Squaring up twisted wood?

I have half a dozen joists, 1.2 metres long, to fit but the the lengths of wood I've been given have a noticeable twist. Is there a way of ending up with parallel upper and lower surfaces using a circular saw/electric planer and maybe a table saw?

I don't have access to a jointer or thicknesser.

The joists are an inch too deep so I'm not worried about losing some wood.

Thanks for any advice.

Reply to
mike
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Where did you buy the wood?

cheers, Pete.

Reply to
Pete C

I was given the wood and it seems a shame to waste it if it can be salvaged, but if you're looking to buy wood like that, it's available at all good DIY stores ;-)

Reply to
mike

Now you know why.

and it seems a shame to waste it if it can be

WE used to use it for uncritical parts of the build, like noggins.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

In message , mike writes

Don't know about twisted but you can reduce bananas by the technique used for producing firring pieces. Attach a known straight piece as a reference and use your table saw to remove the *high* spots and give you a new edge.

Don't saw through the screws:-)

I suppose you could attach your joist to the top of a scrap board: only securing at the contact points so you don't introduce a different twist and then trimming off both sides.

Be careful, sawing unsupported wood, that it does not *snatch* down towards the table.

regards

Reply to
Tim Lamb

You might find it twists more or less quite a bit as its moisture content changes.

Might be possible to screw/nail it to a straight bit with a couple of wedges then get it level with a belt sander using the straight bit as a guide.

cheers, Pete.

Reply to
Pete C

Almost certainly, rendering it totally unsuitable for any demanding application.

whats the point? come the next muggy tday, is all twisted again.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

that much timber doesnt cost a lot, think how much work it would be to bodge it. If youre really deperate you could slice them all in

2 and glue/screw the halves together with opposing twist - but I wouldnt bother! Save them for use as noggins.

Or you could fit them as is, they'll still support a floor.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

Thanks for all the suggestions. I think in this case I might buy some new bits and "recycle" it using the soon-to-be-installed woodburner.

Reply to
mike

Is it an application that requires strength graded timber? It's not ok to re-dimension strength graded timber - the rating is lost.

If you're laying boards on top/plasterboard underneath, pick out the joists to give you the best match you can (bowed side upwards), use solid noggins and brute force to straighten the twists a little, and wooden shims when you lay the boards to take out the worst of the irregularities.

Be aware that having joists even a small amount off vertical compromises their load rating.

Reply to
dom

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