Effect of Tension Wood on Seasoning and Machining of Eastern Cottonwood

After 9 months of air seasoning of cottonwood containing tension wood, the effect of tension wood on bowing, and cupping was very mild. Bowing in kiln-dried lumber was significantly greater in boards from the tension-wood side of the tree (average of 0.38 percent) than from the normal side of the tree (average of 0.22 percent). There was no significant difference for crooking and cupping. Seasoning check was found to be 1.49 for tension wood against l.05 for normal wood. Roughness of tension wood after planing was twice as high in projecting fiber than in normal wood. Chip marks were most severe for wood moisture content of 6 percent, and decreased with increasing moisture content; however, there was no significant difference between tension wood and normal wood. Sawing roughness is also high for tension wood of cottonwood, more so than for normal wood.

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