Stock Prep & Dimensioning in Woodworking

In the coming weeks I'll be publishing my first "project" build. The content formula used by a majority of KZbin woodworkers earning their living on the platform. One where you publish a free video that is highly polished and provides the basics of what 95% of the audience wants: what you made and how you made it. Then for those inclined you make available a package of plans and 6-8 in-depth videos they can purchase. This extra 3-6 hours of content will be less polished but much more dense in knowledge.
I've been sharing some of those in-depth segments with my Patrons on Patreon this past week. Some suggested I offer this segment to the general populous to illustrate the difference of my efforts to others because this video can be lesson to itself. And what sets mine apart from others? The focus on long-term education so you'll be able to apply the lessons of the build elsewhere. That's been the wortheffort way since the beginning.
So here is a taste of what's to come for those inclined. Enjoy and keep an eye out for the upcoming Router Table Build and subsequent plan/series. It'll be a doozy.
Note: My analysis of the shrinkage of wood around tenon in carcass/chair is right except... rotate it 90 degrees. Still a historically accurate method of using green wood and getting tightening joints.
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This channel is based on the value for value proposition. We depend upon patrons like you to fund our channel if you receive value from it. The time away from 'real work' that is our biggest expense. So if you feel these videos and series are of value to you and others please consider shopping and patronizing these sites:
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/ wortheffort_ww
/ wortheffort_sg
/ wortheffort
Non-"Affiliate" Amazon list of recommended stuff - www.amazon.com...

[@rogerpence]

I grew up in a lumberyard family. For 28 years or so (11 yo to 39 yo) i was at the lumberyard every day (when the big box stores came into play I saw the writing on the wall and learned to code). I touched thousands of so yellow pine 2x12s over those years. I also spent some of that time in the shop learning a few core woodworking skills (i also picked up some good cussing, guns, and girl skills from the shop guys). But i learned nothing about the science of it all - this video taught me more in one sitting than I learned in all of years I spent cussing with the shop guys. I’ll watch it many more times. Your passion, your knowledge, and your ability to connect with your viewers is unparalleled. Many, many thanks. (PS: Notice the end of my thumb is missing in my avatar. I was the 4th generation of Pences in the family business and the first to whack off a digit in a table saw. I am much more careful now!)

[@wortheffort]

thanks

[@rjtjtckt3998]

Well what an informative video, never seen anything explained so well and answered so many questions including ones I didn't even think of. UK

[@williambuckley1185]

I always watch your video's because your teaching methods and approach to teaching is clear and you seem to include everything which is needed. Kindest regards from Australia. :)

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@soofihasan]

I admire you man, you are a true teacher, not after making a buck but genuinely taking time to teach. Thanks and God bless

[@dragonangel1786]

You're a great teacher. I always learn a lot watching your videos. I wish I could afford to buy in your whole project, but I'll take what I can get. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us. Be assured that it's very much appreciated.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks, project won't be out for a week or so and the free video will be good for 90-95% of people.

[@dragonangel1786]

@@wortheffort That's great. I'll be looking forward to it.

[@iakkatz128]

personally, I wish more woodworking KZbinr rambled. There some beautiful thing being made on videos but very few explanations of how and why of the process. While I do enjoy them. As someone who likes to get his hands dirty and make my own rather than buy. I'd really like them to tell me more. You do that pretty well and I thank you for it.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@Saberlus]

Probably one of the most informational woodworking videos I’ve seen!

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@CarAudioInc]

Love your videos man, I'm not even an aspiring carpenter but I used your "no-skill work bench video" to build a workbench and I keep coming back!

[@fmbjmf]

Wow! I cannot believe how much quality content you just packed in to 40 minutes. This is by far the best treatise on grain direction and milling I've seen on youtube. I have a similar approach to my shop furniture projects where I build it from skid wood, and mill it all and leave it over sized for exactly the reasons you mentioned, but I have not so far taken into account how to use the grain to it's best effect. I will now. Thank you.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@mattparsley4004]

Every time I watch your videos, I learn something new. Thank you for taking the time to teach me new skills.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@FrancescoMeloni]

you make the best wood contents by far. thanks for your work

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@jeffcain111]

ive been a trim carpenter, cabinet maker, furniture maker in okc for over a quarter of a century and i still learned something from your video! thanks and i hope youre follow up sells well

[@wortheffort]

Thanks, means a lot to hear.

