wood

[wntrrwd]

OK...so I have a question about wood. I have a friend who has a saw mill that can cut the wood for me but it is not dried. Is there a way to dry it quicker then air drying or is it best to stay away from it? It is just so much cheaper. an example would be  1/2" x 10" x 10' of cherry wood would be about $15 I would have to take the whole tree worth of boards (about 7 boards). So it would be about $105 for 70 feet of board compared to $25 (after shipping) for 2 feet. Thanks
Sorry for all the questions but i don't know how else to learn.

[dgman]

Hey Mark, The average time recommended to air dry most hardwoods is one year per 1" of thickness. Your best solution is to find someone with a wood kiln. There is a lot more things that need to be done to air dry, From stickering and stacking, to sealing the ends of the board and so on. Then when the wood is ready to work, you will need to mill the wood. You will need a planner, Jointer and table saw. So is it worth it to you? There is no wonder why hardwoods cost us so much.

[iggygiles]

                            To add to your misery, when you have waited a year and done all that Dan has suggested, the timber will still not be fully dry and will shrink more once you get it inside, and then you will probably lose about ? the stock in converting it to useable material.   

[wntrrwd]

Thanks for answering my question it was worth the thought it sounds like but not worth doing...

[daliclimbs]

I mill my own wood. I cut a lot so I have a good cycle of wood that's dry and wood that's drying. Mini kilns are easy to make with no more than foam insulation duct tape and heat lamps. Granted this will only do small loads. Unfortunately the foolproof method to dry is stack and sticker the wood. The payoff is awesome in the end. Going from tree to product is pretty awesome. Rough-cut lumber is always a good deal. I say go for it. Cherry is relatively forgiving. Just seal the ends and stack as level as possible.

[J,Hamilton]

Another important item to consider if you plan to air dry is to have a moisture meter. You just can't be sure it is ready by hand to mill without further shrinkage. The preferred moisture content for what we use is less than 12%.