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Guides · Section 07

Materials

How to work with wood rather than against it: reading grain, allowing for moisture and movement, choosing and buying boards, and working with plywood and sheet goods. For species data and reference tables, see Materials.

Subjects
4
Guides
2
Level
Beginner

In this section

Buying and storing lumber

Grades, rough and surfaced stock, and keeping boards flat.

  1. How to Choose Lumber for WoodworkingChoosing woodworking lumber: hardwood or softwood, how each is graded and sized, moisture for indoor work, reading boards for defects, and buying enough.Beginner · 5 min read

Plywood and sheet goods

Grades, thicknesses and breaking down sheets accurately.

  1. Working With Plywood: Clean Cuts, Circles, Joints and EdgesWorking with plywood from sheet to part: cuts without splintered faces, circles, joints sized to the real sheet, edge banding and solid edging, and fastening.Beginner · 4 min read

What this section covers

  1. 7.1

    Grain and figure

    Reading grain direction and planning cuts around it.

  2. 7.2

    Moisture and movement

    Moisture content, seasonal movement and designing for it.

  3. 7.3

    Buying and storing lumber

    Grades, rough and surfaced stock, and keeping boards flat.

    1 guide

  4. 7.4

    Plywood and sheet goods

    Grades, thicknesses and breaking down sheets accurately.

    1 guide

Work it out

Related reference.