The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: logman 219 on April 18, 2020, 08:02:26 PM

Title: 10% mc
Post by: logman 219 on April 18, 2020, 08:02:26 PM
how much of a gamble is it to make cabinets and furniture out of 10% moisture conent oak i have ????
Title: Re: 10% mc
Post by: farmfromkansas on April 18, 2020, 08:18:57 PM
Last year I glued up sides for a chest of drawers from wood that was not completely dry.  When I took the panels out of the clamps they were flat.  Went ahead and scraped and sanded them, cut to size, laid them aside till I got the rest of the parts ready, and after about a week I checked them, and there was about 1" in crook in both panels.  They never did come back straight.  Cut them up for smaller parts. My shop dries lumber eventually, as I heat it, and occasionally cool it. 
Title: Re: 10% mc
Post by: Ianab on April 18, 2020, 08:23:05 PM
What's the average humidity in your house? Here the EMC is about 12-14%, so I'd have to let 10% wood GAIN some moisture for best results. If your house dries down to ~6% in the winter, then you are going to see some movement.

I guess it depends a lot on the construction style too, some are less forgiving about wood movement.
Title: Re: 10% mc
Post by: Southside on April 18, 2020, 09:44:51 PM
You would be surprised - and not it a good way - at how much of a difference there is in movement / shrink with 10% oak vs 7%.  I won't make oak flooring at 10% 
Title: Re: 10% mc
Post by: GeneWengert-WoodDoc on April 18, 2020, 10:54:15 PM
Most of the USA has 12-13% EMC outside, which means the wood will dry to 12-13% moisture content.  The average outside relative humidity (RH) for much of the USA outside is 65% RH, although it seems much more humid in the summer, but it is not.

Most homes in the US and Canada run about 30% RH in the winter and 50% RH average in the summertime.  This is 6% EMC to 9% EMC.  Do avoid shrinking issues, 7% MC is a good target.  This is 3% drier than you have now, assuming your meter is correct, and that means 1% shrinkage, which means warp and cracking.

Do you have an attic?  Put the wood up there (if it not too heavy) for a few weeks to get it drier.  If your shop is in the basement, run a dehumidifier at 38% RH.
Title: Re: 10% mc
Post by: logman 219 on April 19, 2020, 09:44:37 AM
gene   wood was dry once but picked up mc some were along the way.should i redry it in solar kiln again , or just let it set in shop for awhile???
Title: Re: 10% mc
Post by: GeneWengert-WoodDoc on April 19, 2020, 11:59:32 AM
Kiln will do better, but shop at lower RH might be ok.