Loading…
28
Found a cheap way to fix bowed studs without replacing them
Picked up a bunch of 2x4s from the big box store in Denver last week and half of them had a slight bow. Normally I'd just set them aside or try to force them straight, but a buddy told me to try kerf cutting the concave side on the table saw. Made a few cuts about halfway through right where the bow was worst, then clamped it straight and ran a bead of glue in the kerfs. Let it sit overnight and it came out dead straight the next morning. Saved me a trip back to the store and about $30 in returns. Has anyone else done this for longer runs like top plates?
3 comments
Log in to join the discussion
Log In3 Comments
jennybailey3mo ago
Honestly, kerf cutting works great for smaller studs but for longer runs like top plates I'd be careful. The glue line can still be a weak point if the bow is really bad. I've had them crack again after a few months in a load bearing wall so I only use this method for non structural stuff now.
7
miaprice3mo ago
Yes! That exact thing happened to me with a top plate on a shed I was building a couple years back. I kerf cut it, glued it, clamped it overnight - looked perfect the next morning. But then three months later, right in the middle of summer when the humidity shifted, the whole thing cracked right along that glue line. Now I only do the kerf trick for stuff like blocking or nailers where there's zero load. For anything structural I just eat the loss and get a straight board, even if it means another trip to the store. That little bit of peace of mind is worth more than $30 in returns, you know?
4
ward.diana3mo ago
Jump on what Mia said about humidity shifts because that's exactly what wrecked my fix too. I tried the kerf trick on a garage header and it held through winter but split the second summer hit with that moisture in the air. Now I just figure the extra $30 is cheaper than having to tear out a cracked stud later.
2