Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

rules of thumb -- one year per inch of thickness? 😮

Cannot but feel sad for the industry when out of a huge pile, one can only find a few pieces that are 'good enough'. Hopefully the industry is listening/improving...

Hi Guad, Amen to that. Here's what i have learned so far about wood, water or moisture and drying:
Wood + Water = original state.
Wood = Water in 3 forms + cell cavities or lumens
Water in 3 forms = Free water- water in liquid state w/c is found in the cell cavities of wood
Water vapor - water in the air w/in the cell cavities or lumens
Bound water - water w/in the cell structure or wall tissue of the lumens.

You need to remove as much Free water and Water vapor as you can to get to the Bound water. To remove bound water you need higher temperature but controlled air circulation so as not to shrink or dry out the tissue abruptly or carelessly. You can only remove so much bound water to maintain the wood's tissue strength otherwise if dried so much it will collapse and won't hold nails, or other fasteners more and it'll be too brittle to work on. Here is where you can compare Air-dried wood to kiln-dried. Air drying is effective only if you have excess green lumber, a lot of time for your craft to wait and a sufficient stacking place where both Air and heat can move freely w/ lesser humidity present. Avoid direct exposure to sunlight and stack wood in a manner that your spacing can handle the total weight of your stack pile and a minimum of 1" to 1 1/4" stick height may be used for as long as the sticks are aligned exactly on top of the next stick of each pile. Air drying is mostly effective in removing Free water and water vapors. Bound water extraction will now depend on the temperature and relative humidity of the area surrounding your stack and the season of your country. This is where Kiln drying becomes a necessity for us industry users. Aside from a year round need of supplies we need them fast most specially during the wet season where wood drying is slower. I can guide you if you like to set up a drying shed w/c is much better for air drying wood.:)

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Yup, rule of thumb is 1 year per inch of thickness for air drying, not really very accurate depending on climate and humidity in an area. The pics Guad shows no stickering on the stack of wood. Stickering will help speed up air drying time while keeping boards flat which I am sure you are aware...;)

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

What's stickering?

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Btw, This dryer can cook multi-species in one batch unlike most furnace fired or high temperature dryers w/c prefer singular species per batch drying. In my current batch I mixed Yakal, Guijo, Narra and Iroko w/c have different density and acidity but always come out w/in the 9-12% MC range. I guess the key is the drying temperature w/in the chamber w/c is between 38 celsius to 55 Celsius plus the water extraction of the dehumidifier and the recycled dry hot air.

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Yes, thanks. That was a temporary pile only. It's been stickered (sticked? stickified?) since, which I assume means stacked with aligned sticks in between and weighted down. Also stuck with stickers showing wood type and date.

Unfortunately, in the recent flood and river overflow, the whole pile got submerged! Haven't checked yet what that did to the moisture content. Maybe affected only the ... 'non-bound' water?

willyfernando, thanks ... more than I ever wanted to know about drying ... will have to digest all this more slowly.

I suspect that the distinction between forms of water will also be relevant in ... steam bending and bamboo treatment.

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Unfortunately, in the recent flood and river overflow, the whole pile got submerged! Haven't checked yet what that did to the moisture content. Maybe affected only the ... 'non-bound' water?

willyfernando, thanks ... more than I ever wanted to know about drying ... will have to digest all this more slowly.

I suspect that the distinction between forms of water will also be relevant in ... steam bending and bamboo treatment.

Wood tissue or lumen is very susceptible to both in-bound and out-bound water movement. If wood continues to expand and contract by capillary action of the cells it will reach a certain point where it will lose it's elasticity. This will result in tissue wear w/c later becomes wood rot. As much as possible we should try to strengthen wood by removing Free water, water vapor and a limited bound water as soon as the green wood is processed or the cells are opened. If possible when you need to postpone your build and your stock has been semi-dried or processed apply any type of sealer to delay the eventual wear of the tissue. I have compiled articles on Bamboo seasoning, treatment and drying should you want to pursue it as a medium.:)

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

I have compiled articles on Bamboo seasoning, treatment and drying should you want to pursue it as a medium.:)

Interested! :book1: Are these in electronic form (softcopy)?

