The Forestry Forum

How long would you let SYP 2x4s air dry before you would use it for framing?  Is there a general rule of thumb if you don't have a moisture meter?  I did a search, but never really found anything that answered this question.  Of course, I still found a bunch of cool stuff 8) 8)

I think it would be hard to answer because of the variables, including the temperature and humidity.  Without a meter, you can still calculate precise moisture content with the weighing/oven drying method.

JKJ

Even with the oven dry and weigh approach it would be nice to have an idea of how long you need to leave it out before you are getting close.  I suppose I could sacrifice a board to see where I am now and then I could get some idea how long I'd need to wait before doing it again.

Look up the procedure in the kiln drying manual, and fix yourself up with a sample board that you take a moisture (oven dry and weigh) sample from in the beginning, then just continue to weigh the sample board to estimate it's moisture content over time. A final moisture sample from that board near the end should put you pretty close to 'smack' on knowing the moisture content.

I use a  ballpark time of 6-8 weeks.   That is usually enough time in florida to get it to 19%.

Even if they aren't dry, they are dry enough to have developed enough stiffness to hold weight.

I was gonna say a month and a half to two months, but Tom was pretty close to that, and a couple of days quicker. :D