I’ve gotten by so far by taking care to best figure out how the wood I’m working will move in the context of a project – but it’s very hard sometimes when the grain is a bit on the wild side. It’s doable however when things are fixed. Riven wood is great for this – the act of riving really gives you more of an idea of how the grain works out in a piece, and having pieces with the straightest possible grain and working within the contexts of how it’s apt to move is how you can build some of the traditional projects like Follansbee out of wet wood and still have it hold together years later. But that’s not the material that’s easy at hand or conducive to the pieces I want to build.

It’s hard to plunk the change on a meter when I know that money could be a new tool or some nice lumber, but hopefully after learning some more I’ll be able to better justify the cost, save myself some anxiety and heartbreak, and open up some new possibilities in design by being able account for movement better.

Two things have held me back: not understanding how to effectively use them (which you are now covering!) and the fact that I’ve worked for 30 plus years without one.

Delving now into areas of very fine tolerances in my work I am noticing some surprises with the shrinkage of sheet materials. A meter may be a worthy investment.