Wood is a hygroscopic material, meaning that wood will absorb and lose moisture to get into equilibrium with the surrounding air.
It's crucial to use adequately dried logs to prevent warping, cracking, and shrinking as the wood dries further. Wood with a higher moisture content can lead to problems as it dries and adjusts to its surroundings.
The ideal moisture content for building rustic log furniture ranges between 6% and 9%. However, there are exceptions to the rule depending upon the type of wood used, local climate conditions, and where the furniture will be placed.
A moisture meter, such as the Mini-Ligno M/D Moisture Meter, is a practical way to measure the moisture content of the logs.
If you are shipping to different regions of the United States, you should be aware of different humidity conditions and humidity levels in different regions compared to spring, fall, and summer.
The map below indicates the moisture content range when furniture will be stable, depending on the different climate zones in the US.
Use your moisture meter to stay within the range of the above-listed moisture levels.
You can save a lot of grief by letting lumber dry before using it. For more information about drying your logs, click on Drying Wood to Make Log Furniture.