How to Tell When Your Lumber is Dry - Woodworking

[@katzmosestools]

Bought the better one through your link. Good info. I just milled up a 100 year old walnut tree and was looking for something like this. Thank you!

[@WoodByWright]

Perfect timing. Thanks man!

[@fightingamaish1017]

Thanks for the information. Cutting the small testing piece is so simple. It's like everything else once you know it's all easy.

[@WoodByWright]

I love finding the simple answers!

[@blackbear92201]

Very helpful video - thanks for posting!

[@TheWoodYogi]

James, this information is great. I have a lot of stock drying from trees that I milled when they were taken down around my property and I check it regularly, but the tip about using an offcut is really useful and something I will definitely use :) Another thing that might be interesting is that the man that cut the trees down for me waited until the first full moon after they had dropped their leaves in order to get the best out of the wood, especially the drying of it. He is a life long Arborist and told me that felling trees on the full moon was a very old tradition past down through his family over many generations. I would love to hear what you think about this. Namaste, Chris

[@WoodByWright]

Interesting. there are a lot of ideas and traditions like that with cutting and using wood. that is a new one for me though. I like it.

[@TheWoodYogi]

I would like to see that video J Howe. Most of my lumber is Maple about 2 feet wide and I was asked to store them upright, so I followed his advice and there has not been the slightest twist or crack developed since drying. I will use the wood for furniture and musical instruments :)

[@hardnox6655]

Like everyone else, I twisted myself into a knot for decades regarding proper moisture content. There's an easier way and much cheaper too. Since moisture has weight it can be measured. I purchased a postal meter that can weigh up to 86 pounds in tenths of an ounce. It was $20 on Ebay. I bring in the rough lumber into my shop and take one piece and weigh it. I check it every few days. When it stops losing weight then it's ready to work. Done. It takes all the mystery out of "when is wood ready".

[@WoodByWright]

yup that is another good way.

[@kensmith2822]

Thank you! I've been all kinds of confused because they all read differently. Using a board as a base line is a good idea. Thanks!

[@WoodByWright]

Glad I could help.

[@TristanDare]

Great video. I have a LOT of wood that's wet, and when i go to work with it my project will warp and crack over time.... So great video, this was super helpful. :)

[@WoodByWright]

thanks! glad I could help!

[@mgreene939]

Hope you get a cut from amazon sales. I ordered the 918. Thanks for the suggestion!

[@WoodByWright]

Thanks! amazon throws a few cents my way!

[@twentyonetwos3967]

Great video and tutorial.

[@WoodByWright]

+Twentyone twos thanks.

[@bquade70]

excellent simple explanation for using some of these " cheaper' meters (like mine) good deal James👍👍👊

[@WoodByWright]

my pleasure. thanks

[@rickd2327]

Great information, thanks!

[@charlesluck3536]

Very helpful video

[@WoodByWright]

+Charles Luck thanks man.

[@Thom4123]

Awesome video with valuable information as normal. James such great information and I just looked up the pinless or best meter you showed is on a great sale I see going through Amazon from your link. Thank You once again.

[@WoodByWright]

oh sweet! I love it when that works out! thanks Thom.

[@opasworkshop8373]

great tip James thanks for sharing.

[@WoodByWright]

My pleasure Opa!

[@NeoYAG]

Hey James- Can you do this with a kitchen or bathroom scale? When the weight doesn’t change (very time and conditions dependent), it’s equilibrated?

[@WoodByWright]

As long as it is big enough that the scale can register the change.

[@FredMcIntyre]

Thanks for the info James!

[@WoodByWright]

my pleasure

[@ekimosurac1]

Interesting video. If you buy a meter that has the settings for individual species, you should do an oven dry test and then calibrate your meter to the oven dry test. Why? Because all meters have a tolerance of at least plus/minus 2 percent. Cheaper ones up to 4 percent.

[@WoodByWright]

Yeah, if I was particular about knowing exactly what the percentage was that would be important. But generally I don't care what percentage it actually is. I just need to know a comparative number over time.

[@adamthewoodworker2571]

Hi James. Would any of these be worth getting if you wanted to tell the moisture meter of wood that's 3-4inches thick. I know most of the painless ones say 3/4in depth, so I'm not sure if that number would be useful

[@WoodByWright]

after about 3/4" it is all about the same. so even when testing an 8" thick board these wills still work.

[@thomasarussellsr]

great shout-out to MC CREMONA he has some beautiful slabs and a absolutely amazing giant bandsaw build. Also, I noticed that you had a couple of live-edge boards there but didn't talk about bark vs sap vs heart wood measurements. Any reason why, or, you just didn't get to them?

