Wood Stability

[Ken Smith]

First off, at what stage in the dry/wetness of the wood did you glue the 3 pieces together?

As a rule, we cut wood when it has dried unless it is for Body Tops (un-split). Then we keep them flat stacked until dry and needed.

For Necks, after the wood is dry (we usually buy only KD hard maple) we flat stack the lumber for a long time of at least a year to acclimate in he building.

Then we cut over-sized lengths that we will need for either bolt-on or neck-thru billets. The pieces are again flat stacked for a long time, sometimes several years but at least one year as a rule.

Then we pull the lengths needed to make the billets and machine them and glue up what even number of billets we need to replenish our stock. These billets will sit again for at least 1-2 years on average flat stacked in a lumber rack in the carving room.

Then, when we need to make the Necks for Basses in a run, we pull the billets from the rack, machine them just over-sized and then lay them on edge for a day or two to watch for any adverse movement.

If at any stage from Lumber to thicknessed billet we see any time of warp at all, the Billets/Wood is scraped at that time and will not be used as a Neck.

Material is relatively cheap as compared to Labor. If the material is bad, scrap it. It's cheaper in the long run.

How stable is wood? I'm still working on an answer..lol

On the Video, do you see any future for me as an Actor?