How to Correct Warping in Wood

Remove all the old finish from the wood. Ask your hardware store for help in finding the right finish and stain remover.

Soak the wood. Once the finish has been removed, cover the bare wood with rags, sawdust or any other material that can be kept wet. Continue to soak it for four to five days.

Clamp the wood. After a thorough soaking, the wood should be pliable enough to clamp it and reverse the curl. Warped wood generally requires a clamp for about every 10 inches of length, so several clamps may be required.

Wait. Once the clamps are secure, place the wood in a warm, dry room for several days and wait.

Each day, loosen and then quickly re-tighten the bolts of the clamps. Doing so will prevent the formation of shrinkage cracks.

Refinish. Once the wood's curl has been reversed, refinish the surface as soon as possible to seal it against any moisture and prevent future warping.