How to Build With Rough Lumber

Whenever you become more confident in your wood working skills you may want to stop using pre-manufactured, finished lumber and start working with rough-cut lumber instead. Perhaps rough-cut is more affordable and accessible for you. Regardless of the reason, it is important to learn the proper way to dry the lumber and how to build with it.

1. Dry the lumber by stacking it outside. Choose a location out of the way of rain and direct sunlight.  Make sure that there is room for the air to circulate by placing spacers every one to two feet between the layers.  Allow it to sit there for 45 to 60 days at which point the wood’s moisture content should be around 8 percent.


2. Use an electronic meter to check the wood’s moisture level. Follow the meter’s instructions to ensure a proper reading.


3. Rough cut the wood.  Square off the ends of the boards with a framing square and then use a circular saw to cut it all to a consistent thickness that will best suit your needs.


4. Use a table saw to cut the boards to a consistent width.  The rip fence should be set to 4 3/4 inches from the table and the height should allow the blade’s teeth to be at the same height as the stock.


5. Use a jointer to true one side of the stock.  This will make the surface even and flat.  Make sure that you don’t shave off more than one-sixteenth inch of wood at a time.  Do this until the surface of the wood is smooth and has no hollows or voids in it.


6. Use a thickness planner to true the other side of the wood.  This will help to ensure that the second side of the wood is parallel to the first.  Continue doing this until both sides are even and you reach your desired thickness.


7. Use a jointer to square one edge of the wood.  The jointer fence should be set at a 90-degree angle on the table and the cutting depth should be set to one-sixteenth of an inch.  Put the wood down on its face against the jointer and pass it through the cutter.


8. Use your table saw to rip the board so that it meets the desired finished width.  Make sure to add one-sixteenth inch allowance when doing so.


9. Square the ends of your board.


10. Use a table saw to cut the boards to your desired finished length.


11. You are now ready to begin using your rough lumber for building.