Drying Lumber in the heat box?

[Joey V.]

Well I bought some nice 2" thick exotic wood on **** for making risers and had a thought.  Most of the time when you get the wood bought on line it is completely covered in wax and I think it is still way to moist to glue up.  I don't have a moisture meter and will prob. buy one but for now no.  Has anyone tried to dry out lumber in the heat box before or will the 4 to 5 hours at 170ish degree mark do the trick while iut is glueing?  I am thinking it could even cause the wood to check / crack if it is real moist right?  Any help would be great...

Thanks
Joey V.

[ChristopherO]

I would hope what you purchase has been kilmed dried before they market it.  In that case all you would need to do is to be sure it is at a low enough MC.  Without a good meter, that rates exotic hardwoods, it's just a guess.

[macbow]

If is is too moist when you glue it up at 170 degrees I'd be afraid it would not only check but shrink enough to effect glue lines.

170 is too hot to dry it I think. More like 90 to 110 degrees for a few days if your concerned.

It should have been Kiln dried like Christopher said.
You could always email the seller.
Ron

[JamesV]

don't know if this will work but I read it would. I have a cocobolo turning blank 1 1/2 X 1 1/2X 18" the moisture content was 30% when I took the wax off. Wraped it in plastic and put in the freezer until frozen solid. thaw at room temp wrapped in paper towels, the towels will be soaked. Repeated 4 times and moisture is down to 22% and weighs almost 3 oz lighter.

[Joey V.]

James that is interesting....  My tiny brain is still trying to get around how that works but I can totally believe it.  I will have to do some tests on this idea....Interesting.