Dan Forman
05-29-2005, 1:33 PM
I just got a digital readout hygrometer, as wondering what is a reasonable level of relative humidity to try to maintain in my basement shop. Over the last few days readings have been in the 50 - 60% range. Weather has been mild with no rain. Our typical weather pattern is hot and dry from July to November, grey and damp from then through June. This year has been much dryer than usual, about 30% of normal snowpack in the mountains.
On a related note, I will not have room in the basement to store much lumber, would it cause undue problems to store wood in the spare garage? Again, desert like conditions in summer, frequently 90 degrees or above and dry, coupled with damp wet winters where it is just as likely to rain as snow, and lots of fog. Would these sorts of extremes cause problems in the wood if it was left in the shop to acclimate for a couple of weeks prior to being worked? This would be lumber that is already air or kiln dried, not green. I'm mainly wondering if baking through the summer would cause cracking or other such problems.
Dan
On a related note, I will not have room in the basement to store much lumber, would it cause undue problems to store wood in the spare garage? Again, desert like conditions in summer, frequently 90 degrees or above and dry, coupled with damp wet winters where it is just as likely to rain as snow, and lots of fog. Would these sorts of extremes cause problems in the wood if it was left in the shop to acclimate for a couple of weeks prior to being worked? This would be lumber that is already air or kiln dried, not green. I'm mainly wondering if baking through the summer would cause cracking or other such problems.
Dan