How Long Does it Take to Dry Lumber? How Dry Does it Need to Be?

How Long Does it Take to air Dry touch cut sawmill Lumber? How Dry Does it Need to Be? what is an acceptable moisture content
Here is the moisture meter used in the video: amzn.to/3Hp6cy1
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[@RockhillfarmYT]

Here is the moisture meter used in the video: amzn.to/3Hp6cy1 Check out more of our wood working videos here: kzbin.info/aero/PLmYnhJtNUq7dhdA81r1eLOAT7cxCurVsZ Rockhill Farm is a daily equipment and rural living vlog. We mainly focus on tractors and working outdoors. I really appreciate you taking time to watch this video. If you enjoy this type of content Check out some of the following links to support our channel. If you are interested in a rock Hill Farms T-shirt check out our merch store rockhill-farm.creator-spring.com/listing/rockhill-farm-logo Please subscribe to our channel here: kzbin.info Follow on Facebook at facebook.com/Rock-Hill-Farm-102050688356056/ You can now support the channel by buying us a coffee at the following link: www.buymeacoffee.com/rockhillfarm

[@ronskancke1489]

One thing I have discovered is if you are going to make your own tongue and groove lumber for a floor you better think about making a kiln. I put down ash boards in my kitchen cut 3 years ago and now they are developing cracks between the boards. I have a hearthstone wood burning stove in a insulated semi trailer and I'm putting 135° heat to the boards I'm going to use in my living room next summer.

[@T_Humphries]

Just for more numbers to look at you should probe some of the lumber that the shop is made out of. That number would be as dry as you can expect any lumber to get

[@lonewolfFirearms]

Great video Brock, I'm going to have to check some of my lumber I have been drying outside.

[@rodshepard3967]

Use one of them for my firewood. They are definitely handy. Great video, Brock! 👍

[@stephenlehr6020]

Lot's of good information there with actual testing, cool. I have never tried to dry a stack from fresh cut but wood can be finicky even when bringing it into your shop from a lumber yard or store so I would suggest stickering a 2x12 on top of the wettest stack (26%-30%) and then adding some weight on top of it, over the stickers. This way it simulates being lower in the stack, similar to the boards below it. Leaving the top fully exposed will likely allow it to dry faster than the bottom side of that board, there will be less air movement and drying between the boards (both boards are trying to use the same air space to dry) compared to the top board. I would even suggest flipping the top board of the other stacks over each day as they acclimate (until the end of the first week they are in the shop). Wood is just finicky and every piece is different (you can joint and plane a stick and it be perfectly straight, if you then set it aside and come back the next day, it could have moved/relaxed and no longer be straight......). Love woodworking though!! Have a good one!!

[@roybenoit2344]

You're awesome man. Love your videos. Watch you more than all the other you-tubers combined. Best of Luck in the future.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I really appreciate it

[@Tdale85]

Good morning Brock. Finally caught up on your videos. I may have missed it, but is there a reason you didn’t try selling your business? At least the idea/concept? All the best in your transition to full time KZbinr.

[@JayCWhiteCloud]

Was just sent a link to your channel. You have some great reviews and experiential insights. As for "how dry" does wood have to be...???...what I ask students or those that claim it has to be "kiln dry" or some other nonsense...What are your skill sets? I've been a traditional woodworker for over 40 years now…From furniture to timber frames. I don't, nor ever have, used "dry wood" on 90% of the projects I do...Why?...Because that is not how it was done, nor is it necessary...It is about "skill set" not whether the wood has to be dry...Thanks for sharing your video...

[@Cowboy_Steve]

Cool beans Brock! Learning something new today. I'm not in a position to mill my own lumber. But if I ever do get a property with plenty of wood I think it would be cool to mill and dry my own lumber. I wonder how well those solar kilns work, and how much drying time they actually save you. I've seen them in passing but never really learned about them. Thanks for sharing 🤠

[@MickyBellRoberts]

Well here I am, back again. I said I would give you my full support.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks

[@MickyBellRoberts]

@@RockhillfarmYT You are welcome.

[@terryowens6101]

Very well presented, I have both pin and pinless meters, pinned meter is more convenient, you have to use a conversion chart for pinless. Comparing the two readings is surprising at times, not always predictable. Thank you for sharing your excitement.

