thicknessing pine boards

[SPH]

I have just purchased some Pine Boards, reclaimed Ex Army, 8.5"x2.75" x 71" unused. Their previous intended use was for
packing in the construction of Bailey Bridges.They are very dry and free from any metal contamination and were made into
boards in the 1950s. My intended use is to make into body blanks for guitars although another idea is to maybe get some more
to make myself a decent workbench top. Anyhow I need to have a final thickness on these boards of 1.75" although these
boards are dry having been stored undercover for the past 50 years I dont know what the moisture content is as yet. They
will probably have been stored undercover outdoors or in an unheated warehouse as they were when I bought them. Obviously
they will need to be acclimatised to inside room temperatures.

My question is would it be better to have them thicknessed to something like 2" initially and then leave them for a period
of time, not sure how long, before having them thicknessed to a final size of 1.75". If I understand things right this would
be to relieve internal stresses in the timber which could cause cupping. I have experienced this before with some mahogany
and ash which cupped after final thicknessing even though it was stored properly and very dry.

My other question is I have no machinery capable of thicknessing this timber and I wondered if anyone could recommend
someone reasonably local to me to do this. A local company or even a forum member for the appropriate remuneration of
course. Many thanks

 

[Jacob]

I wouldn't thickness it at all until you need to, and have cut to near finished length just the bits you want to use.
So don't do anything until you have a design and a cutting list, just keep them safe and dry.

 

[andersonec]

Bailey bridges??? Used to build them.

Phone Somerscales at Keelby, they may be able to kiln dry them for you or if you take a piece they may be able to test for moisture content, I went there once and found they were more than helpful.

Andy

 

[mailee]

When you do want to thickness them drop me a PM. I am also in Grimsby and may be able to help you. :wink:

 

[SPH]

Thanks for all the replies and offer of possible help with thicknessing, mailee, although I don't think I can PM you on here until I have posted three times. I could email you through your web address if thats ok. I have tested the boards for moisture content today with a cheap moisture meter I bought a year or so ago, it got mislaid when I moved house but I found it. The boards are showing a moisture content of 14%. I don't know how accurate the meter is as it was only around £25 or so but i've done comparison tests with wet timber outside, and dry indoor timber, the readings are as I would expect them to be. The moisture content needs to be down to around 6% to join into body blanks for use. Thats why I wondered if the best bet would be to get them thicknessed to around 2" and cut oversize on length initially so there would be less timber to get the moisture content down to 6% whilst storing them inside.

 

[mailee]

Yes no problem, you can e-mail me by all means. :wink: