Storing dried lumber

D6c · March 20, 2020, 10:20:32 AM

After drying and semifinishing hardwood what do I need to consider for storage conditions? I don't want to lose all the work put into it through poor storage that allows it to pick up moisture and possible warp/decay.
How much of a problem is it?

K-Guy · March 20, 2020, 11:12:47 AM

How difficult depends on your situation but all you need is a humidity controlled space.

GeneWengert-WoodDoc · March 20, 2020, 03:26:43 PM

You can control humidity by adding heat when it is too humid. Also, keep the storage area free of wood debris and dust in order to control insects. Never mix lumber you kiln dried with lumber someone else dried in order to control insects.

D6c · March 20, 2020, 03:52:29 PM

I can see I will run out of dry storage pretty quickly. How would shipping containers do for storage?
They're pretty well sealed but I'm not sure that they might get too hot.

Of course the best thing would be to get it sold and not store it.

K-Guy · March 20, 2020, 04:02:23 PM

They would work as long as you can control the humidity.

YellowHammer · March 20, 2020, 04:49:10 PM

A shipping container would be fine, or any other dehumidified space. Most of the containers have small vents so they will let moisture it. We run dehumidifiers in our building, I'd probably do the same in a shipping container.

GeneWengert-WoodDoc · March 20, 2020, 04:59:52 PM

We ran several shipping containers, painter black on the roof, with a small supplemental heater when really cold in Dallas, TX. A small fan stirred the air. The black roof provided very dry afternoon, while in early morning, the humidity was high. On the average, it was perfect. Use a humidistat to turn on the supplemental heat in cold weather or cloudy weather. Set it at about 35% RH. In the summer, we can go without supplemental heat most of the time.

Check the chapter on storage in DRYING HARDWOOD LUMBER.

doc henderson · March 20, 2020, 06:14:29 PM

I have a 8 x 20 that opens up all along the side. it sat all winter and the wood MC has not changed. I have 2 fans and a home DH in there. I just turned stuff back on but it has been 35% RH in the container, so very little moisture coming out. it is the original yellow color.

D6c · March 20, 2020, 10:12:54 PM

Quote from: doc henderson on March 20, 2020, 06:14:29 PM
I have a 8 x 20 that opens up all along the side. it sat all winter and the wood MC has not changed. I have 2 fans and a home DH in there. I just turned stuff back on but it has been 35% RH in the container, so very little moisture coming out. it is the original yellow color.

Like to have a few if those but they're kind of pricey.

farmfromkansas · March 21, 2020, 11:25:01 PM

Just looked at the local guy's site, and looks like you can buy a plain 40'x8x8 for 2500. Probably a little more for delivery. Guy has the biggest forklift I have ever seen to handle the containers. Have been considering getting one of his containers to put dry wood in. Otherwise have to wait till I build a lot of projects before there is room in the dryer.

PA_Walnut · March 22, 2020, 07:33:17 AM

Out of necessity, sometimes we have to store lumber outside for short periods (coming out of kilns, awaiting next steps.). I dead pile it, wrap the entire load in 6mil plastic, then place on 12' or so of bunks to get air flow under it. Then cover the entire thing with a tarp, WELL tied-down and anchored. This works great.

However, be aware that mother-nature is AGAINST YOU: the more you have outside, the more likely a wicked storm is to blow up. I have had multiple loads get rain-soaked after wind tore off the covers. Another round of sticking and an additional day in the kiln is real aggravating and requires whiskey. :-\ :D

Shipping container works great. My private-stock goes in one. MC stays great.

D6c · March 22, 2020, 10:28:25 AM

Quote from: farmfromkansas on March 21, 2020, 11:25:01 PM
Just looked at the local guy's site, and looks like you can buy a plain 40'x8x8 for 2500. Probably a little more for delivery. Guy has the biggest forklift I have ever seen to handle the containers. Have been considering getting one of his containers to put dry wood in. Otherwise have to wait till I build a lot of projects before there is room in the dryer.

That's cheap.... around here a 20' with end door is about $2500. Side door 20' is more like $4500.

farmfromkansas · March 31, 2020, 08:10:11 AM

Just checked out the container web site, he has domestic 48' x 8.5' x 9' high aluminum containers for 3200. Is there any advantage besides size for these domestic containers? No salty environment, he has steel as well but add 600.

