We are quite familiar with tightening of doors’, windows
and drawers during rainy season. In the winter, the same doors,
windows and drawers become loosened. Sometimes, unsightly
cracks make their appearance even on the costly furniture.
There is every reason that we feel disgusted and disappointed
with this undesirable behaviour of wood which we purchase in
exchange of our hard-earned money and we expect that the
furniture made out of it would behave well. We make carpenters
responsible for these too. in fact, we should blame
neither carpenters nor wood. This is due to shrinkage and
swelling which are inherent properties of wood. The following
the cause of shrinkage and swelling
and also suggests the remedial measures for their minimization.