Proper stacking and drying of lumber outdoors.

Aeneas61 · February 17, 2016, 03:54:41 PM

Hello all,
Very new to sawmilling my own lumber, have a question;

I will be sawing and air drying lumber in the next week. What is the best way to stack and prepare wood for outdoor air drying?

My local sawmill has stacks of wood stacked outdoors, stickered, but with no protection over top, much has sat this way for years and seems fine, is this only because it is kiln dried first? Do I need to sticker it and cover with metal roofing or a tarp?

Welcome all experiences.
Josh

OlJarhead · February 17, 2016, 04:25:55 PM

Aeneas? As in WA State? If so we're neighbors.

I stack and sticker all my lumber and then cover it with a tarp but try not to cover the sides so air can move through the stack -- the tarp keeps the rain off so it won't rot the wood.

Can't say about wood laying about for years but to me it would get checked, warped and rotted so no way I'd do that.

beenthere · February 17, 2016, 04:38:26 PM

If the stacks of lumber have been un-covered for years, then the top layers will be rotted and on down through the center of the stack. Kiln drying won't protect from that rot.

As said, cover the top with something waterproof. Add low grade boards to the top for weight if nothing else, but protect from becoming wet.

thecfarm · February 17, 2016, 07:46:44 PM

Need a good level foundation. I need to take mine own advice. :

GeneWengert-WoodDoc · February 17, 2016, 09:41:45 PM

Check AIR DRYING of LUMBER...it is on the Internet

YellowHammer · February 17, 2016, 11:21:52 PM

Lots of good tips for air drying are in publications on the web and in this Forum. However, a few notables are
Flat ground.
Stickers every 2 foot or less
Covered area or covered stacks
Wood stacked as high as possible for weight
Dry spot with good breeze
Sides open to allow airflow
Stacks 18 inches apart or more

WDH · February 18, 2016, 07:33:45 AM

Use quality stickers. That means dry and uniform.

OlJarhead · February 18, 2016, 05:39:38 PM

On my property I level some ground with my box blade and put pallets down for a base, then sticker, stack and sticker until it's about 4 feet tall. Then sticker the top, add cover and weight it down.