2" Oak boards..how long to season/dry out?

[Bob_z_l]

Hi All,

 Sorry, I've done this a bit back to front. I've milled all the Oak I have.

It's stickered and I've put on the first coat of PVA to seal.

I'm ready to lay it up but before I do wanted to be sure I had my timings right.

 

They'll be stacked out of direct light, moderate to good air flow.

 

How long to dry to a point I can work them without fear of further warping/splitting...   A year? Longer?

 

If it's longer I'm going to have to reconsider where I put them...that's my question really. 

 

Many thanks  Bob

[gobbypunk]

Hi the first thing I would do is remove the bark there is an ugly wood boaring beetle that loves oak bark and sapwood ,and the general rule of thumb is an inch a year plus a year so 3 yrs for a 2 inch board but depending on what you want to make a shorter drying time may work

[Rough Hewn]

As Gobby says about the bark.
However the 1" a year is commonly mistaken to mean the thickness of the piece.
It's from the centre of the piece.
So a 4" piece would take minimum 2 years in perfect conditions.
[emoji106]

[topchippyles]

Get a moisture meter and when around 10% you will be good (2 years)

[Bob_z_l]

Thanks to all above..

@gobbypunk

@Rough Hewn

@topchippyles

[trigger_andy]

5 hours ago, topchippyles said:

Get a moisture meter and when around 10% you will be good (2 years)

10%? Even outside?

[topchippyles]

Just now, trigger_andy said:

10%? Even outside?

Yup for sure

[trigger_andy]

Just now, topchippyles said:

Yup for sure

Nice.  

[openspaceman]

2 hours ago, trigger_andy said:

10%? Even outside?

I can't see this myself, down here it would settle out at 10% at the end of summer or inside the house but unheated it would gain to a bit less than17% wwb.

 

Also I'd want to see a better support than shown, a block under each line of stickers and more weight on the top

[Rough Hewn]

Get a moisture meter and when around 10% you will be good (2 years)

10% mc air dried!!!
You lucky ****
I'm having to build a kiln.
[emoji51]