When it comes to buying lumber at your local home improvement center, you are presented with various options and pricing models. You can get a lumber package cut to certain sizes, buy full-size timber, or maybe even just the slab. Although all of these types of purchases provide great versatility and price options, there are advantages to buying kiln-drying lumber instead.
There is a variety of variables that affect the length of time it takes for the wood to dry completely. In order to have a clear-cut idea of how long it will take to dry lumber, there are some important things to consider, which will be explained in this article.
In this article, we’ll share with you some of the insights we have gained over the years about kiln-dried wood and how to purchase this type of wood in order to be confident in its quality.
What is Wood Drying?
At its most basic, the process of wood drying is simply a matter of reducing the amount of moisture in the wood. This is done by running the lumber through a kiln, which uses heat and air circulation to evenly dry out every section of the wood. When use, wood is dried to reduce moisture content. Kiln-dried lumber or timber is what is produced when the drying process is carried out in a kiln; air drying is the more conventional technique.
While air drying is a much slower process, it typically produces lumber that has more natural and varied coloration. On the other hand, kiln drying tends to give the wood a more consistent look and can remove the natural smell of certain types of wood. Both methods have their pros and cons, depending on what you are looking for in your lumber.
How does Wood Dry?
Wood initially dries from the surface (shell), which causes the shell to contract and the core to become compressed. This shell will “set” and resist shrinkage when the moisture content is low. The moisture content of the wood is still higher in the core. The core will then start to dry out and contract.
Additionally, the process of drying wood is complex, involving the exchange of water molecules between the lumber and the surrounding air. Three main factors affect this transfer: temperature, airflow, and humidity levels.
The temperature has a major impact on how quickly the wood dries. The hotter the air around the wood, the faster it will dry. As the temperature increases, more water is released from the wood and flows into the surrounding air. This means that wood does not have to be exposed to very high temperatures in order for it to dry quickly.
In addition to temperature, airflow can also help accelerate the drying process by increasing the evaporation of moisture from within a piece of wood. The more air that flows across the treated lumber, the faster it will dry.
Finally, relative humidity also affects how quickly wood dries. When the surrounding air is very humid, there is less water available for evaporation and drying takes longer.
How Long Does it Take to Kiln Dry Lumber
The amount of time it takes to dry the wood depends on a variety of factors, including the type of wood and its thickness. In general, however, kiln drying typically takes between one and three days for most types of wood, although thicker pieces may take longer.
One important thing to keep in mind is that the more moisture you start with, the longer it will take for the wood to dry. For example, freshly-cut lumber typically contains much more water than kiln-dried lumber. As a result, you can expect significantly longer drying times if you are working with this type of wood.
The resins in softwoods are removed by the heat in the kiln. Depending on the type of wood, air-drying is a natural process that can take anywhere from 8 to 16 months. On the other hand, kiln-drying typically takes 6 to 8 weeks. There are no internal tensions introduced into the wood during this operation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature do you kiln dry wood at?
Depending on the drying stage, the kiln’s interior temperature can range from 120 to 190 degrees Fahrenheit. Although there are kilns with temperatures as high as 240 degrees F, they are typically only used for low-value hardwoods and softwoods that dry quickly.
Can I kiln dry wood at home?
Home kiln drying can be an excellent technique to harvest local resources sustainably and dry them quickly enough to use for furniture construction. Too-wet wood may continue to dry and split if it is used to make furniture, perhaps destroying the item.
If you are considering kiln-drying wood at home, there are a few important things to keep in mind. First, it is essential that the heat and humidity levels inside your kiln are properly controlled. In addition to regulating the temperature, you will also want to make sure that the relative humidity remains within a certain range. You may need to install a humidity monitor to have a daily check on this.
Another important consideration is the type of wood you are using. Different types of wood have different moisture contents and dry at different rates, so it is important to be familiar with the characteristics of your particular materials.
How long does it take to dry lumber?
It can take several months to almost a year to air-dry lumber to the required MC, depending on the weather, the species, and the size of the lumber. In western Oregon, wood stored outdoors and under cover will dry to a moisture content of approximately 12 to 14 percent, and in eastern Oregon, 8 to 10 percent.
Is it better to air dry or kiln dry wood?
Kiln-dried logs are preferred over air-dried logs, according to several wood suppliers. Kiln drying kills all insects, their eggs, mold spores, and fungi in the wood while also drying off the resin, which would otherwise become liquid at room temperature due to the intense heat.
Is it OK for kiln-dried wood to get wet?
It should be noted that kiln-dried lumber should never be exposed to rain, even though excessive humidity is the main issue. Depending on the species, this invariably causes significant surface checking, a decline in color quality, and many other types of degradation.
How do you kiln dry wood fast?
Simply place a reliable dehumidifier next to the stack of wood that needs to be dried, turn it on, and the moisture will be sucked right out of the wood. Doing this can speed up the drying process from weeks or months to just a few days. It would be even better if you add an air blower to the mix to create more airflow.
Conclusion
Several techniques can be used to dry wood, including a kiln and air drying. Kiln drying is typically faster and more reliable than air drying, although it requires specialized equipment and may produce undesirable effects on the wood. Regardless of your technique, it is important to ensure that your wood is properly dry to avoid damaging your furniture or other wood products.
For more ideas on kiln drying, you can visit our website HeBei ShuoWei. If you want help and answered questions, you can, contact us for more guidance. Hope this article helps!
