Oak Stem

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Hi guys, hope your all good. 

 

Might be doing my first mill on a oak stem. Just wanted to know if I mill the oak into boards what's the best way to dry it out  

[Rough Hewn]

Out of the sun and rain,
With good air flow and lots of 1" square slats every 18".
[emoji106]

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Awesome thank you and for how long should I dry it out?

[Rough Hewn]

Depends on conditions.
But roughly 1" from the centre of the board edge per year.
I.e. A 2" slab would need 1 year.
(I'd add 6 months on).
Then it's "air dried"
Moisture content 20% approx.
It can now be used outside.
Or.
It should then be stable enough then to put in a kiln for a week or two.
That'll get you the 10% moisture content needed for interior furniture.
[emoji106]

[arboriculturist]

I've always used 1/2" x 1" wide stickers every 18" with a rough board on top well weighted. Do think 1" thick stickers would be more effective?

[Rough Hewn]

I've always used 1/2" x 1" wide stickers every 18" with a rough board on top well weighted. Do think 1" thick stickers would be more effective?

As long as you have stickers it'll be fine.
I've used 5mm -75mm
20-25 is good.
[emoji106]

[Forest2Furniture]

I tend to use thinner stickers (5/8") for Oak to let it dry slower but thats just me.

As for drying time I was always taught a year per inch of thickness plus a year.

I've just unsticked and square edged some 1"& 2" Oak boards I've had drying for

5yrs, the boards are lovely and flat.

Edited June 17, 2019 by Forest2Furniture