We all know lumber comes from trees, but trees were not designed for lumber. Man has to take something that naturally grows in a cylindrical shape, dry it out and make it rectangular. It’s a peculiar ...

Watching lumber dry may be as boring as watching paint dry, but soon, the amount of time needed to dry a piece of wood might decrease dramatically, according to Penn State forest resources expert.

Editor’s note: This column was produced before Gene Wengert died in 2025. It is printed here in memoriam. Question: How much does lumber shrink in drying? We process red oak and yellow poplar mainly. ...