3 ms·

Further, I read somewhere even solid wood available is no longer as good today as 50 years ago.

by geodel 3y ago

MerelyMortal 3y ago
I have heard the same as commercial lumber today is harvested from fast growth trees.
atty 3y ago
Is this something that would cause a noticeable difference in quality, or more of an academic one?
- jaclaz 3y ago
  There are two aspects of the "difference": 1) The timber that was once a locally (or nearby) grown tree might nowadays be - while the same or very similar species - originating from some other country (with different climate/humidity/etc.) and thus be different at a structural level. 2) The timber was once seasoned over several months or even years time (again locally), while most nowadays is artificially seasoned very quickly (usually in a kiln or autoclave for a few days) While you cannot do much for #1, except of course choosing the best batch you can find, the #2 (which is actually what makes the larger differences in stability and also strength over time) can sometimes be avoided by buying the wood before it is seasoned and season it yourself naturally (of course you need the space and time needed, for furniture or making of windows/doors seasoning for a couple of years is not uncommon). The difference between artificially seasoned wood and naturally seasoned is essentially that the latter is more "stable", i.e. it will tend to crack and/or bend/deform much less.
  - atty 3y ago
    Awesome, thank you for the info! Edit: not awesome that wood is lower quality of course, the awesome was for the explanation.
Arrath 3y ago
Indeed not. Going to the building supply store with my dad (former logger, from a family of loggers) was maddening as he flipped through the lumber bin to try to find relatively straight and knot-free boards, akin to those he was used to in 'the old days'.
onecommentman 3y ago
Dimensional (construction grade) might not be, but it’s hard to say. Go to the lumberyard and pick out your own and you’re probably OK. I’ve sent boards back over the years, but it’s more an hit or miss issue of sloppy QA at the yard. Solid wood includes what you find at an “exotic woods” store. There the quality hasn’t declined at all AFAIK. For interior work, it is worth a visit to your local exotics just to see what they have. It’s a fun field trip for the kids if nothing else. More expensive, but often no glue or staining required (sealing recommended) and lives on for many decades as the quality hardwood components can/should be resurfaced/repurposed. Be aware of whether sustainable foresting practices are followed and if the species are endangered. There are many varieties of quality hardwood without those concerns.

Further, I read somewhere even solid wood available is no longer as good today as 50 years ago.

by geodel 3y ago

Further, I read somewhere even solid wood available is no longer as good today as 50 years ago.

MerelyMortal 3y ago

I have heard the same as commercial lumber today is harvested from fast growth trees.

atty 3y ago

Is this something that would cause a noticeable difference in quality, or more of an academic one?

jaclaz 3y ago
There are two aspects of the "difference": 1) The timber that was once a locally (or nearby) grown tree might nowadays be - while the same or very similar species - originating from some other country (with different climate/humidity/etc.) and thus be different at a structural level. 2) The timber was once seasoned over several months or even years time (again locally), while most nowadays is artificially seasoned very quickly (usually in a kiln or autoclave for a few days) While you cannot do much for #1, except of course choosing the best batch you can find, the #2 (which is actually what makes the larger differences in stability and also strength over time) can sometimes be avoided by buying the wood before it is seasoned and season it yourself naturally (of course you need the space and time needed, for furniture or making of windows/doors seasoning for a couple of years is not uncommon). The difference between artificially seasoned wood and naturally seasoned is essentially that the latter is more "stable", i.e. it will tend to crack and/or bend/deform much less.
- atty 3y ago
  Awesome, thank you for the info! Edit: not awesome that wood is lower quality of course, the awesome was for the explanation.

Arrath 3y ago

Indeed not. Going to the building supply store with my dad (former logger, from a family of loggers) was maddening as he flipped through the lumber bin to try to find relatively straight and knot-free boards, akin to those he was used to in 'the old days'.

onecommentman 3y ago

Dimensional (construction grade) might not be, but it’s hard to say. Go to the lumberyard and pick out your own and you’re probably OK. I’ve sent boards back over the years, but it’s more an hit or miss issue of sloppy QA at the yard. Solid wood includes what you find at an “exotic woods” store. There the quality hasn’t declined at all AFAIK. For interior work, it is worth a visit to your local exotics just to see what they have. It’s a fun field trip for the kids if nothing else. More expensive, but often no glue or staining required (sealing recommended) and lives on for many decades as the quality hardwood components can/should be resurfaced/repurposed. Be aware of whether sustainable foresting practices are followed and if the species are endangered. There are many varieties of quality hardwood without those concerns.