Microwave Lumber Drying

[jrdwyer]

I read this press release about using microwaves to initially dry green lumber and timbers.  Considering that microwaves work best at heating when materials have a high moisture content, it sounds promising for green wood.

http://www.woodbusinessportal.com/en/news/news.php

[Den Socling]

I read about that in an Australian publication a couple months ago. It sounded kind of crazy to me. They have to run one board at a time, linearly through the microwave field. Then, the drying process is quicker because the wood cells have been exploded by the hot water.  : Besides that, we have the drying time 'down under' 3 weeks for their toughest to dry hardwoods.

[Don_Lewis]

Microwave is pretty expensive to run and maintain. Several companies have come and gone making systems using it. I don't think there are any left now.

[Quartlow]

interesting, I know some guys that dry bowl blanks and other small green woods in the microwave at home with a pretty good succes rate.