10% mc

logman 219 · 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 ????

farmfromkansas · 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.

Ianab · 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.

Southside · 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%

GeneWengert-WoodDoc · 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.