The Letterville BullBoard: 4x4 posts warping

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Posted by Jean Shimp (Member # 198) on :

We bought some pressure treated pine 4x4 posts several weeks ago. We laid them on saw horses and undercoated them for future use. Now they are use-less! They have twisted and warped out of shape. They have been inside all this time. Anyone know of a good source for some decent wood posts that won't warp and split too badly?

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Jean Shimp
Shimp Sign & Design Co.
Jacksonville Beach, Fl

Posted by Jerry Mathel (Member # 526) on :

It seems like it's getting harder and harder to get decent lumber of any kind. A lot of shops are going to PVC fence posts. They're a little more expensive than wood posts, but considering they don't require paint, it about comes out even. You can find them in just about any farm store or building supply.

If you can find a copy of the March, 2001 issue of Sign Builder Illustrated, it has an article that I wrote on building sign structures from PVC.

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Jerry Mathel
Jerry Mathel Signs
Grants Pass, Oregon
signs@grantspass.com

Posted by cheryl nordby (Member # 1100) on :

Jean....I have about 25 4x4's laying outside. After I first got them... a few warped. I just flipped them around every so often....and all of them are straight again.

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Cheryl J Nordby
Signs by Cheryl
Seattle WA.....!
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Posted by Glenn Taylor (Member # 162) on :

Jean,

We've had that happen to us a lot. Finally, I learned to purchace a couple dozen, stack them under a shelter, and put a lot of weight on them (evenly distributed cinderblocks).

What is happening is that there is still a lot of moisture inside the posts. As the water evaperates from the posts, the wood will begin to follow a "path of least resistance" and begin to warp.

When I stack the posts, I lay down three cinderblocks accross the floor first. Then I lay either two or three posts on top of them making sure there is at least a 1/2" gap between the posts. Next, I lay down three more cinderblocks on top of them directly above the previous cinderblocks and repeat the whole process again until I have all of the posts stacked. Finally, I double up the cinderblocks on top of the last set of posts. I let the posts dry for at least a month before I use them. I've never had a failure since then.

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Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :

Hi Jean,
Same theory as Glenn, but different method. The posts are straight when they come off the lift, but are full of moisture. We use 3/4" spacers between them, and bind them together securely with strapping. We leave them inside like this for at least a month. When we need them, they're straight, dry and ready for paint.

Werks for us

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We now distribute Rod and Cable Systems WHOLESALE in Canada
Duncan Wilkie
aka signdogwww.commercialsigns.com
Edmonton, Alberta

Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :

Duncan,s got it right...We do the same.However I seldom buy more than I need and use them as soon as possible.(less labor that way).

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Monte Jumper
SIGNLanguage/Norman.Okla.

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