[@donscottvansandt4139]

Great video! I love the way you teach ... I've been creating all my life and learn something every video. Even the very basics I realize I don't know...

[@howardhardy1992]

Awesome video with great information. It's never too late for an old dog to learn new tricks! Ive been a carpenter for almost 45 years, and had a cabinet shop for several years, but mostly commercial grade European style cabinets for medical offices. So they, of course, are made from sheet goods, MDF, plywood, lots of plastic laminate. Also about 25 years as a building and fire inspector so I definitely understand construction, but have not built much from wood where I needed to pay attention to grain orientation, and with the style of cabinets I built we didn't need to even consider much work with a jointer or planer. When we built anything from hardwood such as occasional raised panel doors we would simply have the supplier give us an S2S board, build the door or drawer front and then have them run it through the timesaver sander. Again we never even thought must about grain direction, although we did know which direction it was likely to warp, cup or twist and took that into account and paid attention to the finished look. Probably did some things right without really knowing why. As I look back on some of the projects we could have paid attention and created a better product but we always were paid and the clients were happy and the products withstood the test of time. Now that I am retired I am getting into a lot of different builds, and hopefully some things I can sell, but need to learn some new skills and pay attention to different things. Thanks much for the detailed info and the ramblings are good (I can always fast forward).

[@wortheffort]

Every "high end" furniture maker I know will say, the way you built a career is the more financially reliable method of ramping up to and keeping a consistent living wage. A family buys one table, one cabinet... businesses buy hundreds and need them now. They'll pay for convenience, consistency and timeliness more than for exceptional quality. If it last the 5-15 years between launch and buyout they're happy.

[@johnpbh]

Wonderful video. Packed full of really detailed, important information and one that can be gone back to again and again for reference. Thanks so much for taking the time to teach us guys out here what you have learned.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@jonathanpopp3529]

Wow, Learned a Ton! thank you! will need to watch this many times to take in all the great information.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@jeffsimpson9232]

So, so good. Your channel is a treasure.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@68HC060]

Excellent video as always with gold underneath. My next step is to watch this video again and at least once more after that. -There are some details I really need to understand and remember.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@davidgagnon2849]

What a GREAT video, Sean! So much good info all in the same place. Thank you sir! Now I know what I need to do to get some good lumber for my workbench project that I've been putting off for quite a while now. The secret is to buy wide lumber and harvest parts of the board! Genius!

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@thomasarussellsr]

Great explanations. Also, I appreciate the strong clear voice with out the excess volume. The leg blanks are looking great. Why you choose the section of the board you do makes great sense. Thanks for the tips and the why's of the grain orientation.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@thomasarussellsr]

@@wortheffort You're most welcome.

[@gtm624]

Man I’m only 12:30 in and even though I saw your other grain videos I am learning so much about grain and picking wood at home cheapo because I am the guy who digs for that needle in a haystack. Haha. Now I feel like I can save time by first inspecting the ends! And know what to look for. 🙏🏼🙏🏼 so much to always take in its helped going over this again. I re watch your videos and learn each time even if I saw it already.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@drbeogll007]

Always enjoyed watching you and I am now more impressed with your knowledge of wood in grain than ever before keep up the good workworking

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@patrickhenry240]

Awesome rambling!

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@TheBearGrylz]

Always pumped when I see a new video from you.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@hrfici]

Thanks again. Your workbench in a day video was great. Used your ideas for my latest outfeed/work table. This one goes into even more detail. Appreciate your effort. Hope you are having a peaceful year.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@objektivone3209]

Very inspiring.You have a great strength in your educational narrative.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@joeradtke926]

This was invaluable information. I appreciated this. Thank you friend., good job.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@paultay23]

Brilliant...pure brilliance matey

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@KRColson]

Excellent video! I really learned a lot about wood grain and how to make the most of a piece of lumber. You really know your craft and I thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@newkekarmyreee4788]

Awesome work bud. Thank you.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@TWC6724]

Excellent video as always. 👍🏻

[@TWC6724]

