moisture in wood?

Question

how to you check the moisture content in wood.

ive chopped some branches off a tree and want to make stuff out of the wood. I konw if you start too soon it will warp like crazy so how do you know when its ready?

Answer 1

To put it plain, I wouldn't do it this way. I've cut wood all my life on the Minnesota/ Canadian border both for the mills and for myself.
Wood, depending on what type you have, could take anywhere from one to two years to dry.
This depends on what use you have for it also. You might wait for two years for drying and, it will be warped.

Your best bet, trade the wood with a mill. If you've cut enough prime wood IE: Black Walnut, see if you can trade it for Black Walnut with a mill that's already dry and planed.

Answer 2

You go buy yourself a moisture meter for wood. It is an electronic gizmo with 2 small pointed probes probes. You push the probes into the wood and it tells you the exact moisture content. Cost anywhere from $20 - $ 350. Moisture content should be around 9-14%.

Answer 3

For take out natural moist from tree you must give the dry heat to it . such a air heater , then cut pieces that you want larger than finish size , then again you should re moisture the wood in a vaporization (combination of air and vaporised water for minimum 4 hours , then leave the wood in open area ( natural weather) few days , Now your wood is ready for any kind of operation.

Answer 4

www.foresters.org/uk.htm The UK Sawmills association
they should still have a fact sheet. Worth a try?