How long for dried wood to regain moisture?

[TeaMonsta]

I imagine this question is probably a bit like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" but it's just to give me a very rough idea, based on your experiences and knowledge.

 

I'd like to know at what rate could I expect a 2 cubic metre cubed crate of typical stacked logs (kiln-dried to say, 10% moisture content) to take on moisture? I realise that there are so many variables such as airflow rate, relative humidity, thickness of logs, density of wood etc. that it would be impossible to answer accurately but if I keep a crate of kiln-dried logs (let's say ash) in my garage for 6 months, are they going to gain 10% moisture in that time? Or is the process generally much slower or quicker? Just wondering. Thanks in advance for your comments.

[Mick Dempsey]

Bearing in mind I know nothing about it.....

 

Surely if it's in a garage, out of the rain and dry (not just under a sheet outside) it won't gain any moisture whatsoever.

[gdh]

I don't think there is a definitive answer but in the winter if we dry wood to below 10% and put it in a dry shed for a month it goes back up to 16. It doesn't go much above that after though and that's ideal for burning anyway.

 

As long as the garage hasn't got water in it or blowing in I can't see it getting damp to the point where it becomes an issue, arguably after a few years wood gets really dry and light instead.

 

Out of a few hundred customers it's only the ones who have outside stores who have any problems in my experience.

[Woodworks]

Did a test on this some time ago but as said it's a how long is a piece of string question as species and environment will produce different results. Having problems with the forum and cant post a link but the thread was called "How quickly do super dry logs take up moisture? "

[Stubby]

Depends how much moisture is in the air where it is stored piece of string .

[richardwale]

I imagine this question is probably a bit like asking, "How long is a piece of string?" but it's just to give me a very rough idea, based on your experiences and knowledge.

 

I'd like to know at what rate could I expect a 2 cubic metre cubed crate of typical stacked logs (kiln-dried to say, 10% moisture content) to take on moisture? I realise that there are so many variables such as airflow rate, relative humidity, thickness of logs, density of wood etc. that it would be impossible to answer accurately but if I keep a crate of kiln-dried logs (let's say ash) in my garage for 6 months, are they going to gain 10% moisture in that time? Or is the process generally much slower or quicker? Just wondering. Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

I'd say don't worry about it, life's too short. They'll burn just fine.

[TeaMonsta]

Thanks for your replies, everyone.

 

.......in the winter if we dry wood to below 10% and put it in a dry shed for a month it goes back up to 16. It doesn't go much above that after.....

 

Thanks, GDH. That's a pretty good indicator and all I need to know, really. It's encouraging noting your location, too, where, like where I am, you'll see your fair share of wetter weather and higher humidities.

[flatyre]

whats the typical moisture content of air dried wood compared to kiln dried wood once stored? Just asking as I'm getting into a bit of fire wood selling and a lot of people insist on kiln dried wood which I can't provide, and to be honest I'm starting to think kiln dried wood is a bit of a take on, it may be a lot drier initially but typically both are stored in the same kind of environment, big shed with good air flow, therefore with wood being hydroscopic if kiln dried wood evens out at around 16%, and air dried is around 18.5%, there isn't much difference, especially if the kiln dried:confused1: wood was dried late winter and might sit for eight months until the beginning of the next winter, has the public been unjustly lead to believe kiln dried is significantly better?

[gdh]

whats the typical moisture content of air dried wood compared to kiln dried wood once stored? Just asking as I'm getting into a bit of fire wood selling and a lot of people insist on kiln dried wood which I can't provide, and to be honest I'm starting to think kiln dried wood is a bit of a take on, it may be a lot drier initially but typically both are stored in the same kind of environment, big shed with good air flow, therefore with wood being hydroscopic if kiln dried wood evens out at around 16%, and air dried is around 18.5%, there isn't much difference, especially if the kiln dried:confused1: wood was dried late winter and might sit for eight months until the beginning of the next winter, has the public been unjustly lead to believe kiln dried is significantly better?

 

That's pretty much my argument, although kiln-dried does have its benefits. There's, thankfully, no official definition of either and for personal use I work off; under 30 burnable, under 25 good, under 20 perfect rather than how it's produced.

 

The only reason kiln-dried is so popular is because it gives a degree of guarantee. Seasoned can be anything so people buy wet wood and assume that's how it all is whereas kiln-dried is nearly always good because it tends to be sold by larger suppliers and people complain when it's not bone dry. Also in some places people can't air dry to less than 20% so kiln-dried has an advantage there for more sensitive fires.

 

We kiln dry but only because we sell so much now it's easier to cut and dry through the winter than do it all in the summer and need vast amounts of storage. We don't mention it much in advertising, just that we sell dry wood all year round.

[fonzy]

We have our Kiln Dried creates sitting on pallets in a rain tight barn with very good wind circulation where we are. Approx. 30 miles west of Aberdeen. Really need to get more more bagged.

 

It really depends on the storage area, if it's damp don't bother..