One of the best teachers out there Shawn.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@TheMessyStudio]

Good pointers and info, Shawn. Nicely explained. Billy

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@deezynar]

Construction lumber is sawn from the tree using straight through cuts, flat sawn. The log is almost always cut right up the center, along the pith as the boards you showed prove. That means that you will never find quarter sawn cut boards in a pile of construction lumber. Your explanation about how a piece of wood contracts as it dries is backwards. Wood shrinks less radially than tangentially, or in the direction of the curving growth rings. Normal wood cells shrink in girth, but very little in their length. A tree trunk would shrink pretty evenly if it wasn't for one feature, trees have cells that grow horizontally from the pith, going outwards to the cambium at the perimeter. Those cells are called medullary cells, and they grow radially. Looking at the cut end of a log, you can see them radiating out from the center in certain species of wood. They are not very visible in many species, but they are still there. I said that wood cells shrink a lot in girth, and very little in length, so that means medullary rays, that run perpendicular to the majority of the cells, act like reinforcing bars that restrict the wood from shrinking nearly as much in the radial direction. The medullary rays are the reason that quarter sawn boards are the most stable boards along there width. Medullary rays in rift sawn boards end up running at various diagonal angles to the faces of the board. That's why discs cut from a whole log shrink and split from the perimeter to the center. It's also why square cut pieces of rift sawn wood shrink into diamonds. And medullary rays are the reason why flat sawn boards cup. The force that causes cup is not from the rings trying to straighten out. It's caused by the normal wood cells shrinking in girth, and the medullary rays restrict that shrinkage in one direction, the radial direction.

[@wortheffort]

When educating you have to choose battles on how much info to deliver on the "bore the student/explain the point" spectrum. Growth rings straighten as wood dries is where I chose to go. Explaining this orally and visually properly would have added another 20-30 minutes. I chose the simpler method because for this lesson that is really all the student needed to know.

[@chuckdearruda6271]

Thanks so much “deezynar”! Your very well written explanation adds considerably to an already arguably one of the best teaching/learning videos on all of KZbin. Thanks gentlemen!

[@paulchallinor5013]

Superbly presented

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@thiggy1249]

I had never realized how much attention to grain can be used to get the best appearance. Great video!

[@wortheffort]

Thanks. Pro's take it to a much higher level.

[@bobwebberkc]

You are awesome! I appreciate you!

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@markp6062]

The best bit was not picking the best face, but making from the outset! Well done! (Pun Intended)

[@spanglecraftworks259]

You, sir, are the wood geek I aspire to become.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@dkheaton]

Very good video, thanks for sharing it. Question. How are you storing you lumber till it is dry? Do you stand it up on edge, or lay it flat, or what? Thanks

[@wortheffort]

See that giant storage wall along one side of my shop....

[@tonylenge424]

Great information and lesson. Thanks

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@billychoy6623]

I like your style ! this video on something so simple has turned out to be extremely valuable. I clicked on it just for curiosity thinking that you’re grain considerations we’re going to be basic visual considerations however I learned quite a bit from you so thank you

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@soberlivingwithbrianfrankl8254]

I am so glad I learned what I kn5from pine... like dovetails... it has to be SHARP!! And i see other that try and you can tell, and i tell them, your tools are way to dull... lol. Thanks for this free episode. Love all your stuff

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@genardusfaberus6514]

Excellent video. Thank you.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@markparker9092]

GREAT lesson! I loved it.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@davemartin1534]

Great job: a video ever wood worker should watch no matter their skill level. Lots of information in this video for the newbie and even some information I'm sure that the experienced wood worker might say, "hey I didn't know that". Now you tube is a great learning tool. Keep up doing these types of videos. I'm sure you have a lot more information that can be shared. I could see that this video took a lot of work,on your part, well thought out in presentation of each step. I can just bet first thing you did to make this video you set down n wrote out an outline of how to prepare the flow of this information, a thumb nail of years of experience, into a 40 minute video. Again great job.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@gtm624]

Incredible video! 👏👏👏🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@ianpearse4480]

Very informative, appreciate the knowledge share. Looking forward to see where this leads.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@FilippoBasso73]

Hi, I've a quick question for you, as I could not find answer in KZbin, yet... as I'm quite a newbie with wood, and I don't recognise wood after 3-6 months that is in my garage, which is the most practical ways to "label" it? (maybe I would need specie & when I got/cut it) just writing on one side? (with pencil?) or a label on paper? (humidity can damage the label?) other ideas? Thank you, wonderful channel!

