How do you air dry your wood down to 20% ??

[difflock]

11 minutes ago, Big J said:

 

I'd check your moisture metre. There isn't any way the MC could be that low. Looking at the general forcast for central NI, the average relative humidity is just over 90% (and has been all winter). It's very unlikely it's below 20% and I'd guess it'd be 22-23%. The equilibrium moisture content it 22.2%, and whilst it might be carrying a bit of summer gained dryness, I'd hazard a guess that you've had plenty of 100% RH days that will have knocked it right up.

 

I'm not being pedantic, but just had to point out that in the UK that sub 20 in winter is very tough to achieve and sub 15 is impossible.

Which I included the 8.5% for the "toasty" sticks below the fire, being aware that my bought-off-ebay  "CEM DT-129" moisture meter could well be mis-reading, a little. 

It also gives 99.8%/99.9% when tested in wet water.

Can you suggest any easy way to calibrate it?

Edited February 25, 2020 by difflock

[Woodworks]

57 minutes ago, difflock said:

Which I included the 8.5% for the "toasty" sticks below the fire, being aware that my bought-off-ebay  "CEM DT-129" moisture meter could well be mis-reading, a little. 

It also gives 99.8%/99.9% when tested in wet water.

Can you suggest any easy way to calibrate it?

Try an over dry test or if you feel brave a microwave drying test which is very quick but can end in combustion if not closely observed haha

[difflock]

47 minutes ago, Woodworks said:

Try an over dry test or if you feel brave a microwave drying test which is very quick but can end in combustion if not closely observed haha

O.K.

I shall pop a small piece of wood in the oven the next time the wife has it on, and leave it overnight in the decaying heat.

Cheers

mth

Though I suspect the alogrithm may "break down" as one aproaches 0.00% moisture content.

Edited February 25, 2020 by difflock

[Rob_the_Sparky]

I think the point is measure it before going in the oven, then calculate the real percentage from the weight before and after drying.  Then compare the two...

[difflock]

16 minutes ago, Rob_the_Sparky said:

I think the point is measure it before going in the oven, then calculate the real percentage from the weight before and after drying.  Then compare the two...

?

Measure it or weight it  .  .  .

Edited February 26, 2020 by difflock

[Rob_the_Sparky]

Use the meter to take a moisture measurement before putting in the oven.  Then weigh the wood.  Put wood in the oven to dry it out and weigh again at the enf.  This gives you the dry weight and wet weight of the wood so you can calculate the moisture % of the wood before it went in the oven to compare with your meter measured value.

[openspaceman]

1 hour ago, difflock said:

?

Measure it or weight it  .  .  .

weigh it. I cut a piece as near under 30g and weigh it on a postal scale, note the weight and stick it in the microwave for 1 minute. note the weight let it cool a bit if it is steaming and repeat until you observe no further reduction. that stable weight is then the oven dry weight and it should pick up a gram or so over the next few hours. The original moisture content is the original weight  minus oven dry weight divided by the original weight.

[difflock]

Well I measured a scrap of firewood at 9.5%,(multiple deep probes, some were 9.6, but more 9.5's)

then weighed it a few times on small digital kitchen scales and consistent at 31g,

I gave it a few mins in the microwave(zero steam), then spent hours and hours toasting on top of the stove,

I cannot get it below 28g, and mostly giving 29g, but I picked the lower figure to use.

The scrap is only about 10mm thick by say 40mm wide, so I figgered it should be dry by now

so 3/31= 9.67% compared to my 9.5%(and sometimes 9.6%) with the moisture meter.

So near enough.(depending on the underlying accuracy of the scales)

I went back out to my log pile in the shed and a few random samples were 13.5 to 15% max.

I cannot explain this,(perhaps my shed is situated on ley lines or sommat black-magical) but those are my figures.

Cheers

Marcus

Edited February 26, 2020 by difflock

[struie]

On 22/02/2020 at 16:54, Woodworks said:

Funny you should mention them being idiots. Had 2 in 3 drops today.

 

First one needed logs urgently as he was about to run out of telegraph poles to burn. I saw these "logs" when I got there and he was not kidding they were literally chunks of wet telegraph pole out in the rain!

 

Number two had got some fresh wood off a mate that he was struggling to burn on his open fire so could he have some nice dry softwood to mix it in with.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if these two dont give off more pollution than 20 sensible users with modern wood burners with our logs. The new regs wont make the slightest difference to either case.

should get these 2 numptys together.

[Rough Hewn]

 
I'd check your moisture metre. There isn't any way the MC could be that low. Looking at the general forcast for central NI, the average relative humidity is just over 90% (and has been all winter). It's very unlikely it's below 20% and I'd guess it'd be 22-23%. The equilibrium moisture content it 22.2%, and whilst it might be carrying a bit of summer gained dryness, I'd hazard a guess that you've had plenty of 100% RH days that will have knocked it right up.
 
I'm not being pedantic, but just had to point out that in the UK that sub 20 in winter is very tough to achieve and sub 15 is impossible.

I've got a mate with a barn full of oak Elm yew etc slabs.
All below 14% mc.
Air dried.
Lots of it is around 10%.
Barsteward.
I can't check the wood mc at my yard as the moss and fungus are too deep to get the probe in.
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