Moisture content of body wood.

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Model T Ford Forum: Forum 2012: Moisture content of body wood.
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Booth on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 11:25 pm:

I am currently building 2 Model T Bodies. A speedster and a '20 T touring.

For the touring body I have gone to work and had a saw mill rough cut the ash that I will need for the structure. I have also built a small Kiln (dry box) that I am using to get the wood to the proper MC (Moisture Content).

I have a question for the woodworkers on the forum. I know a MC of 8% is recommended for furniture that spends it's entire life indoors. But.. This is a car it will be built and stored in a heated garage. The MC tested in my garage on a few pieces that have been with me for years averages 14%,

Am I thinking correctly? If I dry down to 8% I would just be wasting time and $ due to the fact that my garage is at 14% and the wood would just aclimate to 14%?

Thank You
Paul


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jim Thode Chehalis Washington on Thursday, November 15, 2012 - 11:36 pm:

Paul,
Your logic is sound. To minimize the changes in wood moisture content or the movement of wooden objects in service, wood is usually dried to a moisture content that is close to the average equilibrium moisture content conditions to which it will be exposed. If you lived in the desert SW maybe the 8% would be good.
Jim


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By George_Cherry Hill NJ on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 02:37 am:

Jim got it right out of the barrel....

Try to predict mid-range of the 'where used' and go from there with your cut and fit list...best of all worlds. It's going to get to the real mid range and range by itself anyway in time. So give it a break and start there.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Steve McClelland on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 09:37 am:

No matter what the (M C) the wood will continually aculate to its surroundings. When laying hardwood flooring we always put the wood inside the rooms it's going to be installed in, for two weeks so it can aculate to that climate for minimal shrinkage .
So if your T is parked in a nice dry garage, or in an open shed the wood will always be moving ever so slightly due to the (M C) changing.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Paul Booth on Friday, November 16, 2012 - 11:21 am:

Thanks guys. I just needed a second opinion.


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