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Old timer at the hardware store told me my workbench was too flat. I thought he was nuts.
He said wood needs a little wiggle room or it'll split when the seasons change. Hit me different after I found a 4-foot crack in my maple top this morning. Anyone else ever heard of leaving a tiny sag on purpose?
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taylor.paige17d ago
Read somewhere old barn beams were left rough for the same reason... makes sense now.
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blake_black4717d ago
Used to think that was just sloppy work but now I get why they did it that way.
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ericb6617d ago
My grandpa's old workshop had these rough cut 2x4s that drove me crazy as a kid cause they looked so messy. Now I see it's the same idea everywhere if you pay attention. Think about how concrete sidewalks have those scored lines in them, or how old stone walls aren't perfectly flat. There's this whole pattern of leaving things a little unfinished so they actually work better in the long run. Same reason my dad always said not to sand wood too smooth before painting it, gives the paint something to grab onto.
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