Moisture, Content, cherry wood

[Gayl Beals]

I have some cherry wood that been cut about a year a go,in logs!
milled in to 1 , 1 1/2 thick Around 4 / 5 months ago it has been in shop about 4 weeks
what is the moisture content should be?

 

[Vaughn McMillan]

I'm not an expert on this subject, but those numbers don't look that high to me. It's my understanding that a log takes about a year per inch of thickness to dry. On a 1" thick board, that ends up being about 6 months (since it's drying from both sides). Depending on the average relative humidity where you live, 7% to 11.5% moisture content in 6 months seems pretty reasonable. When I'm drying something like a turned bowl or other piece made from fresh wood, I primarily watch to see when the numbers stop dropping. Once the moisture content stops changing, then I know that piece of wood is as dry as it's going to get.

 

[Gayl Beals]

I'm not an expert on this subject, but those numbers don't look that high to me. It's my understanding that a log takes about a year per inch of thickness to dry. On a 1" thick board, that ends up being about 6 months (since it's drying from both sides). Depending on the average relative humidity where you live, 7% to 11.5% moisture content in 6 months seems pretty reasonable. When I'm drying something like a turned bowl or other piece made from fresh wood, I primarily watch to see when the numbers stop dropping. Once the moisture content stops changing, then I know that piece of wood is as dry as it's going to get.

Thanks Vaughan

 

[Ryan Mooney]

The moisture equilibrium point is temperature and relative humidity dependent. I think you're basically there with a little hand waving around local conditions.

https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-37.html

 

[Dave Hoskins]

I was told many years ago that anywhere around 10% was good. So, looks to me like you have it. Go for it!