Two Easy Methods For Straightening The Cupped Wood
The wood cupping refers to a state in which the wood planks are higher on the edges as compared to the center of the board, which will form the shape of a cup. The cupping is actually a result of the changes in moisture in the room. Whenever the moisture increases, the wood begins to swell and when it decreases, the wood begins to shrinks. In order to straighten the cupped wood, go through one of the below-mentioned methods:
Method 1: Flattening
- The user needs to wet down the concave side or affected side with a healthy amount of water. It is important to make sure that it really soak in. The user can also use a wet cloth on top of the cupped wood. Place the affected wood on some stickers as this will give it a good airflow to the convex side.
- Come back after a few hours as the board might have been straightened out a bit. If not leave it for overnight and add more water and wait longer.
- Now the wood is flat or maybe even cupped a little on the opposite side. So, clamp it tightly with a couple of cauls. Leave the wood in the clamps for a couple of days. The best option is to leave it until the user will use it. The wood will be flat when it is completely dry.
Method 2 : Steaming
- The best method for removing the cup from wood is the steaming.
- The best way to use the steaming on wood depends on its size. If it is too large then the user needs to place a pot of boiling water on the stove. The user can steam it by simply building a fire underneath a 55-gallon drum which is filled with water.
- Once it is pliable, the user needs to clamp it to something rigid which will not interfere with the drying process. 2 lengths of the galvanized pipe, place the one along each edge of the board, this will help to hold it straight while allowing the side against which they are clamped to breathe.
- The wood should remain in a low-humidity environment until it completely dries.
- Steaming the wood for a prolonged period is a much more effective way to get water in the cells of the wood than simply soaking it. Once it is pliable, the wood can straighten as well as hold it using the clamps and it dries well in a ventilated area out of direct sunlight.