Thread: Moisture content

Good morning all.

We have a fine day. The sun last seen about 2 weeks back is shining. I have a question?
I have recently received some olive wood. I also was very lucky that the finance minister allowed me to buy a timber moisture meter. The two pin type.
1) What is a good moisture content to turn timber "dry" so that if you do a pen blank you can glue the brass tube in without it shrinking, warping or doing anything else weird and wonderfull.
2) If turning a pen blank green and with the hole in the middle already drilled, the brass tube glued in place, will it shrink or again do anything weird and wonderfull.

Some intense answeres and study will be appreciated as I am going to do one green one this morning and see my observations. I also have a microwave oven installed in the shed now. If I cut the pen blanks do I still have to seal both ends before I dry them in the oven and for how long on speed defrost??????

Any help, advise etc is greatly appreciated.

Your, forever gratefull, wood turning compadre'

Rog