hookedonrc

I have a Sig Hog Bipe kit in an indoor closet and am getting the building itch again. This will be my second kit. I would like to start soon, but I seem to remember that it is recommended that you let the wood sit in its new envronment for a while before starting to build. I will be moving the kit from the indoor closet to the garage, where I build. The temperature difference is quite a bit this time of year, so I don't want to start till the balsa has a long enough time to adjust...or do I not need to worry about this at all?

DBCherry

My Feedback: (4)

Personally I wouldn't worry too much about it, but giving it a few hours to reach room temperature wcouldn't hurt.
Dennis-

carrellh

The wood floor people on the TV home imporovement shows recommend leaving the boxes in their new environment for 24 hours before installation. That's a lot of dense wood packed very tightly. A box of balsa probably adjusts much faster.

tschuy

My Feedback: (1)

I'd let the kit sit horizontal for a day or two on your bench. Humidity is the big issue not temperature. Put some heat in that workshop of your's!!! When it's cold my fingers don't work as well. :-)

goboto

I second storing the wood flat horizontal. If it's standing on end, the wood will develop bows and twists naturally due to gravity. The wood was kiln dried by the manufacturer, I believe, so the only moisture in it will be from it's current environment. It is also thin and very porous, so it won't take very long to acclimatize to wherever you put it. I'd vote to pulling it out start building ASAP.

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

I agree, get the kit out of the closet and start building. Good Luck, Dave

CafeenMan

I talk about that a lot. I think it's important to climatize a kit to your workshop. But the whole kits moves as a unit so it shouldn't be much of a problem. I think if you open the box a day or two should be fine. If you buy new wood from the hobby shop, give it a couple days in your shop before you put it in a project that's been in your shop.

hookedonrc

Thanks for the feedback everyone. The kit has been sitting in the garage for about 24 hours now. However, the top temp for today is only supposed to be 31 degrees and is now 19 with a windchill of 9....soooo I guess the football playoffs will be on the agenda for today. BTW: goboto/tschuy - I have stored, and currently have the kit sitting horizontally, so all should be ok.

tschuy

My Feedback: (1)

Good deal....

Go get you one of the electric radiator heaters for your shop....Dang that's too cold.......

hookedonrc

Actually, I have a kerosene heater that does a pretty good job. It just takes quite a while to warm up the garage. I am planning to go to Home Depot or Lowes and buy several 4'X8' sheets of styrofoam and insulate my garage door. It is just the aluminum door without insulation now. I am sure that will help with the ability to keep the garage warm in the winter and will help to cool it in the summer. Boy...there are times I sure miss having a basement like we used to when I lived up north. Of course, I don't miss the leaks or sump pumps.