There are a number of ways to dry wood fast, including kilning and sun drying. Kiln drying is perhaps the most common way. There are advantages and disadvantages to both techniques.
Are you a woodworker and need to dry your wood fast?
Wood is typically dried in a kiln, but this can take up to six months. If you’re looking for faster results, we have the solution for you! It’s easy to use and perfect for any skill level.
With a drying box, you don’t have to worry about warping or cracking anymore. Your projects will be safe and sound with us by your side every step of the way. We know how important it is that your pieces come out exactly as planned – so we promise they’ll be perfect when they’re done! And if there’s ever an issue along the way, we’ll make sure that we handle everything quickly and efficiently so that you can get back to what matters most – making art!
Kiln drying requires a large investment in a kiln as well as several other pieces of equipment such as fans, heaters, humidity controls, and stacking racks. The assumption here is that you have already built your own kiln, which many people do build themselves from plans available on the internet.
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of building one yourself then it would be best to use an established business for this service that specializes in wood drying. You can find these businesses by searching online for “kiln-drying” and your city’s name. Some examples would be “kiln-dried lumber Cleveland” or “kiln-dried wood Seattle”.
Typically, kiln drying is done with the racks arranged in one or more layers, often at a 45-degree angle to let air flow between them for cross-flow drying. The depth of the racks should be designed so that no piece of wood touches another all the way through the depth of the stack and allow 3-4 inches clearance from the wall of the kiln to accommodate air circulation around pieces on both sides.
A typical load would be about 16 cubic meters (a third full) which means you will need a kiln capable of holding twice that volume. Setting up a system where you can just open the door and shovel wood into the kiln as it is emptied will save a great deal of time.
A benefit of using kilns for drying is being able to dry lumber all the way down to specific moisture content- usually 8% or less. You can also use a combination of the kiln and solar heating so you can monitor the wood with a hygrometer to control when you take it out. Sun drying, on the other hand, may be difficult to control humidity levels at the desired level (i.e., 14%, 12%, etc.) but can work well if done outdoors in sunny areas year-round with plenty of ventilation provided by fans blowing over racks made up of hay bales, bamboo poles laid flat or any other open mesh structure.
lumber is typically air-dried down to about 20% moisture content which will let you stack it in your shop for several months or more while you are working on projects without any risk of mold problems. However, kiln drying all the way down to that level would take much too long and cost too much money.
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Note: If you choose vacuum chamber drying, it is more reliable because you can control humidity levels and temperatures at your desired level (i.e., 14% moisture content).
However, this method costs much more than air and kiln methods which means you need to spend more money or find a business that specializes in this process. Enjoy making things from wood! 🙂 Read how Laura made handmade kitchen utensils using walnut tree branches or download free plans for building raised garden beds with materials you can find at home or that are cheap to buy.
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Changing Methods & Stacking Methods for Storing Dried Wood
NOTE: Timber framing members are typically dried down below 12%, some as low as 9%.
Timber frames are made from green (not dry) timbers that are allowed to season inside the structure they will be used for over a period of years before being painted by some professional companies. It is not recommended that you attempt drying timbers used for frame construction unless you are working on smaller projects or do not mind having to repeat the process in a few years. If you want to know more about what species of wood are best suited for your purpose, look at our article on wood species.
wood it’s that some things take time but they will eventually become seasoned if exposed long enough to the sun and wind. You just need to allow yourself patience because some things cannot be rushed without consequences. So, first comes first: understanding how different methods work before deciding which ones suit your needs best.
Some final thoughts to consider when choosing your preferred method are:
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