Store a ruler without it warping?

[Ironside]

Hello,

We have experienced wood warping before when we stored it on the garage floor. Now we have bought a larger beam that will be used for casting work and it's important that it stays straight, so how should we store the beam? And how soon do we need to use it to avoid problems?

Best regards

 

[eriobe]

I really don't have any answers to your questions. But I have tried laying such slats next to something that is straight and using zip ties. It works okay.

 

[Snickarkirre]

Hey! Leave it outside or in a cold attic. Preferably under a roof or something similar so that it stays dry but gets air all around. If you cover it with a tarp on the ground, the ground moisture will get to it, and there is a risk of mold. Maybe not a big deal if you're going to use it for a form or something similar. It's when you bring them into the heat that they tend to warp the most. As long as it stays dry, it can stay indefinitely if the wood is of some quality (like C24) without warping.

 

[Ironside]

The boards might warp in the garage during the summer when it's the hottest and most humid.

I played it safe and sawed up the board to build the mold frame from it. But even then, it was anything but straight, and I had to pull and tug a lot to achieve a reasonable fit. Now the frame is under pressure beneath a couple of bags of pellets, with the hope of being able to use it for casting next weekend.

But that's fine, as now I know a little more about how to store lumber in the future. The sunroom sounds like a better place than inside the garage.