planing kiln dried lumber

[Billedis]

I am starting on a project involving 300 bd/ft of 5/4 poplar that will probably take me several weeks to complete.  My question is should I plane all the 5/4 poplar at one time, or as I need it?  The project is for our master bedroom closet making 8' tall cabinets with raised panel doors.

Thanks for your input.  Bill

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

I plane everything at one time.  It saves time not having to set up the planer multiple times. 

 

[grbmds]

I try to plane everything at once at the start of a project, thus ensuring that all boards that are supposed to be the same thickness are actually exactly the same. Also, try to plane extra in case you need more than you thought and, for me, the inevitable mistakes that I make which I may not be able to recover from. In my current table project I did actually make a mistake that forced me to joint and plane some additional oak just because I didn't plan very well to have extra available.

 

[zapdafish]

I'd let it acclimate to my shop for as long as possible then plane it close to final dimension to release existing stresses.

I'd let it sit again for a few weeks again then plane to final  dimension and then use.

You will still find wood movement but not as much as if you skipped the second step and went right into construction. I follow this process with QS Red Oak. Not sure if Poplar moves as much as porous Red Oak.

 

[Timtool]

I also acclimate my kiln dried wood for at least a week in a heated space, but i find it also just as important to cut all the parts out on rough dimensions first before acclimating.
Acclimating allows the wood to adapt to inside conditions but it doesn't do anything about possible stress inside the wood, and if you re saw acclimated wood it can still suddenly start to bend in all directions.

If you don't do this and plane everything ahead then by the time you need a certain piece it can have moved significantly though in my experience poplar is the most stable native species i have ever used, may be different in the US though?

 

[Billedis]

Thank you Gentlemen for your input.  I really appreciate it.  Bill

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I find that "over several weeks" planed stock will move and grow and shrink, different pieces may do slightly different things.

So I joined the "plane it close and then plane it to final thickness when you use it."  Best thing to do is to plane all you will use in the assembly you are about to work on, so that all the pieces that connect will fit.

 

[Doug S]

As others have said machine it all slightly oversize and store it where it will end up. Machine it down to final size in batches as you need it.

Doug