% moisture

[jc]

I have some cherry that has been air drying for over one year. what is the highest moisture content that is still acceptable for woodworking? what is the optimal moisture concentration?

thanks,

[Lou_williams]

When wood comes out of the kiln dryers it is sitting at about 5 to 7 %, It then starts to absorb moisture. The issue of what the right level is not a fast and hard point. Where are you living, where is the piece going to be when built, what is the level of moisture in your shop. These are all important considerations. Depending on how thick your wood is and where you live will depend on how close it is to being usable.

Someone on this board posted that you could consider a year of air drying for each inch of thickness. On top of that even with the stuff I buy from the kiln, I let it stay in my shop for months to acclimate to the conditions there before it is used. With Air dried wood. I would keep it for at least a year in the shop before I would even look at using it.

Now if you live in the desert with a humidity level of less than 10% year round and the stuff is 3/4 stock maybe you might want to try it. I don't know many cherry trees in that kind of environment.

[MadMark]

According to "Wood Handbook, Wood as an Engineering Material" air dried lumber usually stabilizes at around 12% depending on where you are in the country.

M