Moisture content

[jussi]

I posted last week about stock bowing after it had gone through the planer. The consensus was that there was too much moisture. What is the max moisture content stock should have to avoid this and other problems?

[drumpriest]

6-10% is generally the range that is acceptable for wood working, as far as I know. I still say that when going down to 1/4" you may or may not be able to keep it flat. One trick is to joint and plane in stages, so that you joint it, then plane it down a bit over sized, then give it some time to relax into whatever shape it wants to be in, then re-joint and plane it to final dimension.

[jussi]

Thanks Keith. I'll try that trick next time I need stock that thin.

Anyone use Harbor Freight brand moisture meters. I know Rockler is having a sale right now but HF is still cheaper and much closer to me. Besides the Rockler one seems to only go as low as 10%.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96472

[LCHIEN]

i think with moisture its not whats right, its what is even, balanced and stable.
When wood dries unevenly, it warps, that is because moisture leave one side quickly an the other side slower or not at all.
I think what they quote for normal covers 10-20%, that's what it'll hit if left alone and dries evenly, then it'll be more or less stable. Wood always breathes some as conditions change.

[MikeMcCoy]

I didn't see your other post but I have had milled stock cup on me when laid flat on a surface without stickers for even air flow.

[cabinetman]

The HF meter does have a low scale, but for that money I would have my doubts as to its accuracy.
.

[phrog]

Thanks Keith. I'll try that trick next time I need stock that thin.

Anyone use Harbor Freight brand moisture meters. I know Rockler is having a sale right now but HF is still cheaper and much closer to me. Besides the Rockler one seems to only go as low as 10%.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=96472

I have used the HF Cen-Tech Moisture meter for about two years. It works. About its accuracy, I can't say except that it appears to work. The range is 7 - 35 % with an accuracy (according to HF) of + or - 1%. The low scale goes from 7 to 15% and the high scale goes from 16 to 35% but skips 17,23,26, and 28-34. Therefore, I don't know how they can say the accuracy is + or - 1%. If it were a tool I would use often and I needed certainty about the readings, I would buy a more expensive meter.
Richard