Sawmill and Timber

Wood Drying and Processing => Kilns => Topic started by: lauztuvass on March 05, 2022, 03:36:20 AM

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Title: How to dry wood without kiln?
Post by: lauztuvass on March 05, 2022, 03:36:20 AM
Hello .
I bought some logs of spruce. Trees cut few days ago. So they are fresh. I will cut it to boards 150x30mm (~ 6 x 1.2in). I want to dry it but don't have a kiln. I will use board to cover hose from outside. I my country starting spring. Few questions:
1. How much moist can be in boards which I can use to cover house from outside?
2.  What conditions need for boards drying to avoid cranks? (then we drying not in the kiln) .
 
I have some experience with ash, birch, pine. They all was stored undercover from rain and snow. After two years , they all have about 14% of moist. Ash and birch have a lot of cranks. Ash and birch was stored inside building, they don't see sun. I my country a lot of masters of wood are talking that it is not good to dry wood on the sun.
Thanks for any help.
Title: Re: How to dry wood without kiln?
Post by: Ox on March 05, 2022, 10:46:04 AM
Stack and sticker the boards on flat level ground out of direct sunlight.  Put something over the top of them to keep rain and snow off.  It'll be about a year until you can use them.  Paint the ends of the logs before you do anything else.  Just about anything will work - cheap spray paint is what I use.  The idea is to seal off the end grain of the log.  If you don't you risk deep cracking and checking on the ends of the boards you saw out as they dry. 

I hope this helps a little.
Title: Re: How to dry wood without kiln?
Post by: Kirk Allen on March 05, 2022, 07:46:15 PM
Welcome to the forum. Your air-dried wood is going to dry to whatever moisture you have in your area.  The lowest air-dried I have seen at my place is 10% in the winter and about 13% in the summer.  Depending on what you plan on using it for makes a difference as to how dry you need it or if it needs to be kiln dried. 

If you're going to make furniture, for example, most will turn out best with kiln-dried lumber.
   
Title: Re: How to dry wood without kiln?
Post by: lauztuvass on March 12, 2022, 07:38:04 AM
Hello, thanks. Like I said before. I have some wood , which was placed in dry place. I real, no heat, temperature same as outside. Tested moist - it is about 14% . This wood (which I want to dry) I will use to cover walls of house. Outside walls.
Title: Re: How to dry wood without kiln?
Post by: Kirk Allen on March 12, 2022, 03:25:25 PM
I would not be concerned about kiln drying anything that is going to be on the outside of a structure.