Thanks for covering this important topic. i mill my own lumber ( mainly hardwoods, red oak, white oak, maple, black walnut, beech, hickory) in Ohio and air dry it. I've just been wood working for a couple years and so far I've built some simple projects for indoor and outdoor use. My shop is outside and unheated and I have a Delmhorst moisture meter which I check the lumber for MC. I've experimented with some Red Oak boards I milled that I air dried to around 12% and then brought them into my house basement for a couple weeks checking the MC every day - I found that a 4/4 piece would get down to around 8% MC after a week or two. So I then bring the lumber back outside into my shop to process. I understand that the wood will gain more moisture outside but I understand that there is something called hystersis ( which means once the wood is brought down to a lower MC that when its brought back into a more humid environment that it will not gain as much moisture. So i guess my question is do you think Iam ok to operate like this and build more detailed projects for indoor use - I know it depends on type of the wood being used and the environment the piece ts going into. If not I was considering building a solar kiln. I appreciate what you've done and accomplished in your life and hope to one day come to one of your in person classes. Much peace!
Hi Mark, Thank you so much for your great feedback. Sounds like you have a lot of real world experience with the topic! I appreciate hearing your actual MC readings and how they confirm and line up with how it is for me here in New England and some of the numbers as well. I was not familiar with the term hystersis, but it sure makes sense, and it explained why kiln dried is less movable once it’s been dried and less friendly to steam bending after being dried as well. I think you can definitely make it work for you drying and building that way, but you simply have to be more sensitive to wood movement during your builds knowing the finished pieces will be subject to a bit more MC change than if your shop was more similar to the way a home is heated and cooled. But you can definitely build with wood as dry as you are getting it. I’ve seen those solar kilns and they look pretty effective, likely getting the boards to an even more stable state of “hystersis” before bringing into your shop to work. Thanks for watching and being a part of our little community. It would be great to cross paths someday 👍😎
Hi Tom. Apologies if I derailed your train of thought last night with my question about secondary wood for a white oak-front drawer. The reason I was asking is because I am currently getting ready to make a bedroom set out of white oak a la Kevin Rodell inspired. This will include drawered night stands. I am wanting to get a great look with the contrasting secondary wood drawer sides, and your discussion last night of choosing a stable wood (help minimize movement and drawer issues) for this made me think about what to use. Thanks again for your insight. Love your content!
No worries at all, I liked your question. I’m always wondering if I’m full understanding your situation and reason for asking, but that explains it more. Sounds like a great project! 👍😎
Good Episode. Thanks. You taught me a couple of things, and that's always good. How about an episode on wood selection when making a new piece of furniture. The best way to say run your grain for looks and movement. Can you run your grain in different directions on, say, a 3 or 4 board glue up. The do's and don'ts of astetics when doing multiple board glue ups on a visible pice. I guess what I'm trying to say is an episode on astetics.Love your channel. You may have already discussed what I'm talking about. Just a thought.
Thanks for watching Chris. Yes, we did do an episode on Wood selection, actually it was the 3rd one, way back when we first started this livestreaming journey in 2019. Here's the link: How to Select and Buy Hardwood Lumber: th-cam.com/video/437gWE6GPiE/w-d-xo.html. I also cover wood selection inside of each Online Course we have in our portfolio at epicwoodworking.com. It makes the most sense to address that topic inside of the design of a particular piece, but I think that video will give you some good ideas as well. Hope that helps!
