I think this stuff is pretty good. No way is this stuff fuzzy when you cut it. Fifteen to eighteen percent is right in line with what you would predict based on the relative humidity for this area. Also I weighed some planks and they are pretty close to the WRC density listed in Nick's book. I've recently seen some resawn kiln dried WRC that looked weter than the stuff I have. However, just to be on the safe side, I've stored the planks so that they get free air circulation around all surfaces. I'm also gonna rip my strips first and then go on to the strongback and forms, so the strips will have a couple of weeks to air out as well. The stuff will be fine.

: Ken,
: Little late to this party, but I'd be real surprised if the moisture content
: of these planks is as low as 15%. On the stump a tree's about 80% water by
: weight. Air dried material will usually get to about 20%. Unless this
: stuff is heavy or fuzzes when ripped I wouldn't worry. If it is/does rip
: it and stack it in a dry well ventilated space with stickers while you
: build your forms. In a couple of weeks it should be dry enough. The
: Sharkers always said to allow a year of air drying for each inch of
: thickness. I've noticed that a 2 by 6 left to dry for a year is dry about
: a half inch in from each side. So it seems the Shakers knew what they were
: taking about. So if this stuff was sitting around the lumber yard for a
: few months you're at least half way home.