Can a 18" sq SYP post be kiln dried for a short period of time to help set sap ?

[Don P]

Basically with any drying, if surface tension perpendicular to grain, caused by shrinkage of the shell over the swollen green core, exceeds tensile strength of the wood perp to grain (which is the weak direction in wood) checking begins. In a radical drying scenario like this one surface checking begins all over the timber. There would be many "tears" in the fabric of the wood. They wouldn't necessarily be all that apparent immediately, the core moisture would rise, swell the shell and close them but the tear has occurred. Later as the timber continues to dry those tears continue to enlarge and severe checking shows itself. Remilling won't cure that. Too aggressive a drying schedule or mishandling wood early on bites you later.

I sawed some white oak one time in early June. Clear, dry conditions, a highly refractory (check prone, low tension perp strength) species. I stickered onto my trailer then drove uncovered about 10 miles to deliver the wood. When I arrived it was all checked. I acknowledged my mistake to the farmer and luckily he was fine with it saying it was just fence boards. By the time we had unloaded, the moisture rose from the wet core to the dry surface. The checks closed and the wood appeared fine. No, the tears were there and just like the initial tear in fabric, hard to start but once begun it runs easily. I had ruined that lumber by mishandling it at high moisture.

[cabindoc]

that said, you can make them oversized, and saw down to size after.  if possible.

Definitely!  even an inch bigger.  

[K-Guy]

don't the more beat up and twisted the better to a point, but don't want to ruin the integrity of the post either

That character you are talking about often weakens the wood.

[Sedgehammer]

don't the more beat up and twisted the better to a point, but don't want to ruin the integrity of the post either

That character you are talking about often weakens the wood.

Yes it does. I like some of that, but not too much due to what you mentioned

[doc henderson]

so what did you find in an 18 inch square size?  any pics of these beams.

[Sedgehammer]

so what did you find in an 18 inch square size?  any pics of these beams.

SYP. Picking up in a couple of weeks or so

[cabindoc]

Since it has not been brought up, ask the seller of your big beams when the tree was felled.  If cut down in winter months, sap will be down and will be minimal.  If cut down summer months, sap will be plentiful and you will likely get sap all over yourself just handling the beam.   We expect pics when u pick it up.....just sayin.....