Western Red Cedar Moisture Content

[Chuck]

I am getting ready to start a project on my house that includes columns, fascia and trimwork done in Western Red Cedar. I plan to plane the wood smooth and finish with Sikkens Cetol 1 and Cetol 23.

I have purchased some of the wood already and have been storing it in my basement. I live in the northeast and it has been very hot and humid. The wood is supposed to be kiln dried but I am getting moisture readings of 17-18% which is the max allowed by Sikkens. Is this a very high moisture reading for kiln dried or is it what you would expect because of the weather conditions? When I go back to the lumberyard for more wood, what should I expect/accept for moisture content on kiln dried WRC? If anyone has any ideas or suggestions about fininshing WRC, I would like to hear from them.

Thanks, Chuck

[Slowhand]

Most kiln dried wood moisture content rules are "no more than 19%". So at

17-18%, your wood would be considered kiln dried. SH

[Lew Hodgett]

Western Red Cedar can be very nasty stuff.

Make sure you wear a good dust mask and watch out for splinters.

If you pick up one, pull it as fast as possible.

Lew

[George]

"Slowhand"