HARDWOOD RECORD 



IKiiICMItdll) SCAI.OMK 



:mk(iii) scalometek 



v: <0/^:^o^:/■^>:^!AlA^^:;^aikv^>i;^!;;c>^^; soi^!/VA!)K^^ 



-^ To Determine Wood Moisture -JrJ- 



About a year ago B. D. Curtis, secretary of the Morton Dry 

 Kiln Company, Chicago, perfected an instrument for testing ma- 

 terials to determine the amount of moisture. The original patent 

 covered a mechanical arrangement which was entirely eflScient 

 for the work it had performed, but since then numerous improve- 

 ments have been made to the general equipment. The Morton com- 

 pany is now preparing to market this instrument and has gotten 

 out an attractive descriptive booklet. 



The Troemroid scalometer manufactured by the Morton Dry 

 Kiln Company is made in three models. The instrument is a 

 special scale of extreme accuracy fitted with agate bearings with 

 screw adjustment for balancing. The beam is graduated from O 

 to 2 ounces, divided into 100 parts, each division representing 

 1/50 of an ounce. By using the pointer attached to the beam 

 weight the 1/100 part of an ounce can be weighed. 



The booklet describes each model, gives specific instructions for 

 operating and a series of example demonstrations. It also gives 

 ■^cime exiellcnt advice on general methods. 



In addition there are cuts of the automatic electric heater and the 

 Morton registering hygrometer, both of which instruments could be 

 U8e<l to advantage in dry kiln and testing work. 



Buying axd Selling Ll'mber by Scalometer Test 

 Page 14 of the booklet is devoted to a talk on buying and sell- 

 ing lumber by the Troemroid scalometer test. This talk follows: 



It has been the custom in buying or selling lumber to give but 

 little attention to its moisture contents when considering its 

 market value. The mills designate the stock as green from the saw 

 or 3, 6, 9 or 12 months air dried, as the case may be. While this 

 gives a general idea as regards its moisture condition, it sometimes 

 proves very misleading as lumber that has been air dried in one 



locality or under favorable yarding coiiditioiis might air dry more 

 in three months than it would in anotlier locality or under unfavor 

 able yard conditions in six to nine months. 



The time of the year the lumber is cut or piled on the yard 

 also has a great influence as to its rapidity in air drying. A 

 great number of woods will shrink in volume from ten to fifteen 

 per cent from green to kiln dry. 



Would it not be much more just to the buyer as well as to the 

 seller of lumber if a basis could be established for marketing 

 this product so that both parties could know tho exact moisture 

 condition as well as loss in volume due to shrinkage! 



The mill that can offer for sale lumber that contains only fifteen 

 to twenty-five per cent of moisture should command a premium 

 over the mill that is offering lumber with thirty to thirty-five per 

 cent moisture, as the purchaser is getting more lumber and less 

 water, also a saving on freight and securing stock that can be 

 put through his kilns in less time and with less loss in shrinkage. 



What may seem like well air dried lumber to one person or 

 firm may not appeal to another. Think of tho arguments and 

 disputes that could be eliminated in this way alone if buyer and 

 seller both knew the exact moisture contents of the lumber at the 

 time the sale was made. 



We believe that eventually as much attention will be given 

 this matter of moisture conditions in lumber as to the grade and 

 quality in selling and buying of same and that every woodworking 

 industry buying lumber from the mills, as well as the mills them- 

 selves, will be provided with some kind of means for accurately 

 determining the moisture contents of the lumber and be prepared 

 to sell or buy it on the basis of moisture test as well as grade. 



The book concludes with a price list of Morton Dry Kiln instru- 

 ments, and a list of a few firms now using these instruments. 



CURTIS ELECTRIC IlEATEH 



\li;i!( no 1 liEHMli.METKU lOU I SE IN DRY KILNS 



