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Is kiln dried lumber good?
Kiln dried lumber is less likely to cup, warp, twist, and break, which enables manufacturers to make a product that can be enjoyed for years to come! Kiln dried lumber is often used for furniture, cabinets, and flooring. Air dried lumber is often used in patio furniture, fencing, and decking.
How much does kiln dried wood cost?
Vacuum kiln drying costs from $1-$2 per board foot, depending on the thickness. Plus, rather than paying for years of storage your lumber is ready within only a few weeks.
Can you get wood kiln dried?
Wood that has been seasoned outdoors for a long period of time can actually reabsorb moisture during damp weather. With kiln dried logs you get a very consistent product as once the kiln drying process is complete the logs are not exposed to the elements or any dampness that could lead to increased moisture levels.
How long does it take to season kiln dried lumber?
For this one inch lumber, green-to-dry kiln time is typically 5-6 weeks, or 35-45 days. So based on the prior paragraph a theoretical drying time for 2 inch thick wood should be closer to 140-180 days, or close to half a year.
Is kiln dried lumber better than air-dried?
So, kiln-dried lumber isn’t qualitatively “better” than air-dried lumber; it’s simply a quicker method of drying the green wood. That said, both air drying or kiln drying can lead to distortion and checking in the lumber if the drying process isn’t done correctly.
Is it better to air dry or kiln dry wood?
Air-dried logs are less expensive, up to 20% less, then kiln-dried since the substantial investment and the high cost of running the kiln is eliminated. Kiln-drying is the most effective way of ridding logs and timbers of mold, mildew and insect infestation.
What is the best kiln dried wood?
Kiln Dried Ash, Oak & Birch are the perfect species choice. Wood Density – As hardwood species are generally denser than softwood species, a ton of hardwood logs will occupy a smaller space than a ton of softwood logs.
Do logs have to be kiln dried?
Do I have to buy kiln dried wood? No! You don’t have to spend extra on kiln dried wood. You can continue using your local suppliers as long as the wood is <20% moisture.
What do you need to know about kiln dried lumber?
Kiln dried lumber is lumber that has been heated in a kiln so that it has a low moisture content. In the case of kiln dried lumber, the wood is dried in giant kilns with carefully controlled temperature and humidity levels. The goal is to get the boards to dry quickly and evenly, and to prevent warping that could render the wood unusable.
What’s the difference between air drying and kiln drying?
Kiln drying is usually preceded by air drying to bring the moisture content of the wood down below 30%. This allows for a more gentle kiln schedule to fully dry the timber. Kiln drying is almost always essential for wood intended for interior uses. This is because it needs to be dried to a lower moisture content than wood will air dry to outdoors.
What kind of timber can be dried in Fogarty kiln?
We operate Fogarty and Windsor kilns suitable for drying Pine, treated Pine, and Oregon timber species, as well as being suitable for MPI-approved heat treating. These kilns are fuelled by wood waste sourced from our own processing plant. Drying times vary depending on the timber’s thickness. A general guide is as follows:
What should moisture level be for kiln drying?
Once the moisture is below 30% the timber can be kiln-dried. If air-dried to 20% MC the timber can be block-stacked indoors without risk of decay. Measuring moisture levels can be undertaken with a resistance meter which measures conductivity between two probes shoved into the wood.