The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Sawmills and Milling => Topic started by: WoodenHead on September 06, 2013, 11:42:00 AM

Title: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: WoodenHead on September 06, 2013, 11:42:00 AM
After planning it for more than a year, and piecing the steel together for the last few months, the drying shed is finally starting to look like something.  When completed it will be 28' x 64' (not big enough, but I have to draw the line somewhere) and will hopefully cover about 25,000 bdft of air drying  stacks.

My dad and I put up the steel structure together.  Now it's up to me to take it from here.  Since I'm by myself it will still take some time to be completed.  Since the steel was scrap leftovers from previous business activity, I have about $3500 invested (plus my time) which includes the gravel, welding and rafters.  Instead of plywood, I'm going with T&G pine.  I have about 3000 bdft that went moldy so I'm trying to recoup something from it.  The value of the shavings from running it through the planer will pay for my time making T&G.  Eventually I'll shingle the roof to match the rest of my buildings, but that will wait. 

I'm looking forward to complete the shed, so I can move on to my next project - getting the mill setup better.   ;)

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27084/IMG_1303.JPG)
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: hackberry jake on September 06, 2013, 11:50:20 AM
I sure could use something like that. You may look into running your t and g at a 45' angle. It would resist wind force better.
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: drobertson on September 06, 2013, 11:56:13 AM
Thought about this all last night, I still need one,  you and your dad have kicked some serious butt on this one!  nice work, and I hear you on the size, but when do you draw the line, the three flooring mills around here still air stack right in mother nature, I know they recoop the waster differential, in their finish product, but you still have a nice one there for sure,  david
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: drobertson on September 06, 2013, 11:56:56 AM
Quote from: drobertson on September 06, 2013, 11:56:13 AM
Thought about this all last night, I still need one,  you and your dad have kicked some serious butt on this one!  nice work, and I hear you on the size, but when do you draw the line, the three flooring mills around here still air stack right in mother nature, I know they recoop the waste differential, in their finish product, but you still have a nice one there for sure,  david
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: red oaks lumber on September 06, 2013, 01:07:10 PM
nice looking building! the thing about air drying is air flow, you might be further ahead by putting less wood in your shed. better air flow will speed up drying, reduce the chance for moldy or blue stain wood.when i pile bundles for air drying i go 2 packs deep, each pack is 42"wide.
air is going to take the path of least resistance, so if your stacks are to deep most of the air will just go around or over. :)
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: WoodenHead on September 06, 2013, 01:33:37 PM
Quote from: hackberry jake on September 06, 2013, 11:50:20 AM
I sure could use something like that. You may look into running your t and g at a 45' angle. It would resist wind force better.

That's a good idea.  Takes more time, but would be stronger.  I will be doing some cross bracing as well as criss-crossing cable (with turn-buckles) to stiffen things up a bit.

Quote from: red oaks lumber on September 06, 2013, 01:07:10 PM
nice looking building! the thing about air drying is air flow, you might be further ahead by putting less wood in your shed. better air flow will speed up drying, reduce the chance for moldy or blue stain wood.when i pile bundles for air drying i go 2 packs deep, each pack is 42"wide.
air is going to take the path of least resistance, so if your stacks are to deep most of the air will just go around or over. :)

Very true.  The prevailing wind here will hit my stacks at an angle.  I was planning on 48" wide stacks with almost 36" in between.  The idea is to stack new material on every other set of bunks to increase the distance between rows.  Ideally as one row becomes dry enough I can fill rows in between.  We'll see how things go.  Other than that, there is always the kiln.  :)
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: WoodenHead on October 17, 2013, 07:42:52 PM
I finished the shed! (At least for now)  Eventually I will shingle it, but I put plastic on the roof to carry me through the winter.

Here's a pic...

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/27084/IMG_1434.JPG)

I used T&G pine for the south slope of the roof and plywood on the north.  I ended up selling some of the moldy pine for not too bad of a price (i.e. better than the cost of plywood).
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: thecfarm on October 17, 2013, 07:45:13 PM
All is looking good.
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: Philngruvy on October 17, 2013, 08:14:29 PM
Nice job!
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: Chuck White on October 17, 2013, 08:41:23 PM
That's a beautiful drying shed!

Really nice!
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: WDH on October 17, 2013, 09:07:20 PM
Very nice set-up.
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: Peter Drouin on October 17, 2013, 10:39:55 PM
good job.  8) 8) 8) 8)
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: flashhole on October 18, 2013, 08:03:00 AM
Very nice, how long are the roof rafters?
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: 1woodguy on October 18, 2013, 10:00:47 AM
Nice!
Title: Re: Drying shed starting to come together
Post by: WoodenHead on October 18, 2013, 11:02:38 AM
Thanks everyone for the compliments.  :)

Quote from: flashhole on October 18, 2013, 08:03:00 AM
Very nice, how long are the roof rafters?

The roof rafters are 16' (2" x 10" store bought).  The over hang is a bit smaller than I would have liked, but with all things there are some compromises to be made.