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Hot take: Pre-drilling is the only way to avoid splits in hardwoods.
I learned this after my maple cabinet doors cracked during assembly.
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jakewhite6mo ago
You're right about moisture being the real enemy here. So @sean_murray, if a meter is overkill, what's the simpler way to know your wood is actually ready before you even pick up a drill? Seems like guessing is way more complicated.
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piper_fisher6mo ago
Totally feel you on the maple cabinet doors, that's a brutal lesson. One angle folks miss is moisture content. Even with pre-drilling, if your wood isn't acclimated to your shop's humidity, it's gonna move and split anyway. I've seen guys drill perfect pilot holes in kiln-dried walnut, only to have cracks show up a week later because the wood was still adjusting. Checking with a meter before you even start cutting saves so much headache.
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