Proper air drying techniques for the Western states

TFHERE are three objectives in air I drying:

(1) Preparation for kiln drying

(a) Air drying can result in considerably less degrade for almost all species, as the mild conditions and slow drying rate will create less stress. Many times the mildest conditions in a dry kiln may be too severe for heavy stock.

(b) Air drying can reduce kiln drying cost. For example, green 4/4 oak requires approximately 4.5 weeks of kiln time. while air dried oak usually requires only nine days, and with almost no degrade.

(c) Airdryingcanreduceenergy use in kiln drying more than any other means. For each 190 reduction in moisture content, prior to kiln drying, 50,000 to 70,000 BTU's per MBF can be saved, thereby holding down kiln drying prices to a minimum.

Only drying necessary

(a) Air drying may be the only drying needed for many products, such as Western red cedar for siding, redwood for decks and siding and construction lumber.

To reduce cost and degrade in shipment

By Robert R. Wall President Wall Dry Kiln Co.

Fahrenheit to I l0 o Fahrenheit. However, most drying occurs above 50o Fahrenheit. Very little degrade occurs if temperatures remain under l00o Fahrenheit.

(b) Relative humidity (R.H.) in most yards ranges from 2090 to 10090 with the RH dropping about mid day. The most effective drying occurs with a RH of below 8090 and temperatures above 50o Fahrenheit.

NEATNESS and uniformily are the keys to successful air drying. Yard must be kept clean and dust free. Stickers musl be exact to prevent warping.

(a) Air drying can reduce the weight of green lumber. A truck and trailer may reach its weight limit with 8,000 bd. ft. of green lumber, but up to 14,000 bd. ft. is possible with well air dried lumber. It is not uncommon to lose 20 pounds of water per thousand board feet with a l9o moisture content loss.

(b) Air drying can eliminate the occurrence of decay, blue stain, and mold if the moisture content is reduced to below approximately 22s/0. Once lumber is air dried below 22u/o it may be bulk piled without the risk of new degrade if protected from rain.

Weather and environment considerations:

(1) Temperature and humidit.v

(a) Air drying temperatures in the West range from 45 o

(c) The RH and equilibrium moisture content (the moisture content of air in and around the lumber being dried) can be controlled by altering the spacing of the lifts. For example, 8/ 4, l0/ 4 and l2/4lumber should be spaced closer together, thereby raising RH and decreasing drying rates.

Story at a Glance

Advantages of air drying .

role of weather . environ. ment important . . . placing of stickers must be exacl.

Wind

(s) Wind facilitates drying by carrying away moisture and permitting dry air to enter the piles. However, too

Wickes Co., nowinChapter ll bankruptcy, may trim as many as 500 bldg. mtl. stores and plans, at present, to keep its Builders Emporium stores . worries continue at the wholesale supplier level regarding the effect of the $2 billion bankruptcy of the retailing giant . . . co. wags recently flew the Wickes flag above corp Hq. al half mast and upside down, traditional signs for mourning and distress . .

The worst April for housing starts since WWII was reflected in the latest statistics: a seasonally adjusted annual pace of only 881,000 units, down 6.490 from Mar., it was the 9th consecutive mo. below the I million mark single family starts sagged 1090, multis were up a weak 0.90/o . . bldg. permits rose apuny 2.4V0...

The Lugar Bill and various other Congressional measures to aid housing are expected to pass both houses of Congress and then encounter a Presidentiol veto President Reagan has already indicated his opposition to subsidies that add to the fed. deficit...

Arizona Pacific Wood Preserving is a brand new co. & treating plant in Eloy, Az., (between Phoenix & Tucson), Lynn Shurtliff, mgr. . . Sound Studs has opened a new stud mill at Anderson, Ca., Curt Wood, sales mgr. Nizich Forest Praducts, Inc., Philomath, Or., has closed . . Arcato Corp. Menlo Parkn Ca., shareholders are voting on adopting a plan to sell the co. to ALB Ventures . .

