Hi all,
I recently read an article on building a small kiln to acclimatise stock to a lower equilibrium moisture content. Working with timber that is already at the final EMC should reduce cracking etc. That is fine if you live on the coast and are sending projects inland – what about the other way – does anybody have experience trying to increase the EMC of timber?
Cheers
Gillian
Replies
FWW had an article about 10 years ago on building a small kiln. It included a humidifier which injected increased moisture into the chamber to conteract case hardening, where the outer part of the wood has a lower moisture content than the inner part.
The increased humidity replaces some of the moisture into the outer parts, bringing it up to the same moisture content as the inner parts, thus minimizing deflection when the wood is finally cut.
It's a bit late to start looking now, but I'll try to finds the article in a day or two and advise you.
Hi Lee - that would be super if you could find the article reference.
Thanks
Gillian
CONWORKS wrote: Hi Lee - that would be super if you could find the article reference.
Hi Gillian. Sorry to take so long getting this article reference for you, but things have been a bit hectic.
The kiln construction article was in Fine Woodworking #91, December 1991. It was sized for about 250BF of 4/4 planks. The interesting thing was the humidifier used to add back moisture to correct case hardening was just a home medical humidfier, ultrasonic cold vapor type, that just happens to be the one I already own. I guess I'll just have to build myself that kiln so I can use my humidifier.
There was a correction in a following issue, probably #92 or 93, but I have not located that issue yet. It concerned a wiring error in the original article.
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Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon
On the Redwood Highway
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