Not often a concern at all. Bugs like munching on wet wood, and if the planks are properly “sticked” for drying the bugs usually don’t get into it. Some species like Walnut are especially safe since the bugs are only drawn to the outer sap wood, which is typically cut away. Thanks 👍
great exhibit
Thanks for covering this important topic. i mill my own lumber ( mainly hardwoods, red oak, white oak, maple, black walnut, beech, hickory) in Ohio and air dry it. I've just been wood working for a couple years and so far I've built some simple projects for indoor and outdoor use. My shop is outside and unheated and I have a Delmhorst moisture meter which I check the lumber for MC. I've experimented with some Red Oak boards I milled that I air dried to around 12% and then brought them into my house basement for a couple weeks checking the MC every day - I found that a 4/4 piece would get down to around 8% MC after a week or two. So I then bring the lumber back outside into my shop to process. I understand that the wood will gain more moisture outside but I understand that there is something called hystersis ( which means once the wood is brought down to a lower MC that when its brought back into a more humid environment that it will not gain as much moisture. So i guess my question is do you think Iam ok to operate like this and build more detailed projects for indoor use - I know it depends on type of the wood being used and the environment the piece ts going into. If not I was considering building a solar kiln.
I appreciate what you've done and accomplished in your life and hope to one day come to one of your in person classes.
Much peace!
Hi Mark,
Thank you so much for your great feedback. Sounds like you have a lot of real world experience with the topic! I appreciate hearing your actual MC readings and how they confirm and line up with how it is for me here in New England and some of the numbers as well. I was not familiar with the term hystersis, but it sure makes sense, and it explained why kiln dried is less movable once it’s been dried and less friendly to steam bending after being dried as well.
I think you can definitely make it work for you drying and building that way, but you simply have to be more sensitive to wood movement during your builds knowing the finished pieces will be subject to a bit more MC change than if your shop was more similar to the way a home is heated and cooled. But you can definitely build with wood as dry as you are getting it.
I’ve seen those solar kilns and they look pretty effective, likely getting the boards to an even more stable state of “hystersis” before bringing into your shop to work.
Thanks for watching and being a part of our little community. It would be great to cross paths someday 👍😎
@@EpicWoodworking Thank you for replying - I feel better now about processing the wood I cut.
Hi Tom. Apologies if I derailed your train of thought last night with my question about secondary wood for a white oak-front drawer. The reason I was asking is because I am currently getting ready to make a bedroom set out of white oak a la Kevin Rodell inspired. This will include drawered night stands. I am wanting to get a great look with the contrasting secondary wood drawer sides, and your discussion last night of choosing a stable wood (help minimize movement and drawer issues) for this made me think about what to use. Thanks again for your insight. Love your content!
No worries at all, I liked your question. I’m always wondering if I’m full understanding your situation and reason for asking, but that explains it more. Sounds like a great project! 👍😎
Thanks for your experienced comments about the properties and characteristics of the material we love.
Thanks Norm! 👍
Really good presentation and especially enjoy you sharing the richness of your experiences. Does pine warp and twist less ?
In my experience White Pine is more stable in that way as well. It is amazing how beautifully true, straight and clear planks are available. 👍
Good Episode. Thanks. You taught me a couple of things, and that's always good. How about an episode on wood selection when making a new piece of furniture. The best way to say run your grain for looks and movement. Can you run your grain in different directions on, say, a 3 or 4 board glue up. The do's and don'ts of astetics when doing multiple board glue ups on a visible pice. I guess what I'm trying to say is an episode on astetics.Love your channel. You may have already discussed what I'm talking about. Just a thought.
Thanks for watching Chris. Yes, we did do an episode on Wood selection, actually it was the 3rd one, way back when we first started this livestreaming journey in 2019. Here's the link: How to Select and Buy Hardwood Lumber: th-cam.com/video/437gWE6GPiE/w-d-xo.html. I also cover wood selection inside of each Online Course we have in our portfolio at epicwoodworking.com. It makes the most sense to address that topic inside of the design of a particular piece, but I think that video will give you some good ideas as well. Hope that helps!
What are your concerns about bugs when using air dried lumber?
Not often a concern at all. Bugs like munching on wet wood, and if the planks are properly “sticked” for drying the bugs usually don’t get into it. Some species like Walnut are especially safe since the bugs are only drawn to the outer sap wood, which is typically cut away. Thanks 👍
@@EpicWoodworking Awesome, thanks.
👍
Just like the body that grow to the sides and never grow tall.