Dry wood

[stevieg]

i have a problem. my workshed is relativley damp, although being insulated & double glazed. its not possible to use a dehumidifier or heater all the time as i don't spend enough time in there (another problem). i'm considering making a largish box 8x2x2? and using it as a slow drying wood store thingy just to get the last few % of water out. has anyone done that? do you use a fan and or heat? i don't mean a wood kiln just somewhere to dry it a bit more.

 

[bjm]

If you leave timber covered outside (effectively what you have) it will reach equilibrium between 16-20% mc (depepnding on species) in the UK. You could, as you suggest, make a drying cabinet but unless you maintain the temp/humidity the mc of the wood will eventually revert back to 16-20% equilibrium.

The best option would be to store it indoors where it will get down to 8-10% and only take it into the workshop when required. This all depends on the volume you have in mind though??

Brian

 

[OPJ]

My workshop (garage...) isn't insulated so, I do something along the lines of what Brian has suggested. I buy my timber as air (sometimes kiln) -dried and store indoors for several weeks, sometimes even a few months, until most of the movement has taken place.

When I'm working on something during the summer, I tend to leave the project and its components out there over night. In the winter though, I bring it indoors each and every night, just to try and play it safe...

With all that in mind though, I finished a coffee table in April which had breadboard ends. During the summer, the main 'panel' in the centre had expanded so it was proud of the ends by about 1mm. More recently though, the opposite has occurred and the panel is now 1mm narrower either side of the length of the breadboard ends... Clearly, this guessing game isn't quite as simple as it may seem (I really should invest in a moisture meter!)! :shock: :roll:

 

[Lord Nibbo]

When I'm working on something during the summer, I tend to leave the project and its components out there over night. In the winter though, I bring it indoors each and every night, just to try and play it safe...

Umm....Errr..... Ohhh! :shock:

There's more moisture in the air in summer than in winter so arn't you doing it the wrong way round? :-s

 

[bjm]

There's more moisture in the air in summer than in winter so arn't you doing it the wrong way round? :-s

There is some truth to this but with higher temperatures the relative humidity will drop. There's also the effects of microclimates to consider!!

The main reason for not leaving wood exposed in the winter in a very cold workshop overnight would be to avoid the formation of condensation. That, in my opinion, would be more of a concern than a small and reversible dimensional change?

Brian

 

[hpl]

I have tried the box idea with a dehumidifier and a heater. I was working on a kitchen for some neighbours. It did dry the timber out well, but I built it in the spring, fitted it in April and then had to go back a couple of times because the drawers had taken in moisture over the summer and were getting tight.
Since then I just work with the knowledge that the timber will move even in a centrally heated house and my attempts to try to help it settle will only work if the finished pieces is stored in a world of constant humidity. :lol:

Johnny B

 

[bjm]

.... to help it settle will only work if the finished pieces is stored in a world of constant humidity.

Aaahhh, the beauty of wood!!


Brian