K-Guy · March 31, 2020, 08:37:45 AM

Quote from: farmfromkansas on March 31, 2020, 08:10:11 AMJust checked out the container web site, he has domestic 48' x 8.5' x 9' high aluminum containers for 3200. Is there any advantage besides size for these domestic containers?

Even if you are not in a salty environment the steel will rust and aluminum won't. Also if you ever need to store green wood, the tannic acid won't effect the aluminum.

Remember, like Neil Young said " Rust never sleeps"

doc henderson · March 31, 2020, 09:08:53 AM

FFK the only down side is if you need to get to stuff at the far end, unless you are hand storing on shelves. with a long isle down one side. you get a lot of volume but if stacked wide and to the ceiling, you cannot access the wood. so it depends on if this is storage to sell out of or just to store bulk wood.

Al_Smith · March 31, 2020, 10:41:17 AM

Just as general info I have 40 foot Costco shipping box with a lot of upholstered furniture in .I just run a box fan and it's dry as a bone .I paid an extra $100 to get a "cargo ready " box with known good seals and not beat to a pulp .At 72 years old with a good double coat of Rust-o-leum hunter green probably good to go the rest of my life .

farmfromkansas · March 31, 2020, 11:20:13 AM

The guy's cheapest container is a 20' for 1700. The cheapest 40' is 2500, so figured that was the best buy, then I noticed he has domestic containers, which assume have not been on the ocean, and would be salt free, but the aluminum is less expensive than steel at 3200. My dryer is full, my shop has little room, and have more lumber air dried, ready to be dried. So was looking at filling a container with dried wood. Really don't want to advertise lumber for sale, would be subject to all the laws for sales tax. Guess I will have to keep busy in my shop building stuff for family and neighbors to use up some of this wood.

doc henderson · March 31, 2020, 11:36:11 AM

I bought a 20 foot one use. means we import more than we export. this one opens up on the end, and all along one side. these have to have a heavier frame so are heavy and more expensive. but I can load 10 foot pallets with skid forks. did not know if this was bundles of flat stacked wood to heavy to lift, vs single boards that are hand carried and stacked. just curious what your plan was.

doc henderson · March 31, 2020, 11:39:58 AM

are you looking near Solomon Ks? Mine looked brand new. perfect seals and latches ect. but closer to 5K.

farmfromkansas · March 31, 2020, 06:52:52 PM

Doc, the ones like you have are now 6600. Yes, Chuck Henry sales. Nice to have lumber ready to use, but I have piles all over, some in my pole shed, 3 grain bins have lumber in them, barn has a big pile of oak. None of the air dried lumber is ready to use, so was thinking of just getting a container to hold dried lumber, and increase the variety. Have to confess, I am a Wood Aholic.

btulloh · March 31, 2020, 06:59:56 PM

The best way to reduce your lumber inventory is to build a lumber shed with some of that lumber you've got sitting around. Two problems solved!

farmfromkansas · March 31, 2020, 09:33:36 PM

Planning to build a shop for my son. Every guy needs a shop. He lives only about 20 miles away.

Al_Smith · March 31, 2020, 09:53:33 PM

I think I had about $2400 in my 40 footer free delivery .The company was up around Cleveland ,the box in Columbus Ohio ,about 95 miles south east.The sales lady was in Texas.Wire transfer through the bank .
I had called one and got a PT Barnum type guy from evidently the PI by his accent. He claimed he had 90 % of the business in the USA..There are hustlers every where about any thing these days .

farmfromkansas · April 01, 2020, 05:11:20 AM

So Al, did you get your container? This local guy is OK, he has a lot at Solomon KS, sells trailers, trucks, containers, all sorts of stuff. You can see his ad at Chuck Henry Sales.

doc henderson · April 01, 2020, 08:28:39 AM

FFK I got mine at a place 10 miles from here. It is an Amish community called Fairview. they brought it through the yard with a dedicated type of fork lift. I bet the prices have gone up. it put me in the free delivery range, and if I buy a second, they would discount it a bit. Chuck Henry is the real deal. If you want one, they will sell it to you, and if not they move on to the next deal. I may call and check on prices here, but I bet it is sort of a commodity and they all go up and down.