[@WoodByWright]

I have several sticks of wood from his saw. loved helping him build it. I just did not get into that. I could talk about this for a long time but this was just a short video on the subject.

[@donnythedart]

Awesome info James! Thanks for the video!

[@WoodByWright]

thanks Donny!

[@nicholasneal3286]

Hey mr Wright! I love this video and the other about moisture meters! I’m trying to make a rehabilitated walkway for my mother in-law, from a reclaimed pier I tore down, old salt treated pine probably 40-50 years old constantly above water, I’m trying to get my hands on a meter but here’s my plan When this old pine dries out (I do marine construction) from removing from its waterside life duty it dries out fast. I am pressure washing it all clean, leaving to dry for a few days, then burn with Shau Sugi ban, and treat with linseed oil. I’m interested to see what you think of this, and any quick pointers that you would like to offer. Thanks!!

[@nicholasneal3286]

Another note is that one day of sun drying the lumber to the surface is scrape friendly and can be torn easy with a metal scrape (chistle for example) I’m hoping that this Shau Sugi ban process will be enough to give the old salty dog another 2,5 or even 20 years of life. Thanks again and I would be blessed to know your thoughts

[@WoodByWright]

Sounds like a fun project. I think you have a good plan.

[@nicholasneal3286]

@@WoodByWright thank you !!

[@nicholasneal3286]

@@WoodByWright going good so far. I wish I could post pictures. But for two three days of drying the assembled decking does good drying out and from fresh pressure washing looks brand new. I love you videos

[@richardgarrow9260]

Thanks for this I have been looking for a moisture detector I purchased the high end one as it was under 50 so bargain in my eyes. Thanks

[@WoodByWright]

thanks, Richard. don't have too much fun with it. LOL

[@rick91443]

Thanks James. Great video....cheers...rr

[@WoodByWright]

thanks Richard.

[@kdurham98]

Forgive me if someone else asked, but do you find that probing the face grain is sufficient for assessing slabs, or do you stick the end grain, too? Does it matter with thicker slabs? Thanks, just found the channel & really enjoy it!

[@WoodByWright]

I wish I would have touched on this. you will get a better reading with going across the face grain not along it and not on the end grain. the dryest part of the board is the end as there are open pores. even with filling them the end will dry faster than the middle of the board. but that is why I like the scanning meter because the field reaches further into the board.

[@DoubleMonoLR]

The MD912 instructions at least say to insert the probes 5mm, so it seems quite possible it's less accurate if not inserted that far. I could imagine it being difficult with some hardwoods though.

[@patricktatten]

Hi James - I am looking to build a live edge table from eucalyptus. The log has been on the ground for several years (used as a bench). I know eucalyptus has strange drying properties, but if a log has been on the ground in an arid climate like southern CA, does it still require drying when milled? Or is milling just for freshly-felled trees? Thank you so much, I just subscribed

[@WoodByWright]

Yes. It will still required drying. It will absorb moisture from the dirt and. It will not take as long to dry and is best done after milling but it will still need some.

[@sapelesteve]

Great info & video James. And "with that being said", I think that I will just have to purchase one of those moisture meters.......... :) Steve

[@WoodByWright]

lol thanks Steve!

[@luispereira5250]

great video. but my cuestion is how do they do it before digital moisture meters exist? isn't there a hand tool for this task?

[@WoodByWright]

well, there are two answers. 1. it did not matter as much before air conditioning. Before that, the air inside the house changed with the air outside. the furniture in the house might swing from 9% in the winter to 18% in the summer or more. 2. experience. I know last time I dried this type of wood for 2 years in my barn and after using it changed further. I guess next time I have to dry it longer. after a few generations in a location that information was known for all local trees they might cut. now with so many different kilns and drying locations that information is just not useful.

[@BossRedRanger]

Could you link the video where you discuss milling your own lumber?

[@WoodByWright]

sorry. I forgot to add that. here you go. kzbin.info/www/bejne/npaXe56YjrGcoJI

[@BossRedRanger]

Thanks!

[@woodnerdbill]

In case anyone is interested in more information on this topic, I've always liked this old Forestry Service article: www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr06.pdf It does get a little nerdy though, but that's kind of my thing ;)

[@WoodByWright]

nice one! I like it!

[@TheHandystanley]

Thanks!

[@WoodByWright]

my pleasure

[@neilyeag]

James I have seen sometimes when buying wood online that the seller will be asked or will quote a moisture content. Given the variability of what you just pointed out, is that information even relevant?

[@WoodByWright]

it can be. they will be very accurate and mathematically correct. if you can get that accurate in your house then you can have an idea of what the resting measurement is in your shop. that way you will know if it will take on water when it gets to your shop or if it will drop water content. but most people do not get accurate enough. you can get close with the more expensive one as it has 10 different options for hardness, but even then it will be off 2-5%

[@YouCanMakeThisToo]

My undisclosed moisture meter says my mystery wood is 16%, is that dry enough for an unknown project in a random climate? Had to do it.

