Storing Wooden Spars

I am building an Acey Deucy (similar to the Baby Ace). My boy and I are currently building ribs. I'll be ready to attach the right wing's ribs to their spars within several weeks. By the time I begin the left wing, a year may pass, since I'll have to spend a fair amount of time working on steel fittings, aileron, etc.

My question is whether I should prepare the left wing's spars now, or wait. My spar lumber (from Edensaw in Port Townsend, WA) will require planing and trimming. Once machined, I worry about excessive drying of the wood if a year should pass before building the left wing. Once built, I will coat the wing wood with varnish. Until then, the wood will be stored in my unheated garage.

Should I apply a light coat of varnish to the unused wood spar in order to forestall excessive drying? Or leave the spruce untouched until ready for use?

Thanks for any suggestions.

The Acey Deucy looks fun. I am glad to hear you are sharing the build with your son, and I hope the two of you have a great time both with the build and with aerial adventures down the road!

Your lumber will reach equilibrium with the moisture in the atmosphere, if it hasn't already done so by the time you get it. There will be some small changes with the weather and the seasons, but aside from that, won't continue to lose moisture. Unless you pack up the project and move to Las Vegas, I don't think you'll have to worry about any excessive drying. Just make sure the wood is well supported and that you have good air circulation around it.

Thank you for the reassurance. My son, Harry, and I are having a lot of fun. He is a very enthusiastic ten-year-old. What's more, he's a Young Eagle.
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Originally Posted by conodeuce

Thank you for the reassurance. My son, Harry, and I are having a lot of fun. He is a very enthusiastic ten-year-old. What's more, he's a Young Eagle.
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That's great!! Keep him enthused...that's the future of our sport right there!

He's got a photo of a P-51 over his bed. Next to it is a shot of an RV-3 -- an airplane he says he'd like to build. We'll see ...