Air Drying
Newly cut lumber has a high moisture content. Before this lumber can be used for indoor projects, it needs to be dried. The first step in this drying process is air drying. To do this, the lumber is stacked with stickers between the rows, covered on the top, and allowed to sit outside. The speed that lumber dries depends on many factors, including species, thickness of the lumber, and the weather. This phase of drying can take from a few weeks to over a year.
Kiln Drying
We have a Reefer trailer that was converted into a kiln. The kiln chamber has a Nyle 200 controller and is 35’ long and can hold 3000 to 4000 board feet of lumber. We heat the chamber with our waste slab wood using an outdoor wood boiler. We can also increase the temperature to over 140 degrees to sterilize the lumber.
COMMONLY asked Questions
What is the recommended moisture content before kiln drying?
*Once the lumber has dried to a 16-20% moisture content, it can be kiln dried.
What happens if you try drying wood before it reaches the optimal 16-20% moisture content?
*Wood that is placed in the kiln prior to reaching that moisture level will take longer to dry and may be more prone to cracking.
What is the goal moisture content percentage?
*The goal of kiln drying is to reach a moisture content of 6-8%. Once this level is reached, the lumber can then be processed into flooring, wall treatments, or furniture.
Will the wood look similar after it is dried as it did before?
*It is important to note that as wood dries it is not uncommon for it to have some warping, twisting, or cracking. This normal movement of the wood can often be resolved with planing.