Trad Gang
Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: dcmeckel on November 11, 2010, 08:47:00 PM
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Before I go out and buy a moisture meter,I thought someone out there in tradland might help me to pick one out.
I see some read 6%to22%,and some read 8%to45%.What is an acceptable moisture content in wood laminations when building a laminated bow?
Hope someone can help,thanks
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For most woods 9% to 11% for selfbows but hickory likes about 6%.
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Like Pat says, around 10 %. Hickory likes to be dryer. I have this one, works great. But they are not cheap.
http://www.3riversarchery.com/product.asp?i=5700
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I'm 6%-8% here in Idaho
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Just my opinion. If money is a issue then you can do without the moisture meter. I bought one because I deal with stave from trees I've cut. I find that I use it rarely. For my bamboo I know it has high moisture when I get it so after thinning it goes in the heat box for a few days.
Same with staves after a year and reducing them. In the heat box for a while.
It is something neat to have if you can afford it.
Ron
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General rules of thumb: wood stored outdoors in the relatively humid eastern US will equalize in the 12-14% range. Stored indoors with heating and/or air conditioning, it will equalize at 6-8%. In the arid west, outdoors it will be 10% or less.
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I bought a 2 prong type moisture meter(about $100) years ago and very rarely used it so I gave it to a friend in Utah so he could be sure his staves weren't too dry.
I go by feel and sound while I'm working a stave as far as moisture goes. Also the resillience of a finished bow and/or excessive set will tell you if it is dry enough.
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You'll want something that goes lower than 8%. I like hickory 6-8% and other woods 8-10%. I bought the Mini Ligno. 3 Rivers has them. With most meters, the drawback is that they only take surface readings. To solve that I keep taking readings from the belly side as I work the wood. If I get a reading too high I stop and let the stave dry. Jawge
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Thank you all for the input,
D.C.