Kiln Dried Lumber Vs Air Dried

Air dried wood has a higher moisture content than kiln dried.

Kiln dried lumber vs air dried. Kiln dried lumber is often used for furniture cabinets and flooring. Some woodworkers feel air dried lumber is nicer to work and that kiln dried lumber is a bit more brittle. Green lumber is mostly utilized in the pallet industry. Placing logs in a kiln speeds up the process of drying the logs out and allows for a quicker turnaround time.

The process of air drying takes up more space in comparison to kiln dried logs. During a cold wet winter it may take months or even a year. So it isn t so much a matter of stability as it is a matter of controlled environment and consistency. How long it takes to dry out will depend on climate.

Air dry slow kiln takes much longer to be at a usable moisture content for building projects but for turning is much more stable than green and not as hard on the chisels. The downside of kiln dried wood is that the exposure to high heat makes the wood extra dry which causes it to burn faster and lose flavor. Air dried lumber is often used in patio furniture fencing and decking. Air dried lumber isn t as rigid and will more readily soak up moisture.

Kiln dried lumber is less likely to cup warp twist and break which enables manufacturers to make a product that can be enjoyed for years to come. During a dry hot summer the wood could be ready to go in a matter of weeks if it gets enough sunlight. However it s a more expensive process stresses the wood more than air drying and uses fossil fuels to produce the heat that s needed to dry the wood. Pockets of pitch can liquefy if the wood reaches a new high in temperature.

Kiln dried timber kiln dried timber s main advantage is that it s faster than air drying. Often air dried lumber is wetter in the middle than on the outside borders even after years of lying in a barn or attic loft. Kiln dried lumber is much more uniformly at balance with the moisture in the air all the way through the wood. Kiln dried lumber actually takes longer to achieve that equilibrium because the lignin is more set and the cell walls more rigid and it won t absorb much.

Air dried wood is wood that has been dried outside in piles by the sun. Air dried western red cedar. Kiln drying is also hard on the substructure of the wood damaging it and does not last as long as air dried slow kiln wood.