Drying wet wood is an actual aggravation. It takes time, and it looks like it will not transpire.
However, how long will dry wet wood? It all be contingent on the weather setting.
In this blog, we’ll look at a summary of the following:
- How long will captivating for the wood to air dry out after rain?
- How long will wood take to dry in the indoor setting?
- How do you dry wood that is wet quickly?
If you have some lumber lying in your yard or are just interested in what time you’ll have to wait to use your new piece of furniture, takes a look!
Let’s cut the unsureness:
It takes wet wood at least two months to fully dry. The drying time of damp lumber differs based on the size of the wood and the weather conditions, moisture content, and where it is located. Wet woods with a higher moisture content can take up to a week to dry. This is because of the depth at which the moisture must travel before it can get out of the wet wood.
The presence of wood in weather that is warm and humid will significantly speed up the drying process. The winds carry away water near the surface of the wood, leaving room for moisture in the wood to move further away from the outside before it can escape.
Sunny weather is defined by warm temperatures that are essential for the evaporation of moisture in wood and cause wood that is green and lumber to dry.
Drying times can vary significantly based on the purpose of usage and the intended use of wood. For example, the wood used for staining must contain at minimum 12-17 percent moisture content or dryer.
You may be waiting longer for the greenwood to turn into acceptable dry wood if you plan to stain it. We do not recommend staining damp wood.
If it was firewood that was wet and you were waiting for less time, the recommended moisture content of wet seasoned firewood is 20 percent or greater.
If you plan to fence with wood, it is possible to do so by using slightly more moisture content that is not significantly different from wood that has been seasoned for firewood.
Aspects Affecting Drying Time of Wood After Rain
The drying time is largely based on the moisture content of the wood. The moisture may result from the wood’s freshness being still in its green or dry lumber being covered in the rain.
The amount of time that timber rain or moisture exposure will typically determine the amount of moisture it has.
When wood has to be exposed to water or rain for long periods and is exposed to moisture for a long time, it could push the moisture content up to the ceiling. Contrarily, it can.
Particularly exposure to rain could increase the moisture in the wood by 30 percent or more. If you want to judge the wood dry enough, you’d like to bring this percentage down to 15 percent.
Use a moisture meter to check if the wood is dried before use. Then, consider the main factors affecting the time to dry lumber.
Humidity
This is the sum of water vapor existing in the air. For instance, if you store damp wood in an area with high levels of humidity, the excessive moisture present in the air will hinder the transpiration of water out of the wood.
This can dramatically increase the drying process. The drying process involves losing the wood’s moisture in the air.
However, moisture blocks water movement from the wood’s surface to the atmosphere if the air is moist.
When the humidity is low, water from the wood may escape into the atmosphere, speeding up drying. This is why wood in low-humidity conditions tends to dry more quickly than wood in humid environments.
木材种类
The drying times of hardwoods vary from softwoods. Most hardwoods are denser than softwoods and, consequently, considerably heavier. This structural feature significantly influences the drying time of their wood.
The typical time for hardwoods is a much longer drying time than a comparable softwood species.
If you own wet hardwood, the moisture content could be lower than the equivalent piece of softwood, particularly when they are similarly exposed to moisture or rain.
But softwood loses its moisture more quickly than hardwood. The density of hardwoods means that the moisture trapped within them is more difficult to release and escape outside than softwoods.
Therefore, hardwoods typically take longer to dry as compared to softwoods.
Temperature
Wood tends to dry more quickly in windy and dry areas with sufficient sunlight. But, if you reside in regions with extreme temperatures, anticipate the lumber to dry within a matter of days according to the moisture content.
Woods with less moisture may dry entirely within 2 to 3 days, while others generally require months to dry thoroughly.
The temperature is one of the significant factors in drying times that are faster since it speeds up the evaporation of moisture from wet wood, making the wood dry and ready for use.
Conversely, environments with low temperatures tend to slow down the drying of wet or greenwood. If you don’t employ a synthetic method to speed up the drying process, wood that is dry in cold climates may require weeks for drying.
Dimensions of the wood
The size of the wood determines the drying time. The thicker lumber, for example, will require longer drying time than smaller wood because of its size.
That’s why it is common to cut wood. If you split a freshly sawn piece, you expand the area while decreasing the size. Both of these factors contribute to quicker drying.
Ideally, smaller pieces of wood are more exposed to environmental conditions. The larger surface area results in a faster moisture reduction in the surrounding.
This means there is more space to escape than if the surface area is smaller.
How to Dry Wet Wood Fast
烘干湿木最有效、最快捷的方法是加热。例如，你可以将湿木堆放在燃烧的木柴上直接加热，或将其放在其他热源旁边。
The moisture will quickly evaporate, leaving the wood dry if you place damp lumber in front of the fireplace or other source of heat.
This technique is advantageous when it rains or in winter when the sun is unavailable to allow the wood to dry naturally.
A fireplace is only one method that can accelerate the drying process for your timber. Here are some other techniques that have been tried and tested for drying wood that is wet fast.
Method 1: Divide the wood into pieces
根据木材的用途，您可以在存储之前将其分解成更小的碎片，因为您已经发现将它们分解成更小的碎片可以增加暴露在外部环境中的木材面积。
With a larger surface open to the atmosphere, moisture inside the wood can escape.
