"Bill Rubenstein" wrote in message
om...
Now, to your question.

In Belize, the humidity is normally much higher than here and they don't
have the cold weather and heated houses to deal with. When you move a
piece which was turned green or partially green from Belize to the US, you
are going to have problems.

The 5/8" thickness adds to the problem -- thinner would be better. In any
event, though, there are some basics you must consider.


Well, no. Not necessarily. Wood has a certain moisture content with
respect to the relative humidity regardless of the location. If the piece
is turned in Belize and reaches EMC at 80% RH, it can go anywhere 80% exists
without a problem. Don't know how long the turning waits for shipment, but
if it stabilized, it certainly is not geography which splits it.

As to thickness. It is the orientation and spacing of the annual rings,
not the thickness that determines direction and dimension of deformation. I
think of the turnings and carvings my squadron brought back from Southeast
Asia which never split indoors in a North Dakota winter as an example.

I'm going with the nature of the wood. Of course the OP can determine
what's at fault by taking a piece at EMC with Belize outdoor and warming or
drying it slowly to ~60% RH, a good all-round place to begin for inland
areas.