Twisted timber

[AJ'shed]

I guess this topic has been well covered, but I'm fairly new to the Forum, but I would be grateful for the 'latest' thoughts on the matter. I am real having trouble finding 2x4 PAR (2.4 lengths) of timber that won't twist. I'm no expert, but it looks like most readily available is flat sawn and smaller dimensions are almost invariably pith (If that's the right term). I bought one batch last year and due to having to hold on a project (a new workbench construction) due to a period of hospitalization - on returning to the project all six lenghts were unusable due to twisting. This is despite having been carefully stored in the workshop. The supplier doesn't want to know - it seems it's my fault for not having used the timber straight away, my thoughts are if I had then the problem would have become manifest in my work. The bottom line - is our timber getting to be more and more poor quality? Final thought, one experienced woodworker in the USA said never to buy 2x4 but get it cut from 2x8 - hence less endancy to warp and twist? Any thoughts, for info I'm in Kent.

 

[GE STANDARD]

use 2x10 and larger check the end grain so that you can get quarter sawn wood from the edges, then you will have no problems.

 

[AJ'shed]

use 2x10 and larger check the end grain so that you can get quarter sawn wood from the edges, then you will have no problems.

Many thanks for confirming this. Heaven knows wht they are cutting the 2 x 4 's from ... old christmas trees?

 

[Shamoun]

Today's 2x4s are garbage, fast-grown, flat-sawn junk that twists if you blink. Buying wider boards like 2x8s and ripping them down is smarter. The sad truth is that quality lumber's disappearing, and suppliers rarely admit it.

 

[AJ'shed]

Today's 2x4s are garbage, fast-grown, flat-sawn junk that twists if you blink. Buying wider boards like 2x8s and ripping them down is smarter. The sad truth is that quality lumber's disappearing, and suppliers rarely admit it.

Thanks for the reply Shamoun. In the end that's what I did (had 2x8 ripped down). Still not brilliant but better. I also found a USA YouTube page that deals with this problem, so the issue of poor quality timber looks like it's universal.