[@SkylersRants]

Excellent video.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@allenwc]

Band saw, aye aye. What size? I have been doing it by hand tools, making sure the required parts are perfect and the rest just pretty. Call me lazy lol, but I'm glad you feel the same way :D Wow, so much great information in this video! I'm a have to watch it at least one more time. These are the best kind of KZbins, which is my I have a Patreon account. Thanks kindly for the great work.

[@wortheffort]

My first was 10" and for joinery that was just fine. I'm using a 14" with riser now because of woodturning.

[@jonbigeffortthegoodness7437]

Learned a lot of wood working. How can candle wax be used so wood doesn’t crack .?

[@johanneswerner1140]

Good information! As always very well presented. Especially around the 20 minute mark! Here in Germany you can only get construction grade lumber at the big box store up to 20cm, about 8 inch.... It is mostly picea abies and abies alba (fir and spruce?) with some pinus sylvestris (Scots pine?) mostly for the 2x3, 2x4 stuff.

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@paulhefferan8106]

Thanks.

[@josedomingosteixeira1379]

At what wood moisture percentage would you say wood is ready to be cut to size for the project? I'm getting ready to make my second workbench

[@wortheffort]

Discussed in video but for a workbench it’s been shown, a lot greener than you’d think.

[@SSRT_JubyDuby8742]

Brilliant knowledge share, thankyou so much 🔨🗜😎✅

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@gtm624]

Wow. I’m in nj our 2x12x12 at depot is $26 and a 2x10 is $17. Pretty much all our general construction lumber here is Doug fir. Typically all the 1x stuff is pine and 2x3

[@wortheffort]

Isnt' everything a little more expensive there? We dont' get much doug fir down here in construction isle.

[@SteifWood]

This video should be mandatory in any Woodworking 101 class (even a 501 class) ,,, universally

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@stephanieray6587]

Like woodworking COLLEGE!

[@wortheffort]

but it's free

[@jazzdad52]

Isn’t board feet calculated by the rough cut dimensions? That would make a 2x12x12 24 bf, not 16.5

[@wortheffort]

c stoner but it’s 6/4 not a real 8/4 board.

[@wolflahti412]

The inoperative guard on your jointer makes me very nervous.

[@wortheffort]

spring broke, sometimes safety's third.

[@Ari-xc5qm]

Don’t sell yourself short , I think your skill level is high, I would love to see some of your other projects not seen in this forum,

[@wortheffort]

Thanks

[@publicdomain1103]

I winced when I saw you on the planer. Push pads and sticks please. That is a finger eater. take care great shoots.

[@wortheffort]

See how I was holding board. If I slipped I'd end up on more board. Hand was not "hooked" on end.

[@Thomas_Crowfoot]

You keep referring to the growth rings in wood as "grain" or grain lines. While grain isn't independent of the growth rings, it's not accurate. Reading grain is important and teaching how to read actual grain (not growth rings/lines) is important. I really think you need to correct that

[@wortheffort]

Genaro Flores if you understood then tomato tomatoe.

[@Thomas_Crowfoot]

@@wortheffort no, it's really not. Simple example- when hand planing, you need to be able to see and/or feel which direction the grain fibers are laying. You can't gage that just by looking at growth rings. Another example- you cant gage the grain direction through a board just by looking at the growth rings. Some diffuse porous woods are really hard to see growth rings, so you have to be able to read the actual grain of the board

[@wortheffort]

Genaro Flores covered that in a long video on reading/working grain with those very examples. Your fingers are the guide there not eyes. Look it up. This video was about getting quarter, bastard and flat outa boards for use in project.

[@Thomas_Crowfoot]

Oh I see. My apologies. I should've probably watched the whole thing before commenting. I hadn't realized you covered that topic as well

[@johnmeeks9618]

To much info at one time.

[@wortheffort]

rewind or come back. it's a resource