[@RockhillfarmYT]

Thanks for sharing

[@sooniceguy2783]

Very helpful, thank you

[@mattcavanaugh6082]

Certain days last Summer, we got down to 5% humidity in the Sierra Foothills -- good for air drying, but a real concern with the wildfires.

[@keithmaggard9024]

These meters can be handy even if your buying lumber

[@paulcasefarms9933]

I kind of think that this last summer might have better drying weather for us as it was real low RH for extended periods of time. oh and super hot for us. I have tested some Red Oak right off the mill at 48%.

[@columjevens4612]

Great information , very interesting to see your results . I have some cherry tree logs from a tree that was pruned back . I was wondering how long to leave them dry , and would they be any good to use for little projects , handles or other little items . Thanks for the video👍

[@federicosilva5386]

hi, I have some shorts pieces of wood (30 cm). I have been measureing humidity for to-three years and they show 11. now i have them in a plastic bag completely closed in a cold room because I do not know how I can reduce humidity down to 8-9. any suggestion? regards

[@MarkThomas123]

Lots of factors affect drying/warping/checking. Using a Endgrain Sealer, not just paint, slows the curing from the end grain and stops much of the end grain checking and odd ball drying. The edges of the boards closest to the bark will dry faster. It is why some wood from the sawmill (Quarter Sawn) is more valuable than others, and the best for making table tops, etc. Raising the temperature and increasing air flow in a dryer environment at all will speed up drying. It is all based on Relative Humidity and where the wood will finally settle (EMC) in that new environment. The key to not having problems with furniture is the final owner keeping it in a stable environment. Huge swings in Humidity will affect the table. Reduce that effect by completely sealing the table top.. Top/bottom, particular attention to all end grain. Epoxy in any of the threaded insert holes, etc.. Dry Fitting and then breakdown, apply finish and assemble using glues for the finish is a good idea. Even water based glues will have some effect on glued edges and the wood directly next to the water based glue seams, etc.. At least gives you some more ideas to add to what you got already.. Check some of the posts in your shop, and you will see what the MC and EMC is in your shop, and watch it Summer and Winter and see how far it changes/ranges.... This will show you what effect the Seasons have in an unconditioned shop. Get a good Humidity meter for the wall and put it in the shop where you will see it each day. You can tell when you leave the doors open for a couple of hours... Remember the dewpoints also.. Temperature and Humidity together.. Every morning Dew.. One of the major reasons why wood won't dry outside. Gets to 100% Humidity early morning when the dew sets in depending on Temp and Humidity together.. Seal one side of a board, it will cup to that side. I just did a little research on it last night again.. If you live in a moist environment, don't build and send a piece to the desert of AZ,, unless you can bring the wood down to that EMC Range and finish it in that range.. It's going to shrink and crack. Reply back and I will dig up two web links and give them to you.

[@scottloftin1730]

I live in Texas, its HOT. We get 26 inches of rain/year. The humidity inside my home is 40% with the AC and a dehumidifier running.

[@danwilkening888]

Hey Brock. Those meters aren't that accurate. the pins cant get deep enough. I have one similar to that and found if i check the board from the face then cut a slice off the end, the moisture will change. It could be "close enough" but like you found, it could be good enough. Trick to getting dry wood is keep moving the air around it.

[@federicosilva5386]

hi, once you get a decent moisture how you avoid not getting a higher measure? thanks

[@patriotallen9717]

This was really timely. Ive got a very similar pile of air dried ruff lumber that I really need to use!

[@fatosllabjani1643]

Quick question, why not dry them inside the whole time? (in case you have the space), or does it have to be outside?

[@theElderberryFarmer]

That moisture meter is also good for folks who have a home freeze dryer to check food to see if it is fully freeze dried. Take care and God Bless.

[@dustdevl1043]

It would be really cool to harvest a tree and then make a piece of furniture from it!

[@heatplant1234]

Kiln dried lumber is supposed to be under 20% moisture content. Basically it has to be dried to the point where the free water within the wood cell walls is removed while the bound water in the cell walls still exists. The wood will shrink once the bound water gets reduced. Rule of thumb is the wood moisture content will decrease or increase by 1% for every 5% relative humidity. So if the environment is 40% RH, your wood will end up around 8% MC.

