Hi all.
I’m starting to build a dresser out of pine. My wood is kiln dried and stored in a shelter, basicaly the same environnement as in my shop, i.e. unheated garage in northern climate (that is 20 below with snow up to the knees…). Of course, the environnement in the house is a lot drier. The piece is going to take several weeks, maybe months to build.
My question: should I let the wood acclimate to shop environnement (wich is done already) or house environnement? If I bring it inside the house, it will swell back as it sits on my bench for weeks as an ungoing project…
If it makes a difference, I also have cherry, ash, soft maple, butternut and birch that I could use. But pine was the look of choice for this one.
Thank you.
Fred
Replies
Fred,
Man, how do you WORK in a an unheated shop at twenty below?? My apprentice is a monkey, his are brass, and they fall off at about five above...My own just retract, making it difficult to walk, or bend over to pick up the chisel that's dropped from my numbed fingers.
Are you planning on building without using glue? Could use water, it'll freeze hard enuff to hold things together for ya, limited open time at those temps tho. Expect some delamination, come the spring thaw.
It was 41 in my shop this a.m. when I went in to light the fire in the stove. Thought it was cold here...only 10 above, outside.
I bring stock into the shop from the loft a week or so before starting to cut. Then make allowance for future movement in joining crossgrain. Allow more room for swelling, when building in winter, allow more room for shrinkage, if building in humid summer months. I would recommend against gluing up stock that is not warm completely, as cold wood will yield weak joints, if glued immediately upon bringing it into a warm area.
Good luck,
Ray
Thanks for the reply. I will consider the wood will shrink after I bring it in.
It was 36 below with the wind last night! Of course, I dont work in the shop when it is that cold. And I didn't mention that I ''heat'' the shop with an electrical heater to make it possible to live in, if not confortable. To me, unheated shop meant that the heater is on only when I work. But good boots are a must!
And it is not always that cold, thanks god.
Fred
Fred ,
That is really a tough way to work . It sounds like you need some heat in the shop , even if only during assembly and drying time . What type of glue have you used in this shop in the past ? Did it work out o.k. ? Typically even KD wood will have a slightly changing RH factor as the environment changes , so generally speaking it is good to bring the stock into the shop before hand. The moisture content can make the wood move but in this case the temp may hamper the glue from drying properly. Maybe you could bring the stock into the house to acclimate , then in a semi heated shop area do the glue ups . Bringing the glue ups into the house to dry wouldn't hurt anything either .
good luck brrrrr. dusty
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