Wood for project , climate adjustment??

[kidliquid]

Hello,

I'm about ready to begin on my first project and I had a question.

After I buy the proper amount of wood, birch in this case, how long do I need to let it sit in the shop to get adjusted to the temperature and humidity (although it's pretty mild humidity)of my shop before I should start working with it?

The wood is all kiln dried, the stuff you get from the hardwood suppliers.

Also, is it better to stack the wood horizontally (i cant spell) or to stand it straight up? whats the proper method.

Thanks!

[Danford C Jennings]

Kidliquid,

I will generaly let the stock stabalize for no less than a week. I will then wack off a piece and use the oven method to determine moisture content, since this is the most accurate method. After another week I will whack off another sample piece and compare, usually equilibrium is obtained by then in my climate.

In the oven method you simply record the pieces' initial weight place it in the oven, repeatadly recording it's weight. Once there is no weight change, equilibrium has been reached. The formula is initial weight minus final weight divided by final weight, multiply the quotient by 100 and you get moisture content expressed as a percentage.

As to stickering, ALWAYS sticker on the flat off the floor on blocks of the same dimensions. I have shrinkage tables, though there is no way that they can be precise, they do provide sufficient accuracy to predict wood movenment inorder to make the proper allowances when final dimensioning and milling operations are ready to commence.

Hope this helps.

Dano

[WoodMangler]

Where did you get the wood?...lumberyard down the street or mail order from across the country? If it's kiln dried from down the street I don't acclimate it at all. What are you making? If it's a birdhouse I think you can skip the oven-weighing-electron-microscope-DNA-tested method eh? I use a simple method...I take a 4.5 ounce tack hammer and, measuring from diagonal corners, locate the precise center of the piece of lumber. Using the formula BS={3*(4.5+6)}Xpi I strike the precise center of the lumber with an accellerating descending blow. If it makes a distinct sound that I've learned to recognize only after years of experience, then it's made of wood and I cut it up and make stuff from it.
Have fun :)
Marc

[Derrick]

That was good. A little complicated but good.:P

[Danford C Jennings]

Well, that was a most informative answer, Marc. Since my shop has a totally different "climate" regardless of where my stock comes from. This is especially true this time of year.

Dano

[WoodMangler]

Raaaaleee Danford ol chap...you don't say? (How's that Limey?...am I getting the hang of this?) Do you have one of those climate controlled totally enclosed shops I've read so much about? If we're worried about wood movement, (and I believe that's what he asked about eh) then wouldn't it make sense to acclimate the lumber to the location it's going to end up?...or do you live in your shop? I was just poking a little fun, but really, if the lumber came from the same town, and is kiln dried, do you really think there's a significant enough difference to justify the 2 weeks worth of "whacking off" you described in your answer to KidLiquid? The poor guy's gonna have to explain to his wife that he couldn't finish the project because he has to whack off for 2 weeks! I personally feel there should be a lot less whacking off and a lot more pre-questioning of a person who posts so that an intelligent answer can be given. I see waaaaay too many posts where a guy asks "what tool should I buy" and people start directing them to all areas of Tool World without even asking the guy "Hey...whatcha gonna make"
Anyway...that's my humble opinion, such as it is.
Woodentushee P. Mangler

[Danford C Jennings]

Yes, I really do say. You should reread my above reply for verification, particulary since I only described what I do in regard to stabilizing wood, old boy. Not what he should do.

Being a newbie here, I don't know you and apologize for stepping on your large, yet apparently fragile ego.

You have brought up some valid points I do agree with, however. I'll leave you to pontificate further on what those may be, since you know me so well.

I will say, Chap, that I do thank you for the confirmation of some thoughts I was having.

Well, I see that I am a wee late for Tea, ta.

Dano

[Limey]

I can't sit idly by now that the Brits have been mentioned BUT
Yes Mr Danford you are a newbie to the forum and from reading YOUR many loquacious pontifications about what YOU do is not the best way to help others.
It would seem that you are more intent on telling us how gifted you are and how much knowledge you have than trying to help others.
Marc, as many other regulars will testify, does not have an ego...period.
Perhaps the mote in your own eye is blinding you.
"Physician heal thyself"

Limey

[Fried Elliott]

I have been a moderator and have been on Internet forums (old ARPANet) since the late 70s. Despite all of its technical sophistication, this means of communication is about as efficient as a pair of cans and a string. So many subtleties of language, body language, and personal style are stripped away that it is easy to misunderstand or misread one another. The effective bandwidth of a handful of ASCII characters on a little screen is really very low when you think about it.

I find both Marc's and Dan's comments to be very helpful. I also like Sonny's posts and suggestions. Sometimes seeing what Dan would do gives me the true "outer limit" of what a normal person would do :D but it often does point me in the general direction of where I need to be investigating.

Online, more is better, even if there are assumptions that have to be uncovered and addressed downstream. As the SD2 (Snoop Doggy Dog) would say, "It's all good."

[kidliquid]

Umm... hi

Wow that was quite the response, I think i'll just let it set for two weeks, and not put the wood in the oven, wife might think i'm getting a bit strange in this new woodworking obsession.

I appreciate all your help, and yes Dano has some very good posts, but I did enjoy the banter that followed.

Just call me the newbie, what ever info thats down, its more than i know.

P.S. I am just making a knick knack shelf :)