Container for storing Kiln Dried Lumber - What type?

DR Buck · May 15, 2008, 06:11:19 AM

I'm getting ready to buy a sea container to store my kiln dried lumber in. My plan is to place a small household dehumidifier inside to keep moisture down. One of the places I called recommended an insulated box. Is this really necessary since I'm not heating or cooling the thing, only keeping at a low MC? Insulated will cost considerable more.

Ironwood · May 15, 2008, 06:58:43 AM

Insulation will pay for itself in short order. There is a condensation build up frequently in containers (I have a 40'er). Definitely get one w/ insulation. FYI, IMHO.

Ironwood

woodmills1 · May 15, 2008, 07:01:18 AM

I have a 40 foot trailer with the back completley open and I swear it rained inside once.

Larry · May 15, 2008, 02:39:25 PM

Most home dehumidifiers quit working at 65 degrees...might be a few higher priced ones that may get to the forties. Course dehumidifiers put out heat...coupled with insulation might do a better job.

I've read that heating a chamber to 10 degrees above the outside temperature will keep the humidity down to where the wood won't regain MC. Would something like a baseboard heater in an insulated container be more economical?

woodmills1 · May 15, 2008, 09:45:00 PM

relative humidity is always related to temperature

DR Buck · May 15, 2008, 09:59:39 PM

Thanks ofr the inputs. I bought the insulated one. It's aluminum. It gets delivered Monday. It's 8' x 8' x 20' I really could use a 40', but there is no way to get it across the railroad track hump at the end of my driveway.

It could use a little paint. They offered to clean and paint it for me for $200 more. I said no thanks. I have my own sprayer and lots of paint. ;D

woodmills1 · May 15, 2008, 10:02:55 PM

nice trailer looks real clean inside

OneWithWood · May 16, 2008, 12:59:57 PM

Oh, man. Do I have to buy a container now? :D

PM me with the details. . .

Ironwood · May 16, 2008, 07:17:15 PM

Make that two PM's. How much, where and the details. Thanks Ironwood

Larry · May 16, 2008, 07:21:16 PM

Absolutely OWW...but there are a few rules. Bigger is better and two are better than one.

I have a 48 footer, high cube and it is completely filled with wood and treasures...some may not see the light of day for years, but it is comforting to know things are safely put away.

It's also pretty exciting that we don't have to pay property taxes on em...heck not paying taxes is so much fun I may buy a few more...might even fix one up to live in just incase. ;)

Ironwood · May 16, 2008, 07:34:41 PM

Larrry,

buy two and space them so you can span them with one of those truss arch "tent" buildings, EVEN MORE tax free satisfaction!!! I wish I could afford to do this.

Ironwood

Larry · May 16, 2008, 07:39:58 PM

Yea, Reed I've been thinking about that. FarmTek sells that very tent arch thing at reasonable cost...and I really like saving on tax. 8) 8) 8) 8) 8)

oakiemac · May 16, 2008, 10:43:19 PM

I have thought about using a container for storing kiln dried wood but you would have to hand load it and unload and it would be very hard to keep wood seperated (at least it seems to me).
You guys that are using them, are you just going to throw wood inside? or is there a good way to organize one of these things?

Ironwood · May 16, 2008, 11:07:04 PM

40'er with about 40,000 lbs of HEAVY iron inside. I have forklift that will go in and move the stuff. I keep the Gator and JD tractor in the end. Seems to me to be a bad place to store wood if uninsulated. FYI

Ironwood

Handy Andy · May 24, 2008, 11:19:53 PM

What is this about no tax? I asked my county and they tax those storage containers. I asked about my cargo trailer, it is getting old, and if I could just take the wheels off and use it for storage, they said go ahead, but will still tax it. The county even sneaked in and looked in my woodworking shop, have it listed as commercial equipment.

Tom · May 24, 2008, 11:31:09 PM

I thought you were talking about Florida there for a minute, Andy.

Left Coast Chris · May 25, 2008, 02:20:15 AM

Andy, sounds like you need a couple of good guard dogs to discourage snoopers.

Out here the containers are a real problem since we are bringing in more to the country than we send out. The ports have a storage problem. One solution they are getting going is to fill them with scrap steel then ship them to Japan or China where they melt the whole thing down.

Norm · May 25, 2008, 09:01:27 AM

Your county assessor reminds me of ours. I kicked him off our place a couple of times when he was there. The last time he was up close taking pictures of the house I told him my wife called and said some peeping tom was taking pictures of her through the window after getting out of the shower. He got the message and hasn't been back since.