"Scott Moore" wrote in message
news:dCL4b.323072$o%2.147956@sccrnsc02...
Ok, green lumber. I was wondering why, when all the books I have recommend
dry
lumber for serious use, stores like Home Depot only appear to carry green
lumber
(in my area). Is that information out of date, or is home boy depot really
out of it on
this matter ?


Many lumber yards carry green construction lumber. When I built our deck, I
spaced the 2x redwood 1/8-inches apart; when dried, the spaced increased to
3/8" -- enough to catch high heels. Hardwoods [oak, maple, walnut] are
generally lower in moisture content, but you are on your own to find a
source of dry lumber. Without a moisture meter, I built a red oak table
from wood that the dealer assured me was 12% or lower. I let it set in the
shop for two weeks, glued it up, and was awakened at 3:00 a.m. by the
explosion as the base dried and split apart. I usually drive 275 miles to
get my hardwood lumber to be assured of getting properly dried wood. I
would never buy hardwood from the discount chains without a moisture
meter -- besides, it's usually too expensive. Of course, you can save by
buying green lumber and drying it yourself if you have the space. We used
to cut and dry our own lumber, but that's a job for a young man. Green
lumber is heavy, and the board you need is always on the bottom of the
stack. harrym