[Tatu Salmela]

The planks need to dry at least a year per inch of thickness in steady room temperature (before that, a couple of years in the yard). After that, I cut it into smaller pieces. There is still some warping of the wood because of the inner tensions, so I leave room for planing 2 sides of the timber. I have tried thermal treatment in an oven, it reduces moisture but makes the wood harder and more brittle. Not good for a keyboard. So I just take care selecting the right piece of wood for the job. In Finland, it’s really dry in the winter and humid in the summer. It’s better to watch the wood for a year or so to see the annual changes in shape and if it’s dry enough.