Beyond the limit for moisturizing?

[Henning]

Hello, this might be a silly question. But I allow myself that in such times as today.
Is a vintage instrument always possible to moisturize?
It doesn´t pass a limit where the wood is so dried out that it ceases to accept humidity any more, does it?
The question because of a youtube film I recently watched that actually claimed that.
Supposedly, a thin plate will accept the humidity faster then a thicker.

[Quickstep192]

I’ll be interested to hear from others, but I think any wood, regardless it’s age will absorb or release moisture to reach moisture equilibrium with its environment.

[Henning]

I agree with you on that. Though it is a fact that a stringed instrument seems to be most vulnerable to rapid changes in moisture when it is new, isn´t it?

I have an ukulele with two cracks in the back. I fear that crack has been open for quite some time maybe even decades. It´s just 0,2 mm after approximately 3 days at 50 - 60%. Unfortunately I didn´t check it when I started moisturizing it.
When it comes to gluing I don´t know how to approach the problem. I guess it is rather an easy task for a qualified instrument repair.

Should I glue the cracks first or cleat it first then fill the cracks?

https://www.dropbox.com/s/iklu1pc3k1...19%29.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/mkqq7xqilu...11%29.jpg?dl=0

[redir]

Toss it in your swimming pool for a few hours and report back

[runamuck]

Wood will always react to humidity changes but less so as it ages.

[Henning]

Originally Posted by redir

Toss it in your swimming pool for a few hours and report back

Eh! would you? Or just because it is mine?

It´s perhaps 70 years of age. Why not one of those in to your swimming pool instead.

[redir]

Originally Posted by Henning

Eh! would you? Or just because it is mine?

It´s perhaps 70 years of age. Why not one of those in to your swimming pool instead.