[@WoodByWright]

sounds about right. I love those comments!

[@shaunwhiteley3544]

Wood By Wright, the battery on mine has run out so no display, will my wood be dry enough? 😄

[@mercoid]

Should you be testing different areas of the piece?

[@WoodByWright]

I usually check 2-3 different spots

[@wadepatton2433]

One can use scales (weight) rather than electronics to determine when the wood had reached 'equilibrium' enough for most working.

[@WoodByWright]

Very true. I did not want to get into that as it is not as easy with these big slabs.

[@tommyreese5134]

Measure the percentage in your shop from your work bench to the wood floor if it reads 12 or 10 percent thenyou can use wood in your shop that reads the same if the build is for your house then take some reading in your house and go from there.

[@WoodByWright]

The problem is that is that different species of wood will measure differently and unless you have a really high end sensor you will get readings that can be way off.

[@RHR147]

So if there is moisture meter from a range to 20 to 2000 dollar how to know which one is more accurate at a nice price

[@jeroenverbeeck7925]

RHR 147 get the one you can afford. Inductive meter reads deeper than the one with prongs but like the video says. All you need is a readout so you can compare your stock with previous readouts.. Sub 150$ is more than enough

[@bobwoodhams7242]

I ran a sawmill for years and we always figured once inch of lumber per year before use ...thighness

[@WoodByWright]

that is the going rule of thumb. works fairly well for out doors drying in an average climate.

[@joshl90]

Almost at 30k subs!!!!

[@WoodByWright]

+JoshL almost thanks man.

[@dingo8880]

how can u tell if wood is treated or not?

[@WoodByWright]

Experience. if it is new it will have a greenish tent to it

[@nunyabisnass1141]

So you're saying that if you can do basic math, then in theory you could use a medium grade ohm meter as a moisture detector. That might be a fun experiment to try.

[@WoodByWright]

yup. That is all you need for it!

[@WilliamAlanPhoto]

What is the equation?

[@MattrsMore]

@@WoodByWright Challenge accepted! ...just, uh, when i get around to that ya know

[@mshoaibijaz]

Where I live Average highest temperature is 48°C Average lowest temperature is -2°C Now what you think about moisture.

[@WoodByWright]

Relative humidity is all over the place here in the winter it is 0% and i the summer can get up to 90%+

[@mshoaibijaz]

Wood By Wright 90%+ humidity, so you have very rainy season.

[@WoodByWright]

no not a rainy season just humid. it might rain twice a week, but always wet in the air.

[@robertweissman5911]

What can't I just hammer two nails into a board of wood to use as electrodes, then attach a simple ten dollar voltmeter, take readings of resistance, voltage, whatever, and then extrapolate from that, what sort of moisture level is present?

[@WoodByWright]

You could. But you would only know at that particular location on that particular board.

[@ianbutler1983]

The pin style meters are, in my opinion, worthless. Name any number and I can get a meter to display it. How hard you press, how far the pins penetrate, where the reading is taken, etc. all alter the moisture reading. You might think your wood has a certain moisture. Split it and read the interior, it will probably be radically different. I can't speak to the pinless style.

[@Glenfiddich101]

Sorry but I'm still confused ???? You held the pins down for no more than 3 seconds per piece of wood, there's not enough time to see the meter let alone take the info in ???? 4 different meters all giving different readings ??? I'm lost !!!

[@WoodByWright]

the pins only need to be intrigued for a moment to give a reading it actually takes a new reading 2 times a second. so even on the same piece in the same spot with the same meter, there will be a variance in the reading as it is incredibly sensitive. If I can help feel free to send me an email and I would be glad to answer questions. my email is on the about tab on my channel page or you can find the contact me form on my website. I don't list it here otherwise I get a lot of spam. and I do not always see replies here as they get buried fast.

[@nates6861]

This isn't actually the correct definition of moisture content. Moisture content is the weight of the water divided by the weight of the dry wood. So, a MC reading of 100% is only *half* water. MC can therefore be higher than 100%, altho of course, it usually isn't.

[@reforzar]

You're looking swollen. 🤣

[@WoodByWright]

lol it is called fat!

[@reforzar]

Wood By Wright I think Sean meant swole😂

[@aleksamaker8118]

first

[@WoodByWright]

yes you are. I should give out a prize for that!

[@aleksamaker8118]

Wood By Wright lol good idea

[@MrOsasco]

This story about moisture content in wood floor os nonsense take money from homeowner.