I just bought some 1/2" plywood from HD for a project, and the best piece I could find was still pretty warped. Is there a way to fix this? Currently, it's sitting flat on my garage floor with a sheet of 3/4" plywood on top of it. Other than adding more weight (maybe some half-empty paint cans?) is there anything else I can do to help it flatten out?
Wood – way to remove the warp in plywood
plywoodwood
Related Topic
- Wood – How to fix this window on a stud wall
- Drywall – What’s the best material to use to fill in a 1/2″ gap between drywall and stairs
- Wood – Warp resistance of plywood vs solid SPF lumber
- Wood – How to make a wall mirror out of mirror tiles
- Wood – Plywood repair – subfloor prepartion – subfloor leveling
- Wood – Remove plywood floor before insulating attic
- Wood – Best fix for failing built-in storage cabinet base
- Wood – How long will Douglas fir planks last if left untreated outside, not directly exposed to weather, but some moisture occaisionally
Best Answer
Most corespondents are right in that the warp is caused by an imbalance of moisture. The problem has little or nothing to do with the type of store from which it was bought because even if it was absolutely flat in the store if you store it incorrectly when you get it home it will warp. This is especially true if you stand it upright anywhere near a radiator or other heat source.
What happens is the side nearest the heat source drys out too quickly causing the wood to shrink on that side resulting in a 'bow' or 'warp'
Now the thing is to rebalance the moisture content. This is accomplished by wetting the CONCAVE side (hot water works best) then laying the board CONCAVE side down and applying weights to flatten the board. The 'wetted' side will expand as moisture is absorbed on that side and the board will flatten. Some people like to apply heat to the CONVEX side. This will certainly speed up the process but you have to be careful not to cause the warp to reverse. Check the process from time to time. As soon as the flatness you want is achieved store the board flat. It is usual to 'condition' newly purchased material for at least 48-hours in the environment in which it is going to be used, before cutting and fixing. Hope this makes sense. Albatross