[Greenlight1]

I was given a pallet of 2x6x10 Doug Fir lumber that is somewhat water logged. The bundle was banded and shrink wrapped but left outdoors for a few weeks. We got the lumber inside and unloaded and now I’m curious as to the best way to dry it out. We will be using this lumber for interior studding in a remodel. Time is no problem for us as we have other things to do before this lumber is needed. My questions:
1) is this lumber ok to use if it gets dried out?
2) should we let it “air dry” or use blowers and/or other means to speed up the process?
3) is there a “wrong way” to dry this wood out that will damage and/or ruin it?
Thanks in advance for any info.

 

[carpdad]

Ticking, separating each piece with a piece of wood, anything at least 1/4" spaced about 2' apart, but air drying in shadow can take time. I have no problem using relatively wet wood and they don't become problems once fastened in their places. Don't leave the stack in full sun, though, which will add to twisting. I had some 2x without ticking and they did dry, about 6 months, but mold was growing in between. I had not much problem with moldy/mildew covered lumber. Once used and out of rain, you could spray them with mildewcide or let dry. Once dry no more spores. If remain wet, cleanest looking lumber will grow mold.

 

[rjniles]

If the wood was shrunk wrapped how it it get wet?

 

[Greenlight1]

If the wood was shrunk wrapped how it it get wet?

The wrapping was damaged when we loaded it up. The bands were all still intact which held the wood very straight but the plastic was pretty much useless by the time we got it.

 

[Greenlight1]

Ticking, separating each piece with a piece of wood, anything at least 1/4" spaced about 2' apart, but air drying in shadow can take time. I have no problem using relatively wet wood and they don't become problems once fastened in their places. Don't leave the stack in full sun, though, which will add to twisting. I had some 2x without ticking and they did dry, about 6 months, but mold was growing in between. I had not much problem with moldy/mildew covered lumber. Once used and out of rain, you could spray them with mildewcide or let dry. Once dry no more spores. If remain wet, cleanest looking lumber will grow mold.

We have all the wood separated in our garage and spread out so that none of the boards are touching. So just leaving them like this will be an acceptable way to dry them out? (with enough time)

 

[lenaitch]

We have all the wood separated in our garage and spread out so that none of the boards are touching. So just leaving them like this will be an acceptable way to dry them out? (with enough time)

Keep them up off the floor; i.e. not lying on the concrete. Depending on where you are, humidity swings in garages can be pretty wide. Ideally, they should acclimatize the space they are going to be in.

 

[carpdad]

I had mine in the garage as well. But a single stack only. My garage now has no more room. I am fixing an old house. No majors yet but still I like to keep couple of dozen 2x4s, a mix of regular and pt. They are stacked against tar paper covered block wall and no ticking but even the pt lumbers are drying without twisting. But even 6 months may not dry to what you need. PT lumbers don't, inside. Your pallet can stay outside, corner of backyard and covered with ply or coated tarp sheets. Should be fine.

 

[Nealtw]

 

[SeniorSitizen]

If i send this pic to my woodworking son he will want to move to B.C.:biggrin2:

 

[Nealtw]

If i send this pic to my woodworking son he will want to move to B.C.:biggrin2:

It is the same anywhere. :wink2:
https://www.woodcraft.com/blog_entr...t-stock-into-a-cash-crop-of-woodworking-woods

 

[SeniorSitizen]

It is the same anywhere. :wink2:
https://www.woodcraft.com/blog_entr...t-stock-into-a-cash-crop-of-woodworking-woods

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Abundance and availability is what he would like.

 

[Nealtw]

Sorry, I wasn't clear. Abundance and availability is what he would like.

It is not all that available, somebody owns everyone of them. I met a guy who would trade cut down 10 trees if he could set up and mill them on site.
But if some one has 20 trees there are small logging outfits that will buy the trees and take them out.

 

[kwikfishron]

There's nothing wrong with framing with wet (green) lumber, it's done all the time. In fact most of the time in a typical on site production scenario.

The best way to dry your wood is to get it nailed up and pinned in place so it can't move as it's drying out.

If you start laying out the lumber loose on spacers waiting for them boards to dry you'll end up with a lot of twisted lumber.

If you feel that you must start with dry lumber then lay them out on spacers,'re-band' the unit (very important) and sip on iced tea until next year. :smile: