The Forestry Forum
General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: trapper on June 01, 2012, 07:27:17 PM
I am making 1x2x6ft basswood peices for my friend. How much does basswood shrink when it dries? Thanks
Marv
Marv
Basswood, American Basswood, ... Shrinkage: Radial: 6.6%, Tangential: 9.3%, Volumetric: 15.8%
green to oven dry. So figure green around 30% and a straight line to 0%, and then calculate the shrinkage at whatever moisture content you want to hold at.
Quote from: beenthere on June 01, 2012, 08:02:44 PM
Marv
So figure green around 30% and a straight line to 0%, and then calculate the shrinkage at whatever moisture content you want to hold at.
Are you saying the green lumber starts at 30% MC? I think Basswood starts a lot higher than that. I have some Basswood logs to saw and I need some cut into lumber. I'll try to get at least one sawn up soon and let you know what the MC is when fresh off the mill.
I've never made lumber from it just lousy firewood which is better than nothing .It weighs a ton when it's green cut like cotton wood but once split dries real fast and is very light weight .So that said it holds a lot of water .
Quote from: MHineman on June 01, 2012, 10:42:33 PM
Quote from: beenthere on June 01, 2012, 08:02:44 PM
Marv
So figure green around 30% and a straight line to 0%, and then calculate the shrinkage at whatever moisture content you want to hold at.
Are you saying the green lumber starts at 30% MC? I think Basswood starts a lot higher than that. I have some Basswood logs to saw and I need some cut into lumber. I'll try to get at least one sawn up soon and let you know what the MC is when fresh off the mill.
It doesn't start to shrink until the mc gets below 'around' the 30% mc. Same with all woods. The mc where it starts will vary.
I have a delmhorst j-lite meter which goes to 30% moisture. The wood was over 30% because the light for 30% was blinking. The basswood is ideal for this application because it is light when dry and does not have to be strong. It only holds a trap in place under the ice until it is set off and then is just a location marker. We cut a bit big and if they dont shrink enough he will cut to size.