Drying/humidity

[Don Case]

I've got an Ocean Spray stave drying. It was cut in August. I started the drying in my unheated garage and after a month or so I moved it into the house behind the stove. When I first moved it in the temp was about 70 and the R/H was about 60-65%. I weighed it every so often and it was losing 5 or 10 grams a day(approx. numbers). Now with the weather outside getting colder the R/H behind the stove is about 40%. The stave is losing less than a gram a day. It looks to me that the MC is chasing the RH. I looked at the EMC table and it says that 70 degrees and 40% RH is about 7.7 % MC. That's getting too low isn't it? Shouldn't it be 10-14%MC? Advice please, I want to start making chips
Don

[Carson (CMB)]

I would guess it is a hair higher than what that table reads as it likely hasnt reached equilibrium for that given condition. So if it is 8-9%, I would saw that is perfect for ocean spray.  Get Chipping!

[Joec123able]

Hmm it's already that low of Moisture in a couple of months I cut a piece of Osage in September it's been roughed down to where it barely bends its been sitting with heat blowing on it for a week or two I'm thinking it might be getting dry enough to bend alittle

[Carson (CMB)]

If it is still losing a gram a day then it is not ready yet, in my opinion.  Sorry, I read grams as grains.    

[DarkSoul]

Reduce it to near floor tillered dimensions, and monitor how much weight loss there is after that.

If the climate near the stove results in an EMC of 7.7%, I'd move the wood to a different place (either less heat or higher humidity) once you are ready to start tillering.

[Don Case]

I chopped and rasped til my old arms were tired. Only took a couple hours. Still not floor tillered. I'm seriously thinking of a farriers rasp . I'll leave it out in the garage at 55 degrees and 55% RH and continue to watch the weight. That was fun! Now it's going to be tougher to wait.
Don

[bow101]

The best way I find to dry wood the quickest way is to seal the ends and put it in a semi heated area up on cieiling hooks.  The most heat is higher up.  Dried Hawthorn and Oceanspray perfectly that way in about 6 months, No Checking.

[Don Case]

I put it out in the shop where the RH is 65% and the temp went down to 45 last night. It gained two grams. That should mean I'm good to go, right?
Don

[bow101]

I generally leave my bows in the basement, humidity is slightly higher temperature is about 3 degrees below room temp.  I do work ouy in the garage Summer winter whatever, in the winter temp could be 45 degrees, but when I'm done I return the wood to the basement. RH is around 65% ...I hope that makes sense.