Replies

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 25, 2004 07:33pm | #1

   Is this lumber that you've been drying from green, or is it kiln dried lumber?

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

1. 
   Tomtom | Jan 25, 2004 07:47pm | #2

   it's kiln-dried

2. 
   RANGERP75R | Jan 25, 2004 07:51pm | #3

   t t

      Your meter on a pinless usually only registers to 1/2" deep. Read your instrutions for yours. The 1 3/4" will take longer to dry as you know. If you take reading at the ends of the stock, you will find it dryer than in the center of long stock. In order to get an averarge reading from stem to stern, you need to take reading along the entire lenght and then turn the stock over to get the other side and edges. Then you average the readings with the know-ledge that you have areas that are wetter than others and should be noted.

      I cut the stock down for a particular project to slightly over the length I need it. Maybe an extra 2" to 3". This allows a more even dry rate and gives me extra lenght in case of snipe at the end of the stock on the jointer and planer. Then I cut it to exact as I begin assembly.

   Regards...

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

3. 
   forestgirl | Jan 26, 2004 01:11am | #4

   I don't yet have the pleasure of owning a moisture meter, so not sure how much I can help, but I wouldn't assume the meter is off here.  There are so many factors that can influence the MC of the wood as it's sitting in your shop:

   • the MC it was dried to before leaving the kiln
   • the conditions it was stored in at the supplier
   • how long it's been sitting in your shop, together in the same environment

   The difference in thickness between the two stocks is more than 3-fold.  I'd think that the 1/2" lumber would react more quickly to changes in humidity in your shop than the 1.75" stuff.  Which stock is highest in MC?  What are the answers to bullets 2 and 3 above??  How many measurements did you take?  How long are the pieces?

   Hope I'm not driving you nuts with these questions, but I think the answers might be helpful.

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