Yesterday, I rough cut wood from a 10/4 rough piece of cherry for a hall table. I checked the moisture content this am (in Southern California about 3 miles from the coast) and all pieces surfaces, including a leftover piece, are at 6% or less. I checked a thin piece of maple that has been in my garage shop for over a year and it is at 10%.
Should I wait for the cherry to increase in moisture content or go can I go ahead with finish cuts without worrying about further movement? I am not concerned about normal movement in the finished piece, just movement as a result of more machining.
The rough lumber has been at Ganahl Lumber in an open warehouse about 20 miles from the coast for over a year.
Forrest
Replies
What are you planning to make?
Forrest,
I always sticker my re-sawn wood for at least a few days or longer before going to finished dimensions. It is a matter of internal stresses as well as moisture content so I like to let the wood re-establish equilibrium before proceeding to my project size pieces, it saves a lot of head aches. The book "Understand Wood" by R. Bruce Hoadley helps explain the mechanics of the wood movements.
Jack
moisture content of wood - stickering
Thanks for the input, Jack. I will check out the book and I do sticker while waiting to starrt my hall table.
There are stickers under the large boards as well.
Forrest
Moisture Content
Hi,
How are you going to check the moisture content? You should know that the porosity of the slab, its function and its design effects the topical moisture content. So, be careful and accurate so that it might not harm your hall table manufacturing process.
Thanks
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