Force Drying / Seasoning

[curl1506]

Is Kiln drying timber/firewood the same as seasoning? What I mean is people say make sure your firewood for example is well seasoned.. (Hardwood 12-18 months etc air drying). But with kiln drying can you achieve the same in a week?:confused1:

[richardwale]

Yes it is

[ash_smith123]

There's quite a few threads about kiln drying and seasoning.

A log at 15% that's been kiln dried or air dried is exactly the same

[Aunt Maud]

Except kiln drying raises the acidity of the wood, especially Oak.

[curl1506]

I did think that air drying was better as you got more kw heat per cm?

[se7enthdevil]

force drying definitely does something to the quality of the timber and it may leech out a bit of the calorific value but it's probably ok for firewood.

 

i buy beech in both forms for my turnery and it is noticeable that the kiln dried beech is weaker in structure which is a problem for me as i make skittles from them and the 4"x4" kiln dried pins get beaten up very quickly but the air dried material i buy lasts a good years or two longer before they need replacing.