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Author Topic: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?  (Read 2215 times)

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Offline Elktracker

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Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« on: January 24, 2011, 01:09:23 am »
I was wondering what scale you all use for measuring wood water loss? I was going to use a normal old bathroom scale but doesnt seem like it measures in small enough increments? Any how what do you all use? thanks Josh
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline Bevan R.

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2011, 01:13:20 am »
For the price of a scale, why not just get a moister meter. ???
You can find some at really reasonable prices nowdays. Just my thought.
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Offline sailordad

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2011, 01:18:04 am »
just let it dry and when you can tap it on a concrete floor and get a ringing sound
instead of a thud sound then ya know its dry  ;)
thats how i do it and never fails me
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Offline Holten101

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2011, 03:53:36 am »
Im with you Elktracker;-)

I have a moisture meter (and tried several) and they are not very reliable imo. The method Silordad promotes takes alot of experience (I dont master it yet...but im getting a feel for it with wych elm). A simple kitchen weight will do the trick (with one gram increments....yeah, im metric). I write the weight on the stave, and when there is no substancial weight drop over a period of a week I considder it dry.

I suggest you read the chapter on this subject in TBB....there are many factors to take into account, but I still considder weighing the most reliable method.

Cheers 
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Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2011, 10:22:14 am »
I use a moisture meter but you could use a baby scale. Jawge
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Offline crooketarrow

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2011, 10:45:06 am »
   Remember the prong type only measures as deep as the prong's go's in. I've amasted a lot of staves over the years and only use well aged staves. If your not sure take your stave down to bow foum them hang it up for a while or then test it with a meter.
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Offline dragonman

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #6 on: January 24, 2011, 03:10:34 pm »
Holten, I use a moisture meter I'm interested in which way they are unreliable???
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Offline Holten101

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #7 on: January 24, 2011, 04:06:11 pm »
Dragonman...readings on electronic moisture meters seems to be affected by pronge deepth (how far you push in the needle prongs) and the orientation of prongs in relation to grain orientation. Cracks and knots can skew readings too. They also only measure the surface moisure content (which is were RH will fluctuate the most/fastest).

I also find it worring that two meters so often give different readings....this has lead me to not trusting them.

This is based on my experience with 3 different meters....im sure others have had more succes with better meters.

Cheers
« Last Edit: January 25, 2011, 05:32:59 am by Holten101 »
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Offline John K

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2011, 09:45:28 pm »
Anyone need a 2 prong moister meter, shoot me a pm. I don't use it any more.

I think a fishing scale would work, pretty cheap too !

I like the baby scale idea too, cause the staves are like your babys  :D  :P
 
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Offline eflanders

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2011, 06:13:55 pm »
Electronic kitchen or postal scale.  They can be bought at most of the big box stores like walmart, target, kmart, etc.  You can use the same scale for measuring your glue portions too! ;)
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Offline Elktracker

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #10 on: January 25, 2011, 06:20:12 pm »
Quote from: eflanders on January 25, 2011, 06:13:55 pm
Electronic kitchen or postal scale.  They can be bought at most of the big box stores like walmart, target, kmart, etc.  You can use the same scale for measuring your glue portions too! ;)

Thats a great idea thanks
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline George Tsoukalas

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #11 on: January 25, 2011, 06:29:19 pm »
I keep checking as I make the bow right down to the first stringing. When I get a reading I don't like then I stop. Jawge
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Offline Elktracker

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #12 on: January 25, 2011, 06:32:19 pm »
Quote from: George Tsoukalas on January 25, 2011, 06:29:19 pm
I keep checking as I make the bow right down to the first stringing. When I get a reading I don't like then I stop. Jawge

Im not sure I understand this post could you be more specific George on what you mean?
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)

Offline Elktracker

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Re: Weighing bow wood for water loss, whats scale?
« Reply #13 on: January 25, 2011, 06:33:54 pm »
OOO are you talking about a moisture meater?
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my friends think my shops a mess, my wife thinks I have too much bow wood, my neighbors think im redneck white trash and they may all be right on the money!!

Josh Vance  Netarts OR. (Tillamook)
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