Understanding Moisture Content
All cabinet-grade lumber begins as a “green” board that’s mill-sawed from a freshly felled tree. The moisture content of a green board will be 28 percent or greater, making it unsuitable for woodworking because all wood shrinks, warps, and splits as it dries.

Air-drying reduces the moisture content naturally-worker stack the slabs in such a way that air circulates between the separated layers of boards. Air-drying lowers the moisture level to between 12 and 17 percent. (This is acceptable for outdoor construction, but don’t make any interior projects using air dried material).

Kiln-drying takes over where air-drying leaves off. Large oven-like kilns with carefully controlled temperatures reduce the moisture content to between 6 and 9 percent, the ideal range for interior projects.

With few exceptions, retail hardwood dealers sell only kiln-dried lumber. It’s stored and sold indoors under a roof where the elements won’t affect it. Kiln-dried lumber should be stored indoors lying flat on dry sticks of scrap or hardboard. Never lay it directly on concrete because it will absorb excessive moisture.

From the editors of Wood Magazine

Table Saws:
The ripping capacity of a table saw is determined by the distance from the saw blade to the maximum distance the fence can travel to the right side of the saw blade. Common distances are 28, 30, and 50 inches.

Left tilt table saws versus right tilt table saws. When the saw blade is tilted to cut a beveled angle, the direction the blade tilts is said to be a right tilt if the blades tilts towards the table saw fence. A left tilt blade would tilt away from the fence. Left tilt blades are considered less likely to bind when making beveled cuts.