Final drying of slabs questions????

Re: Final drying of slabs questions????

Sgian Dubh

If your testing shows the stuff is somewhere between 10 and 12% MC, it should be more than dry enough for your project. Just, as normal, make allowance for seasonal expansion and contraction across the width. You could also undertake an oven drying test or three to confirm your meter's reading (or disprove them). You can use a microwave oven for that task, although that methodology is probably not quite as definitive as a scientifically formulated test using lab type conditions and kit. Slainte.

Stored in a shed sends a shiver up my spine,

Dick Coers

and fires off a PTSD response. I destroyed thousands of board feet of lumber from a severe powder post beetle infestation. I'll never be the same after watching 2x20 ash boards hit the bonfire. It was absolutely filled with holes and trails. But it was stored a lot longer than 2 years.

Re: Shivered Timbers

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In New Jersey

I seem to remember that Barry treats his wood with Tim-bor or Bora-Care. Absent it being rinsed off, that should keep the PPBs out.

You keep asking, but

Keith L Newton

I'm pretty sure you haven't tried this, and I'm not sure why since it is perfect for what you need.

I might add that I tried the dehumidifier method on a pretty good stack of red oak this ended up being used in the AR governors mansion. That method will never produce enough heat to kill any insects even if it will dry the air, but it also fails in that it doesn't produce enough heats to aid evaporation. Cool dry air will absorb moisture from the wood, but its would be a lot like putting wet clothes in the dryer then setting it to run with not heating elements.

I just removed a couple of big pecan slabs that my customer brought me that were in there for nearly a month, but they were wet. I now have some Western Red Cedar in there drying which will become bath tubs.

Richard is right that you can go ahead and use them at an incomplete dry state since, if they contracted an inch in width, what would it matter for this type of table. HOWEVER, if they loose much moisture and want to cup or twist due to spiraling grain in the tree, that might cause some problems if your construction method doesn't have that expectation in the planed method.

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/readarticle.pl?dir=newarticles&file=articles_946.shtml

Re: Shivered Timbers

J Barrett Irby Jr

Mark is right, I sprayed them with Boracare. Partially based on your experience. I also sealed the ends with paint, not Anchorseal.

Re: Final drying of slabs questions????

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

If an economics class needs an example of an illiquid asset your could offer this lumber as an example.

I will guarantee they are not under 15% MC after this time and conditions. Before you launch a DIY effort to hasten drying them, oak is the most difficult North American species there is to dry. When we sold lumber it was not rare to receive honeycombed 8/4 oak even from a professionally run kiln. All it took was for a plank to begin somewhat above the moisture content of the bulk of the charge to become stressed and honeycomb during drying.

An oak kiln is micromanaged to bring the moisture down a small amount each day. I don't know what the schedule would be for 3" but it would be many weeks. Nobody reputable would touch this lumber to be dried with a normal charge of 8/4. Put it in with 4/4 and the result would be total loss.

Do you know you have a market for finished table? These planks are a whole lot easier to store than a finished table languishing in you shop. Sell the lumber to some shop that has customers, if there is one, or try to sell it to others that dream of turning these pieces into something.

Re: Final drying of slabs questions????

Barry Irby

I just sold a table for $5,000. Pretty happy about that. Made it from white oak slabs that have been air drying for nine years.

OTOH, you are correct. At my age I don't have enough time to make and sell dozens more. I would be happy to sell some to others.

I would like to find a microwave vacuum kiln to see if they can do as good a job as they claim. I can spare a few for the experiment. I actually have forty slabs.

Re: Final drying of slabs questions????

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

The only vacuum kiln's I have seen are for turning squares and they are not very big.