Is there a normal percent moisture to expect wood to dry to?

I have a new pinless moisture meeter and I'm in Denver colorado. I have
a couple pieces of wood that stored in my basement study are below 10
percent. I know an accurate reading can be affected by the smoothness
of the surface but I'm really curious about this

"william kossack" wrote in message
Is there a normal percent moisture to expect wood to dry to?

In the open, it dries to the moisture level of the area that it's in. If you
live in a humid climate, then it will waver around whatever that level is ~
and vice versa.

"william kossack" wrote in message
...
Is there a normal percent moisture to expect wood to dry to?

I have a new pinless moisture meeter and I'm in Denver colorado. I have a
couple pieces of wood that stored in my basement study are below 10
percent. I know an accurate reading can be affected by the smoothness of
the surface but I'm really curious about this

Yes, there is a normal. But moisture content varies, because wood gathers
and loses moisture to the air. It's old news, but wood reaches an EMC
(Equilibrium Moisture Content) with the air based on relative humidity. Get
a gage, discover your RH, and find the EMC numbers at
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fp.../fplgtr113.htm chapter
three.

While you're there, get to the search box http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/ and
check out data on moisture meters.

very interesting

I'm in Denver and the humidity is normally very low. I store my exotic
stuff in my study so it is warm.

Is there any truth to what some people say that wood undergoes
structural changes below 7%?

George wrote:
"william kossack" wrote in message
...

Is there a normal percent moisture to expect wood to dry to?

I have a new pinless moisture meeter and I'm in Denver colorado. I have a
couple pieces of wood that stored in my basement study are below 10
percent. I know an accurate reading can be affected by the smoothness of
the surface but I'm really curious about this


Yes, there is a normal. But moisture content varies, because wood gathers
and loses moisture to the air. It's old news, but wood reaches an EMC
(Equilibrium Moisture Content) with the air based on relative humidity. Get
a gage, discover your RH, and find the EMC numbers at
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fp.../fplgtr113.htm chapter
three.

While you're there, get to the search box http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/ and
check out data on moisture meters.

"william kossack" wrote in message
...
very interesting

I'm in Denver and the humidity is normally very low. I store my exotic
stuff in my study so it is warm.

Is there any truth to what some people say that wood undergoes structural
changes below 7%?

Read the paragraph on hysteresis. Eventually, there's a certain "set" taken
which doesn't vary a lot.