I am in the process of biscuit-joining oak boards to make renovation material for the stairs. I have sawn and planed boards sized 130x16 that I am joining in pairs. But this morning I noticed they had become slightly warped, even though the boards have passed through the planer. How do I prevent the finished panel from warping? I haven't checked the moisture content in the wood, as I don't have a moisture meter, but it feels "dry."
But why would a board that is flat when it lies by itself warp just because it's glued at the edge to another (flat) board? Please explain! I thought edge-gluing narrower pieces into panels was about material cost. If you want long, wide, knot-free pieces, you can't use as much of each log as you can when you cut out narrow strips. With narrow strips, you can remove knots and make better use of each wood log. That's what I always thought, but maybe it's about avoiding "warped" panels?
Moreover, I don't want narrow strips for the stairs...
Moreover, I don't want narrow strips for the stairs...
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Wood is a living material with tensions in it, and it absorbs and releases moisture. If you have narrower pieces, it cannot move as much. For example, there are allamell boards that have 5 mm narrow alribbor. This board is considered completely motionless and is an alternative for those who do not want to use MDF or chipboard.
It is difficult to join wider wooden beams as the thicker/wider it is, the greater the tensions. When I made countertops from 100*25mm beams, I let them sit in a wood press with heat overnight to hold their shape, and planed them the next day. If you really want wider strips, I recommend placing them in a press, preferably warm, for at least a couple of days after you have joined them and planing them afterwards.
I have realized that pressing is essential during and after gluing. But what is it that causes the tensions to release? I mean, if I let the boards lie separately after planing, they seem to keep their shape, but if I glue them together, they warp...