Home Improvement Stack Exchange
Home Improvement Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [wood]

For questions involving wood as a construction material, either as lumber or finished features of a home.

Wood

Wood is a hard, fibrous tissue found in many trees. It has been used for hundreds of thousands of years for both fuel and as a construction material. Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction. Woods are generally classified as hardwoods or softwoods and have different properties and applications.

More information

Related Tags

1862 questions
19
votes
2 answers

What size dowels to use for joints?

I'm comfortable with the process of creating and joining wood with dowels, but I'm not sure what size dowels to use in which cases? Specifically, I'm working with 1" thick stock (3/4" actual), what size should I use? What are the other sizes and…
Sparafusile
  • 345
  • 1
  • 3
  • 8
11
votes
2 answers

Are diagonal cracks in a primary beam a concern?

We recently purchased a home and are remodeling our basement. I’m not super knowledgeable about stuff like this and that’s why I hired this out instead of doing it myself. They have taken the old wall down to the studs and I was looking at this…
Mitch DiMauro
  • 131
  • 1
  • 5
10
votes
3 answers

What type of wood is recommended for an outdoor jungle gym?

I'm not sure what other specs to include, as I haven't started the blueprints yet, just wanted to price the main parts out to see if it would be cost effective to build one vs buying from a big box store. Mainly just looking for outdoor durability…
MDMoore313
  • 1,074
  • 6
  • 24
  • 38
10
votes
9 answers

How do I take apart a wooden pallet without cracking the wood?

I'm trying to save the wood from some wooden pallets and have been unsuccessful. I have been hammering close to where the nails are and then pry the nails out; however, before the wood comes out far enough to remove the nails it usually snaps in…
Court Butterfield
  • 111
  • 1
  • 1
  • 6
10
votes
5 answers

How can I attach two pieces of wood in an invisible way?

I would like to attach a thin tree trunk to a flat smooth piece of wood, in order to create support for a very heavy shelf. Any suggestions on how to do it, while leaving a minimal outside marks? Basically my question is how to attach the tubular…
Shwouchk
  • 305
  • 1
  • 4
  • 11
9
votes
3 answers

How can I tell if wood is properly dried?

I guess measuring it's weight would be one of the answers, but it doesn't seem practical because wood of a same type can probably fluctuate in it's density enough to make measurement unreliable in 10-20% moisture range. Are there any specific tips…
Slartibartfast
  • 453
  • 5
  • 9
8
votes
3 answers

Can I support floating steps around a tree with protruding steel rods?

I want to install "floating" steps around a tree in a "spiral staircase" design up to a tree house. I will be milling the treads from a 10" diameter log. Each tread will be 24" long and 7"- 10" wide in a tapered design to better conform around the…
Dennis Osborn
  • 81
  • 1
  • 2
8
votes
4 answers

How can I cut 4x4 posts that are already mounted?

I'm in the process of installing a handrail here and the former owner put these pressure-treated 4x4 posts without cutting them first. They're in the ground already and need to be cut at the correct height to where the railing itself will be…
K C
  • 91
  • 1
  • 1
  • 2
7
votes
3 answers

How can I drill a hole in a small stick of wood?

I need to make a few arrow shafts hollow, they're about 1/2" thick. Example: There would have to be enough space in the middle to put iron wire in it (the thickness of an old coat hanger)
Jelle De Loecker
  • 171
  • 1
  • 3
6
votes
2 answers

What is the difference between 'planed square edge' timber and 'planed all round'?

I am buying timber to use a curtain batten, between the rail and the wall. So I want the edges to be flat. I see wood sold as 'planed all round' and 'planed square edge'. What's the difference? Which do I want for curtain batten?
Colonel Panic
  • 175
  • 1
  • 2
  • 8
6
votes
2 answers

What kind of saw would I use to cut a shape out of a panel?

It's is a nice even cut trying to find out what kind of saw.
Laura Moreno
  • 61
  • 2
5
votes
2 answers

Is a 1x6 board suitable as a swing seat?

I'm making a swing supported by nylon rope to hang under a deck. The swing seat will be 17 in. wide and made from pressure treated pine. Can I use a 1x6 (left over from making the deck)?
Bmurph
  • 51
  • 2
5
votes
4 answers

What exactly is doorskin?

I've used it in a boat-building workshop, but I'm not clear on what "doorskin" is. Is it just plywood made of a single ply? What is its intended purpose? Is it sold at building supply stores that have plywood? The one suggestion I've seen for DIY…
Jay Bazuzi
  • 11,698
  • 34
  • 97
  • 143
4
votes
1 answer

Is this water damage, dry rot, or just old age?

I purchased a 60 year old house last year and a few months ago I noticed an odd wavy pattern in the paint just above the floor trim. The wood floor was also noticeably darker in that area, so I decided to pull back the quarter round and see what…
Corey Bateman
  • 41
  • 1
  • 2
4
votes
2 answers

What is this tool called

It looks like an adze, same handle and hammer like back, but the blade is vertical.
Mal
  • 41
  • 2
1
2 3
…
10 11