Supposedly there is a push to promote local engineered bamboo industry but the educational materials available (e.g., from DOST/PCARRD) seems very limited or disorganized or not easy to get.

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Interested! :book1: Are these in electronic form (softcopy)?

Supposedly there is a push to promote local engineered bamboo industry but the educational materials available (e.g., from DOST/PCARRD) seems very limited or disorganized or not easy to get.

I got old journals from FPRDI only but they have sufficient info for enthusiasts like us. One issue covered an entire scope from season drying to bamboo steaming. I'd be happy to photocopy a set for you. Just PM me if ever we have a go.:)

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Indeed, I used to pay 15-20 pesos per board foot for drying services. Now i am saving a substantial amount from drying and rejects from production are minimized adding more to our profits in the end.

I designed this w/ the intention to encourage wood industry players to upgrade their quality of wood for the benefit of both consumers and craftsmen. A lot of talent is wasted on rejected products or eventual product failure ( warpage, shrinkage and checking).

amen ako dyan sir willyfernando...:thumbup:

sir, hope you don't mind,
are you into the business of selling your kiln dried woods ?
with the massive size of your drier, and the number of bd/ft it processes...
i believe there would be an excess of your materials that would go for sale...
many fellow PHM woodworking members will benefit for this...

mabuhay and more power !!!

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Exactly where I am now. I have two Agoo logs that I am presently sawing into planks.

They've been dead trees for some time. Maintenance people in our village started cutting them down as they get eaten by anay. Saw them hauling off the wood to throw or make firewood so gave the guy got two logs.

Do you dry for a fee?

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

@jonathanscruz68
Yes we do have cutlets that are useful for furniture projects. Mostly from my Sash orders and floor planks production. We normally process imported African Teak, Walnut and a few local wood. Narra nowadays are really poor in quality so I discourage you guys from using it. I'd be happy to help you on your wood projects. Just PM me if you need to get some good wood.

@balarila
Hi Ding, if you can arrange transport of processed flitches I can help you dry and mill them. PM me for details on how to "PROPERLY" transport these wood. Regards!

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

@jonathanscruz68
Yes we do have cutlets that are useful for furniture projects. Mostly from my Sash orders and floor planks production. We normally process imported African Teak, Walnut and a few local wood. Narra nowadays are really poor in quality so I discourage you guys from using it. I'd be happy to help you on your wood projects. Just PM me if you need to get some good wood.

that's good...

i really need good wood for future projects ( tables and chairs maybe )...

any shops or store address ?

if time permits, maybe i / we could visit the place...

:thanks: :thanks: :thanks:

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

any shops or store address ?

if time permits, maybe i / we could visit the place...

:thanks: :thanks: :thanks:

jonathan, PM SENT.

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

Good am sir willyfernando,

I am very much interested in a photocopy or xerox man lang of your old journal regarding wood drying or bamboo steaming, actually am more interested in the bamboo steaming or drying coz in my place I do from time to time would make DIY bamboo furnitureS for the house and before I could make one I still have to wait a year or two after a bamboo harvest, stock them in a shed and air dry. 🙁

I was told then by my wife's friend, couples Benjie Reyes and his wife that there is a better and faster way to dry cut bamboos to be used for furnitures, and I think its through steaming inside a makeshift big drum cut in half, anyway maybe a copy of the old journal can explain it better for me so I can understand and visualize it much better. :p :rolleyes:

Hope you don't mind if its not so much bother to you, how can I get a copy of your old journal.

THANK YOU very much and regards too. :thanks:

Re: DIY Wood Kiln - dryer

jonathan, PM SENT.

copy....

thanks !!!!