Twice this week while watching wrecker progs the experts have said that
when it comes to wide stock you're better off ripping it into narrower
pieces, flipping some over (to alternate growth rings) and gluing up
again to get the width. That way it's less likely to cup. OK I can
see that alternating rings will result in a more stable wide surface.
BUT, what I don't understand is this: why get the wide stock to begin
with?

Let's say you want a 10" wide bookcase top. If you have a piece of 12"
X 1/2" stock to work with, the advice is to rip it into 3 pieces 4"
wide, flip the middle piece over and glue up then rip it for final
width. But why not just start with 3 pieces 1/2" X 4" to begin with?
Usually you will pay more per b/f for wider stock than narrower. It's
not like you're going to lose any great grain match because you've
already lost it when you flipped a board over to alternate the rings.

If all you have to begin with is a 12 X 1/2 plank that's one thing
There must be a simple explanation but I don't see it.

FoggyTown