Red Oak question?

[woodhick]

Drying my first load of Red Oak. I have dried several loads of poplar without any problems.   I have a Nyle L200 kiln in an insulated truck body.   Load is 1,300 bd ft of 4/4"  Red Oak.  Moisture has dropped an average of 2.5% per day which is good.   I'm at 30 days now and my sample board by weight is  coming out at 10%.  Moisture meter is reading it at 6% and I recut another 1" sample piece and redried as manual says  and it comes out to 8.3%.  I am ok with all of that.   I cut out a thin piece from one of the sample boards to cut a "prong" to test for any casehardening which was very minimal.  However when I check the center core of the sample board with the moisture meter it reads 12%.  So I have 6% on the outside shell and 12% in the core.  Kiln is running at 125* with compressor at 45%.   What is the best way to get the center core to equalize with the shell?

[beenthere]

Sure sounds like you have a good handle on your drier and that load of oak. 

What mc are you trying to get to?

What have you read about equalizing at the end of the schedule?  That might be where you are, at this point.

[woodhick]

I've read the kiln operators manual some time back.  I am using the manual for the Nyle L200 as my guide.  It really doesn't cover equalizing very well in my book.   I would like to reach 8% overall.    Several of my customers like to resaw and bookmatch lumber so I need it to be more uniform from the core to the shell.  Last night I shut off the compressor and raised the temp setpoint to 135* thinking this would help the moisture in the center to move out.  Am I correct in that thinking.  How are you guys equalizing?

[beenthere]

Without checking deeper into it, I'd think holding the temp and the RH for the 8% EMC condition, would be the best.
Others may have a better idea.

Once out of the kiln, keeping (storing) the lumber at the 8% emc condition will also be important IMO.

Sounds like you know pretty much about how to figure it out.

[red oaks lumber]

you need to have your compressor cycle at 100%, that is the only way to pull the core water out. when the mc is under 40 % run full cycle till the load is done. all that is happing now is the heat is evaporating the little bit of water that is coming off, just like air drying.
when you reach your desired mc shut off the compressor leave the heat and fans running for 24 hrs. load is then done

[beenthere]

red oaks lumber
Welcome to the forum.  8)

[red oaks lumber]

thank you