Wood moves. Drying and acclimation are the stages where wood transitions from freshly milled to usable and stable in a real environment.
Old timber often carries complex internal stress. When moisture leaves the board, those stresses express themselves. Some movement is expected. The goal is to dry in a way that reduces shock and allows the board to settle gradually.
Acclimation matters because dry is not one number. Wood seeks equilibrium with the environment it lives in. A board dried in one setting may still move when brought into another setting. That is why final surfacing is best done after the wood has adjusted to its destination environment.
Rough-sawn output preserves thickness so boards can be trued after drying and acclimation. It also keeps expectations realistic.
Old wood demands that you respect movement. The better you handle drying and acclimation, the better the final result.
Practical takeaway: plan for movement, dry carefully, acclimate in the destination environment, and do final sizing after stabilization.
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