About: Mr. Beaver
As much as I would love to claim it, Dusty Beaver is just my stage name. Just trying to get you as excited about lumber as I am. I purchased a bandsaw mill in 2021 and have been sawing as many logs as I can since. It started as a need for lumber on projects for myself, family and friends and has slowly turned into an enjoyable process of milling and drying. That is a nice way of saying I have more wood than I can use personally and can part with a lot.
Air Dried vs. Kiln Dried
How long does wood take to dry?
Some advantages to air drying over kiln drying are wood stability and less waste from warping because of the slower drying process and currently air is free. Kiln drying does offer a quicker drying speed and keeps most bugs from putting holes in the milled lumber. I do plan on adding a solar kiln in the future but currently air drying is working just fine for me.
How long does wood take to dry?
How long does wood take to dry?
Every wood species is different but for the majority of hardwoods the rule of thumb for air drying has been 1” per year. So a 12/4 slab would require 3 years of drying (4+4+4=12). My current process has been 1-2 years outside drying under covered shed, 1-2 years in enclosed shed and then brought into my temperature controlled shop.
How wet is the wood when milled?
How wet is the wood when milled?
A freshly cut down tree can be between 50-75% water. Ideally it should be down to between 10-15% to work with and 8-10% for indoor furniture. Most of my boards and slabs are in the 8-12% range. Some of the freshly cut this year and last fall is 20-30%.