Date: 2008-07-21
By Gene Wengert
Q: Last week, I had a call from a customer with a
concern about a load of 8/4 basswood that had white streaks
wherever a sticker was located while the wood was being dried.
They called this reverse sticker shadow. Can you help us with
this problem?
A. Indeed, the correct term is reverse sticker shadow. The key
to understanding the cause is that when drying lumber,
differences in drying rates will often result in differences in
color, especially with the white colored woods. Slower drying
usually means slightly darker colors.
Gene Wengert, "The Wood Doctor," has been training people
in efficient use of wood for 35 years. He is extension
specialist emeritus at the University of
Wisconsin-Madison.
Updated: Jul 21, 2008
This article appeared in FDM, July 2008. ©Copyright 2012, All Rights Reserved.