Once you’ve cut your wood into more compact pieces, stack them in reasonably small piles, leaving enough space to let air flow between them.
Method 2. Warm the wood
It is believed that warm air can be the fastest method to evaporate water from anything. Therefore, instead of allowing dried wood in normal conditions, you can heat the wood to reduce the drying time by just a tiny fraction.
The more heat you can add more warmth you add, the quicker you can expect your moist dried wood to be dry. It’s possible to put the wood next to any of those conventional open-air fireplaces or on wood-burning stoves to dry or attach the electric heaters in your home to the wood for specific heating.
Avoid propane heaters. While they might generate enough heat, they create plenty of moisture, which could increase the humidity levels, causing a slowing of drying time.
You can put the timber outdoors to dry out in the sunshine if the weather is clear. When doing this, ensure you leave the wood in for a short time. Rain could cause them to get dry again, or rain may fall directly on them.
Method 3. Utilize fans to increase air circulation
Whether that is warm or humid can speed up the drying process of wood that is wet. Without natural winds, you can use a fan to mimic wind and increase air circulation.
This is how you can have the same effect as natural wind. The excellent air circulation will eliminate any moisture present in the air surrounding the wood. The resultant dry air can go a long way by speeding the removal of wood moisture.
Method 4: Run a dehumidifier to reduce moisture
We’ve said that high humidity slows the process of evaporation. If the weather doesn’t allow for your wood outdoors, place them in a woodshed or any other enclosed space with the aid of a dehumidifier.
The device can reduce the volume of water vapor in the air, allowing your wood to dry more quickly. The dehumidifying method can be used in your basement or any other storage space you’ve put aside for the wood you have in your home.
A dehumidifier is an ideal way to dry out kitchen drawers, cabinets, or floors made of wood that are soaking up water for a reason. It is also an excellent option for furniture that has become soaked by moisture.
Method 6: Allow the wood to dry air
Suppose you have lots of wood stacked and need more air circulation to allow drying. Therefore, in this case, it’s ideal for breaking up the wood in the storage area to expose them to air.
You could also open the windows to let in more air and let the wood air dry. If the conditions are dry, you could put the wood that has been wet outside the carport or yard to dry.
Air drying is an unnatural process that performs excellently, particularly in the warmer months as well as in regions that are not as humid.
How to Tell if Wood is Dry
The best way to know that dried wood exists is to test the moisture level using a moisture meter. You can also check the edges of logs to determine whether they’re cracked or dark in color, confirming they’re dry.
Also, take note of how heavy the piece of wood is. Dry-seasoned wood is lighter and produces hollow sounds when you smash two pieces.
Consider pouring water over the wood. If the water stays up on the surface, it is moist. If the wood immediately absorbs the water, then it’s dry.
Why is Wet Wood Bad for Woodworking?
Moisture trapped inside wood is the most severe cause of wood rot and can impact the wood’s structural quality. Furthermore, moisture can affect the wood’s aesthetics through discoloration, algae, and mold.
If you are working on a woodworking project, keep this in mind. It is also essential to allow the wood to fully dry because of some of the reasons below:
Wet wood isn’t sufficient to withstand the force of the sun
Wood becomes more substantial and more suitable for different projects when dried. Utilizing wet lumber could result in weak structures that will break under only a small amount of stress. This is because absorbing moisture causes wood to expand, causing its fibers to fall off.
Sanding can be laborious when wet wood
Because moisture causes wood fibers to become loose, wet sanding wood is complicated and is likely to cause fibers to break instead of smoothing them out.
FAQs
- How long will it take for wood to dry out after rain?
The average time for wood is five days for drying following rain. This approximate number may be longer or shorter, depending on the climate.
- How long will it take wood to dry inside?
Wood is generally supposed to dry at a time of 1 year for every inch of wood thickness, as a rule of thumb. But factors like the temperature in the area and the wood type and ventilation will accelerate or extend the drying process.
- How long does to dry firewood after rain?
It typically takes less than an entire week for wood to dry following rain. The time frame for drying will be contingent on the weather and the size of the wood pieces.
- How long will it take to cure wood?
Curing wood is an all-year-round process that can take six months and two years. Because of this, most people chop and store their wood in the winter and spring to use the following.
- How long will it take for wet wood to begin to rot?
The wet wood can begin to turn brown within six months if it is not treated. The rot may start earlier if the wood sits in water or when the humidity is too high.
- How does wood react after it is wet?
Wood is typically porous, and water is likely to be able to penetrate it if wet. The moisture can soften the wood, which causes it to expand, and alter its structure. Furthermore, if the wood isn’t dried earlier, it will begin to be rotting, develop mods and algae, and eventually become discolored.
Conclusion
Understanding the length of time for wet to dry wood can help make a plan for your woodworking. You should only use wood with little humidity, which could lead to algae and fungi development or decay. Wet wood isn’t suggested as a woodworking material, and this article can help you to plan your next project more effectively.
Understanding the length of time for wet to dry wood can help make a plan for your woodworking. You should only use wood with little humidity, which could lead to algae and fungi development or decay. Wet wood isn’t suggested as a woodworking material, and this article can help you to plan your next project more effectively.
And if you are planning to start your drying wood business, you are in the right place because HeBei ShuoWei offered a helping hand to those who want to create a wood drying business. Contact us to learn more about the wood drying industry.