St rait Door & Plyw ood, Chino, Ca., filed for Chapter l1 on May 6 . Koppers Co., Ontario, Ca., is nearing completion of a 4,000 sq. ft. bldg. to house a new prestain and paint operation Prewayhas established a fireplace assembly plant in Perris, Ca. . .

Edward Hines Lumber Co.will discontinue lumber manufacturing and sell its 8 remaining sawmills at Hines, John Day and Mt. Vernon, Or., Walden and Kremming, Co., St. Anthony, Id., Saratog?, Wy., and HillCity, s.D....

Jim Walter Corp., and Payless Cashways Inc, are new on Standard & Poor's CreditWatch list of companies whose debt ratings may change . Wall Dry Kiln Co., has added 3000 sq. ft. to their Long Beach, Ca., facilities . . Spellman Hardwoods, Phoenix, Az., has enlarged an existing mill bldg. by 15,000 sq. ft.

Louisiano-Pacific has relocated its handling and storage facility from San Pedro, Ca., to an interim site, Berth 240, 965 Seaside Dr., Terminal Island; a second move is anticipated in about 18 months to their permanent facility, Berth 200 G and H on the Consolidated Slip.

Arizona Hardware Co., the wholesale hardware div. of The O.S. Stapley Co., and the hardware div. of Mullco Distributors, a subsidiary of The O'Malley Companies, have combined to form Southwest Hardware Co., operating at 2841 N. 3lst Ave., Phoenix, to serve hardware and home center dealers; the company will be headed bv Mark E. O'Malley, pres. and c.e.o., and James M. Berg, exec. v.p. and c.o.o.

Belco Forest Products Industries, Inc., Kent, Wa., is now Belco, Inc. . . . Champion International Corp., Fugeneo Or., is the exclusive sales agent for Buckeye Cellulose Corp.'s Southern pine production at Barnesville,Ca....

Palmer G. Lewis Co. inTigard and Eugene, Or., now distributes

Afco wallboard Leonard

Newman has formed a new commercial collection agency in Sacramento, Ct., Granite West Inc. . . . Coscade Empire Corp., Portland, Or., has opened a branch office in Newport Beach, Ca. . Harry H. Law Co., Seattle, Wa., has discontinued trading and wholesaling lumber in favor of millwork.

A.L. Hoover & Co., which represents Pacific Lumber Co. in So. Ca., as well as the WendlingNathan Co., has completed its move from San Marino to El Toro Jack Ritter is a principal in a new co., Timberline Sales, Huntington Beach, Ca.; he had been with Plywood L.A. . .

Home Hardwore, a div. of Hammitt Industries, Inc. has moved to new quarters in Cerritos, Ca. . . Sunrise Forest Products Co., Portland, Or., has a new export div., managed by Steve Nava, according to Darrell Robinson,pres....

Cardwell Forest Products, Fullerton, Ca., is in voluntary liquidation . . . Fritz and "Lefty" Page have formed Pocific Corridor International, Inc., in Portland, Or., for lumber and plywood, domestic and export Williams Lumber Co. is a new wholesaler in Seattle, Wa., Ed Williams, owner.

Spenard Builders Supply of Anchorage, Ak., has opened a purchasing office in Federal Way, Wa., Vennard Lahti mgr. Barr Lumber has a new store in the City of Industry, Ca. . . . The Terry Cos,, Tarzana, Ca., have bought the assets of the Sirui Valley Lumber Co., Simi, Ca., to operate as another Terry Building Center, Chuck Higgins, mgr.

National Lumber opened its l2th unit in Cathedral City (Palm Springs), Ca., with another store in Fullerton, Ca., due to open early in'83 . . Oronge Coast Hardware and Lumber Co., Inc., Santa Ana, Ca., has purchased the assets (only) of Oronge County Lumber Co., Inc., Santa Ana, and are operating it as Orange County Lumber, Rick llormuth, mgr.