock that warps.

Len

[Tommy Johnson]

I work with 3/8 to 1/2 wood and I put a 1/2 backer board on the back of most my work with a thin bead of glue around the entire piece. That helps for the most part. Good luck Dave!

[ike]

I use a moisture Gage and don't want to work on anything with a higher moisture tha 9% moisture and very seldom have any warpage.

[Phantom Scroller]

I do the same as Len then drop it into a try of lemon oil or wax mixture it all over never I've never had any issues yet and that's oak. Roly

[Dave Monk]

Thanks for all the good comments! dave

[amazingkevin]

If you only finish one side of your work, you are in for a warping nightmare.  A good finish all over should help stablize it.  If you are cutting fretwork, use thin plywood instead of solid.

 

Jerry, I like how you think.

 

---------Randy

thanks randy i have a problem with one side shiny 1/4" wood bending on me.

[ike]

the reason for war-page is there is too much moisture in the wood, the wood should be between 6% & 8% . I bought a moisture meter at harbor freight for $13,When I buy wood i check it before buying if it is over 9% i leave it alone. and I halve no warping problems.

[Sycamore67]

Warpage happens most often on plain sawn wood and much less on quartersawn wood. On thin projects I use mainly the quartersawn wood.