banding or strapping?

[WoodHacker]

I have a Woodmizer LT15 and home built solar kiln.  What I'd like feedback on is banding lumber together to reduce warping during drying and storage.  Strictly small production here...

Are the plastic bands with wire buckles good enough?  What would be best for me to use?

[Larry]

In my solar kiln I had 4 X 4's 20" on center for the base.  Ran chain up to 2 X 4's on top of the stack.  To attach the chain I put eye bolts through the 4" section of the 2 X 4.  Tighten the eye bolts and re-tighten maybe once a week.  No particular reason for my method other than the only thing I had to buy was the eye bolts. 

Still got a bit of cup and sometimes a board would split.  Not for sure if it was worth the effort so quit doing it after a year or so.

[Den Socling]

Larry is right about tightening every week or so because the stack shrinks and the bands would become loose. It takes around 300 pounds per square foot to keep wood flat so a lot of force is required. Also, it needs to be spread out over the stack to be truly effective.

Whether or not it is worth the effort depends a lot on the species and your experience with warp.

[red oaks lumber]

i don't think its worth the hassle.. back a few years i would on top of my stacks in the kiln put 4"c-channel and run 2" rachet straps all the way around the bundle evey few days i would tighten the rachets. yes it kept the piles tight but, i don't really think it did much good so i don't do it any more. what made my mind up was at the bottom layer of red oak a few wide boards cupped bad, i figured there was almost 8500 lbs on those boards .wood will do what wood wants to do.