moisture content

[dcmeckel]

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

[Pat B]

For most woods 9% to 11% for selfbows but hickory likes about 6%.

[Roy from Pa]

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

[IdahoCurt]

I'm 6%-8% here in Idaho

[macbow]

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

[Don Stokes]

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.

[Pat B]

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.

[George Tsoukalas]

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

[dcmeckel]

Thank you all for the input,

D.C.