From a California government online manual about wood characteristics APPENDIX A. WOOD CHARACTERISTICS "The primary effect of compression perpendicular to the grain is compaction of the wood fibers. As the fibers compact, the load-carrying capacity of the wood increases as the density of the material increases." Effect of Moisture Content "Wood increases in strength as it dries. The strength increase begins at the fiber saturation point (the point at which the cell walls begin to loose moisture) and increases rapidly as drying continues." "Drying wood from the fiber saturation point to five-percent moisture will usually double and in some cases triple endcrushing strength and bending strength....." ...................... As to the stabliizing affect claimed by some that compression along the grain has on compression cross grain. It should be remembered that compression along the grain has the affect of shortening wood cells and makeing them fatter, whilst cross grain compression will elongogate these same cells and squeeze them thinner. So it there is significant compression along the grain, the cells effectively have gained additional strength in the face of cross grain compressive forces. Just a few thoughts for your dinner table Cheers RicB
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