{"id":33422,"date":"2022-06-23T16:32:42","date_gmt":"2022-06-23T13:32:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/revistadinlemn.ro\/?p=33422"},"modified":"2022-06-24T11:01:57","modified_gmt":"2022-06-24T08:01:57","slug":"what-solutions-do-carpenters-have-to-reduce-wood-cracking-at-the-ends-of-logs-and-planks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/revistadinlemn.ro\/en\/2022\/06\/23\/ce-solutii-au-tamplarii-pentru-reducerea-craparii-lemnului-la-capetele-bustenilor-grinzilor-si-scandurilor\/","title":{"rendered":"What carpenters can do to reduce wood cracking at the ends of logs, beams and planks"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is a known fact that wood has a tendency to crack during drying. This is due to the natural outflow of water, especially through the cross-section where the fiber ends are located. To limit cracking, the area must be protected. Facebook post by\u00a0article on drying walnut wood<\/a> has given us the opportunity to learn some original ways to protect the fiber head area. We found some of them interesting and think they would be appreciated by those who have to dry cut trees in their own yard or who have bought whole trunks. You will discover them in the article below, along with other information on wood splitting and a professional way to protect wood during the drying, storage and\/or transportation processes.<\/p>\n

\"solutions<\/p>\n

Why cracks appear at the ends of logs, planks or cupboards<\/h5>\n

Cracks mainly occur at the ends of logs, cabinets or planks and lead to wood loss. The cause of cracking is the rapid outflow of water, which causes high stresses inside the wood. Drying to equilibrium moisture is a natural process that starts as soon as the tree has been felled. Most of the water escapes through the grain ends, the area subject to the greatest stresses.<\/p>\n

Wood cracks because the bond between fibers is broken or anatomical elements break. Cracking occurs in the longitudinal direction and has several causes: growth defects, growth stresses, drying out, dimensional variation due to moisture exchange with the environment, cutting mistakes, wrong construction solutions. For more information on the most common cracks that occur as growth defects - gelivura and rolla - see here<\/a>, and about swelling and shrinkage, i.e. the dimensional variation of wood due to air humidity, we have written extensively here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Wood must be dried before being used in construction or furniture making<\/h5>\n

It is mandatory to dry the wood before using it for furniture, musical instruments, decorative elements or construction. In relation to the relative humidity of the air in this geographical area, the humidity of wood in Romania must be 8-12% for indoors and 12-16% for outdoors. There are also exceptions, such as wood used for the manufacture of resonance musical instruments, the humidity of which must be 5-7%, or wood for the manufacture of barrels, the normal humidity of which is 18-20%.<\/p>\n

Wood must be dried before use to be safe to use. Excess water will cause it to lose water uncontrollably until it reaches equilibrium which will lead to internal stresses. The result will be warping and cracking in the wood, i.e. compromising the project for which it was used. High humidity also reduces the properties of wood and makes it vulnerable to attack by insects and fungi that can cause it to rot<\/a>. Wood drying and moisture balance<\/a>\u00a0are important issues to understand and respect.<\/p>\n

\"solutions<\/p>\n

Recommendations from carpenters or woodworkers<\/h5>\n

At the article posted on the well-known social network, in addition to many warnings not to cut the walnut without approval from the County Agricultural Department \ud83d\ude42 I also found a number of recommendations to limit the occurrence of cracks at the ends of logs and solid wood elements. Below are some of the suggestions, some quite ingenious:<\/p>\n