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I wrote the attached paper after going with my son to a number of AOMCI meets, and hearing members puzzle about woods for transoms, hearing many repetitions of "common knowledge", most only partially correct. I have seen similar queries on tinboats.net; the question seems to keep coming up, regularly, and seems a source of constant confusion.
So I decided to explain what I know from experience with wood and finishes, and back it up with citations of studies.
If you really want to know about the properties of wood, check out Bruce Hoadley’s book, "Understanding Wood", Taunton Press, 1980 ISBN 0-918804-05-1. But it may contain more technical information than you want to read; check it out of your library before you buy a copy. And the Panshin & DeZeeuw text mentioned in the paper has a lot of interesting information, but it is mostly intended for wood technologists, for microscopic identification of wood at the cellular level.
Clint Fountain
Graduate, Smithsonian Furniture Conservation Program, Class of 1993.
Oh – I know a number of AOMCI members are also subscribers to tinboats.net. Would one of you link this thread to them, please, save me from signing up with another forum? Thanks.