[@richardlee2488]

Not all lumber is sold as kiln dried to just 20%. Building lumber has commonly been kiln dried to those valves but mostly this is to kill off bugs by high heat and to prevent discolouration and decay which does not occur at lower moisture. Interior joinery and furniture are dried ideally to typical values for the region. The values you refer to relating to humidity and final moisture is a part of the equation as temperatures play a big part. It's typically referred to as equilibrium moisture content when controlling kilns and dry timber stores. The moisture meter demonstrated must also be used correctly. Typically the small probes don't reach the middle of a piece so a hammer probe is needed. Species of the piece may need a conversion factor for the true value. Temperature again has an effect. Typically adding or subtracting either side of base temperature of 68f . The only accurate test is referred to as an oven test. It's pretty tedious but 100% accurate. As for the original topic of the video. The term was called secondary seasoning. All joiners used to practice it. Now it's unusual owing to the space required in the workshop. Humidity controlled storage is now preferable as any moisture coming in has to go somewhere.

[@coldspring624]

Over the years I have found general rules of thumb are just that. Not all trees of the same type behave the same when it comes to giving up moisture.

[@toddcaskey9984]

They quarter saw wood to help with the cupping, don't know how much that helps with the cupping. Have fun 😊

[@BizzaroTractors]

Rock, since you are going full time youtube I have an idea for some good content. Have you notice pretty much all the compact tractor channels feature a single vendor. You see all deere, kubota or tym. That ttw guy has one kubota and six deere tractors but I only see orange about once every six months. It would be nice to see a channel compare brands like some of the truck channels. Compare your 2038 against competitive tractors from Kioti, Kubota, Massey, and TYM for example. Run you 2038r against those for 4 or 5 videos doing the same work. You could also through some auction experience in if you can buy the other brands on auctions. I've seen a low hour 2021 Kioti 3510HSE go for $13500. You can then resell it pretty close to that price. Anyway, just a thought.

[@marvindiamonjr.9631]

I use a meter to check my firewood. The moisture readings are sometimes 20% on the outside of the firewood, but when I split the "dry" piece again, the internal moisture can be 30%. It depends on how small the pieces were split initially, too. Larger pieces hold moisture longer. I own a sawmill and have used the lumber green for rustic tables and benches. There is shrinkage and warping as the projects dry, but because they are designed as "rustic", I find that acceptable. I plan on building more tables and chairs with oak and trying to figure out the best way to dry it right here on my property. The idea behind it is to totally construct everything by hand without any of it leaving my property until after the build is complete. I'll be watching to see your results. Should be interesting!

[@RockhillfarmYT]

I appreciate your feedback. Seems like 15 to 20% is the target for Fire Wood. that’s just info from other videos as I’m just starting to check mine from here forward. I also plan to use a lot of the lumber In it’s rough cut state where it’s less critical

[@olddodger7178]

Does your meter have adjustment for species of wood?

[@mikewilcox8866]

I have the same meter from Lowes. And no it doesn't. Shouldn't matter really.

[@justinsikes2221]

Invest in an old reefer trailer, and throw a heater and dehumidifier in it. Easy way to dry wood for cheap

[@thekiltedsawyer]

I don't put anything threw my planer that isn't above 8 to 10%

[@aaronwarner2762]

Dude.... no way man. As in there is no possible way all those numbers are right. Looking at some comments below.... not sure how knowledgeable they are either. Like "lumber has to be below 20% to use...." For construction, yes. You need a Wagner moisture meter. Budget moisture meters are just that. A board will not lose 3% moisture in a day.

[@rayknight4756]

You’re giving bad info out on this topic. The meter you’re using is $32 meter and lacks the ability to select the wood species which makes a huge difference. Get a Delmhorst JX-30 if your intent is to dry wood to use inside or for furniture. I don’t know about a lot of things but on this topic I do. You seem like a nice guy but I’d work hard to not misguide people and this video is doing exactly that.

[@Peter-od7op]

Jx 30 is like 500 anything in a lower price range that works

[@pamtnman1515]

I run a sawmill and our air dried lumber gets down to about 9-12% moisture at the end of the process. Kiln dry is superior, but it is not always necessary.

[@MusclesandVeggiesFitness]

1 inch of thickness per year

[@RockhillfarmYT]

1 inch in from each direction

[@briankingsbury8060]

The meter you are using is giving you bad information. Invest in a meter that has the species selection. That 5% reading was probably 10%

[@javalmcgee9986]

This guy said 9-10% is fine for furniture hahaha all credibility is lost. It needs to be under 6% for furniture