How long does it take lumber to air dry?

How long does it take lumber to air dry?

Depending on the species and your climate, it can take from 2 to 12 months to bring 4/4 lumber from green to air-dry (12- to 20-percent moisture content, depending on your location). Air-dry isn’t dry enough for indoor use. If you’re planning to use the lumber for outdoor projects, airdrying outdoors is fine.

What kind of wood is used for stickers?

Any pale-coloured hardwood is ideal for stickers and if the intention is use them repeatedly straight-grained pieces without many defects should be selected and the wood should be heartwood only. If drying softwoods a softwood species can be used for the stickers as well.

Should wood be stored vertically or horizontally?

If space is not an issue, the best way to store lumber is by stacking it horizontally. Lumber stored vertically should be raised off the ground to prevent water damage, and be supported at the top and bottom to prevent bowing.

What are piling sticks used for?

Timber piles are used for groynes and sea defence works as well as jetties, dolphins, fender piling and rubbing strips. The main advantages are potential low costs, sustainable material, carbon sequestration and off-cuts can be used for fuel.

How far apart do you put stickers on wood?

about 18 to 24 inches
Generally, a sticker distance of about 18 to 24 inches is sufficient for lumber of almost any size. However, some hardwoods, such as elm, should have stickers every 12 inches. It is important to place stickers at equal distances and straight across a layer. Use a sticker at each end of each layer for support.

How thick should wood stickers be?

Stickers are usually 3/4 to 1 in thick, although 1/2-in-thick stickers are sometimes used. The thinner stickers increase the capacity of a kiln and may be ad- equate for slow-drying species. They increase air ve- locity through the lumber stack and tend to make air- flow more uniform.

Is it bad to store wood standing up?

If Storing Lumber Vertically, Make Sure It’s Supported and Elevated. Storing wood vertically is space-saving, but it’s only recommended if the wood is completely dry. Otherwise, keep it horizontal until the moisture content of the wood is to its ideal percentage.

How much do wood pilings cost?

Dock Pricing Per Linear Foot

Material	Linear Foot Cost*	Lifespan*
Wood	$80 – $150	15 – 20 years
Aluminum & Composite	$100 – $200	20 – 30 years
Concrete	$150 – $300	50+ years
Wood Pilings	$10 – $15	Depends on salt or freshwater and treatment.

What are pilings treated with?

Most treated pilings are impregnated with chromated copper arsenate, which provides good protection against saltwater, freshwater, fungal growth, insect infestation and ultraviolet light, depending on the treatment level.

Why do I have sticker stain on my wood?

Sticker stain is another common problem in white wood. It’s caused by slow drying at warm temperatures when the lumber is above 40 percent moisture content.

What’s the best way to put stickers on wood?

Keep each layer of stickers directly over the dunnage and lined up with the stickers below and keep the edges of the outside boards plumb. A sticker placed right at the end of a board tends to stop deep end splits from developing.

Do you need to sticker your lumber pile?

For the lumber to dry properly, you’ll need to sticker your pile. Stickering refers to the use of narrow strips of wood – typically 1”x 1” – between the layers of lumber to allow adequate air flow.

Why do you put sticks between stacks of wood?

It’s the former, piling wood in stacks with sticks between them to allow better air flow while also maintaining an even pressure throughout the pieces to limit cupping or warping that occurs during the drying process. You can’t really see the sticks in this photo, but this wood has been stickered: