Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Feb 13, 2005 06:33am | #1

   I may be wrong, but I think humidity is more relevant than temp.  Cold temps and moist air don't always go hand-in-hand.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   DennisS | Feb 13, 2005 08:53pm | #6

   Actually, Jamie, if I understand environmental mechanics correctly, the colder the air, normally the drier it is. In fact, even here in our otherwise soggy corner of the US of A I think if you monitor the weather reports with respect to relative humidity (outdoors) you'll notice that it's lower, actually, than in the summer. The reason being that cold air holds less moisture than warm air. Put something in the freezer uncovered and it will actually dry out faster than if left out in the open.Now this files in the face of the dry 'atmosphere' we enjoy with a shop heated with a wood stove. But a lot depends on the type of heat source used for indoor heating in our winters. Wood heat will reduce the humidity or, perhaps more correctly, not add moisture to the air. Whereas gas fired heaters produce water vapor as a product of combustion thus will actually add moisture to the air. And with the rise in temperature, the more of it will remain in the shop given appropriate vapor barrier construction in the walls.My guess would be that an uheated protected barn would actually be a drier storage environment for a wood stash than a heated shop. But this is just conjecture and not based on any scientific research (grin)...........
   From Beautiful Skagit Co. Wa.
   Dennis

2. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 13, 2005 08:13am | #2

   South Carolina to Maine, eh....? I'd say that move will take some adjusting to..........

   I'm in MN, which I think is probably close to Maine (ME?) when it comes to cold and nasty weather.

   I have a large, unheated garage where I store a lot of lumber. I move it to my heated shop at least a week before I plan to use it -- 2 weeks is even better.

   The cold is not much of a problem (at least for the lumber), but as Jaime says, humidity is more of an issue. But coming from SC, I am sure you are an old hand with all of that business.

   At least you're moving to an area where you can get some of the best cold weather gear in the world --LL Bean.

1. 
   Michmesquite | Feb 13, 2005 11:53am | #3

   I agree that moisture is more of the problem than temp. I would suggest you sticker the wood in a ventilated space when storing it_________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

3. 
   BG | Feb 13, 2005 02:27pm | #4

   Bill,

   Let's put it this way, it's not the coldness of the winters that'll be a major concern living in Maine.  There are some benefits to the coldness. It'll be the loss of spring that you'll miss the most...winter just drags on and on till summer. 

   With regard to the wood storage, I don't know any hardwood supplier that stores in a heated facility....up here in the land of championship teams...(ah hem!!)

    

4. 
   BillThomas | Feb 13, 2005 04:42pm | #5

   Thanks everyone,

    

   Really good information.

   I am moving from an area (SC) where the average moister content of wood hovers around 11%. In Maine I think it is about 8%. It is interesting but makes perfect sense to focus on humidity instead of temperature. If I set up the lumber storage in the barn properly, dry and level it sounds like I will be able to store my lumber there. I will make sure to leave space in the shop to store and condition lumber before I start to build with it.

   Now I will need to learn to keep myself warm.

   Thanks to all, any more information or ideas will be appreciated.

    

   Bill