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Keeping kiln dried lumber DRY.

Blog entry by James Lango posted 280 days ago 313 reads 0 times favorited 4 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Here’s my question: I live in north east OHIO. The 15×30 outdoor shed also serves as a my dehumidification kiln. Kiln itself is 15×6, insulated, heated and sectioned off from the main storage area. It is a gambrel type shed/barn. I can dry smaller loads of harwood in my kiln. After the batch is dry enough for use, the next load has to go in. How long can I store the DRY load above in the sheds attic?(Gambrel roof design allows me to stand up in the middle, I can store alot of wood up there) The dried wood is in the 6-9%MC range. Is it possible for the dry load to re-absorb moisture?
Think about this; You can buy dried hardwood from Lowes, HomeD, lumber yards etc… They have the lumber sitting in isles, on store shelves etc. Have you ever though about how long those particular boards have been sitting on the store shelves?
When you walk into those huge stores, the relative humidity is pretty much equal to the outdoor enviroment. “equalibrium”
So DOES wood re-absord?
Thinking further- Store bought lumber has to make the journey from kiln to wholesaler, to retailer. Sometimes traveling by train, truck etc. And again spends some time sitting on shelves before being bought.

So will the wood go from say 7% to 10-15% in a matter of days, weeks, months, or never?
Many times when i buy wood for a project, it sits for a few weeks before use. And I know my “garage shop” is not less than 30%humidity.

Very confusing when you think about the science behind it. Please help. Thank you JAMES- Ohio

-- Longovette@Roadruner.com


4 comments so far

View childress's profile

childress

162 posts in 435 days


posted 280 days ago

YES!!! wood will reabsorb. It’s called reaching EMC – Equalibrium Moisture Content. That is why wood moves with the seasons. It’s losing moisture in the winter (cooler air holds less moisture) and absorbs moisture in the summer.

Your shops absolute humidity (amount of water vapor in grains per cubic foot) determines relative humidity depending on the tempurature. If your shop has 50% RH @ 70deg. your wood will have aprox 9% MC when it reaches EMC.

Get the book “Understanging Wood” by Bruce Hoadley. He goes into detail on this stuff (and other stuff as well)

-- Childress Woodworks

View dennis mitchell's profile

dennis mitchell

3789 posts in 1207 days


posted 280 days ago

Try not to think about it.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

View BarryW's profile

BarryW

872 posts in 800 days


posted 280 days ago

A moisture meter is a must…if you don’t already have one. A good one….I like Lignomat…

-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ Stay so busy you don't have time to die.

View dougdeg's profile

dougdeg

66 posts in 663 days


posted 280 days ago

How did you build your dehumidification kiln, what type of system do you have was it hard to build, how long to dry a load of lumber

-- Doug Cedar Log Furniture, www.cedar-stuff.com

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