My usual method of working from rough lumber is as follows:
- Find some irresitable bargain and buy as much as I think SMWBO will allow.
- Seal the ends.
- Sticker the planks in my basement workshop.
- Let a minimum of two weeks elapse.
- Rip oversize and do a first pass dressing to somewhere around 1/8" to 1/4" larger than the final dimensions.
- Sticker again and let a minimum of a few days pass to let the relieved stresses sort themselves out.
- Finish dressing to the final dimensions and get to work.
Now, my question is: if I know that a 12" plank of, say, 8/4 hard maple, is destined to be ripped into
2 3/4" strips, would it be better to rip it as soon as I bring it home?Thanks for your opinions. Keith Ottawa, Canada