The need to be Moisture vigilant

[CHJ]

At the Daventry event (Tudor Rose) there was some excellent specimens of timber available yesterday and I presume still there today.

I personally did not purchase any as for some reason the finance manager noted there is a glut in the shed and no room left indoors to house any more 'too good to let go' items.

I did however come away with some small pieces purchased by someone else for a little commission job.

One small piece of Walnut, very much in the smaller off-cuts ball park than most there, being only approx. 200 X 200 X 50mm turned up a surprise when cut into this morning.
As it's to be used in conjunction with other species and jointed in a form that preferably will not creep across the joints I checked the moisture content as a matter of course.
All external surfaces showed 10% or less at about 2-3 mm so proceeded to make initial cuts to required blank size only to be astonished to find the three internal cut surfaces give readings between 30 & 40 %.

Guess the project is going to be on hold for a while whilst I dry it out or find some replacement stock.

Probably of no consequence if it was going to be a simple thin walled bowl but rather a risk to join with other wood species in the 10% region.

So if you came away with some of those seductive 100-125mm thick billets/slabs be aware.

 

[J-G]

So if you came away with some of those seductive 100-125mm thick billets/slabs be aware.

Thanks for that 'heads up' CHJ, I came away with a 70mm thick slice just over ½m long which I took some time to select from the varied stock available but my intention is more toward box making - ie. square rather than turned - so I will have to watch for it twisting and allow a little extra when preparing 6 - 8mm thick sections.

I also picked up some Box, Spalted Hornbeam, Yew and what looks to be a beautiful piece of 90mm sq Spalted Birch.

 

[andersonec]

so I will have to watch for it twisting and allow a little extra when preparing 6 - 8mm thick sections.
.

If you are going to use sections that thin then prepare and stack (using sticks between) with a heavy weight on top, sections that thin will be dry enough in a couple of weeks..May I ask how big are your boxes?

Andy

 

[J-G]

so I will have to watch for it twisting and allow a little extra when preparing 6 - 8mm thick sections.

If you are going to use sections that thin then prepare and stack (using sticks between) with a heavy weight on top, sections that thin will be dry enough in a couple of weeks..May I ask how big are your boxes?

I took two 10mm thick slices off and left them standing on end over two nights. The movement is currently less than 1mm over the 560mm length.

I don't have a moisture meter (I usually buy kiln dried stock) but the 'inside' does certainly feel damp compared to what was outside so I'll see how these two test slices fair over the next month before cutting any more.

Most of my boxes are for jewelery and have 'secret' catches - three dimensioned images attached. These are 3 or 4mm thick Ash with Ebony detail.