Timber Seasoning

Second year Wood Technology

David Culloty ID: G00380167
 Moisture Content

A felled/cut down tree has Dry wood below 20 %

50 % water

What’s
wrong here?
Not controlled -
Dangerous
 Timber Seasoning
Why is timber seasoned (dried) ?
• Dry wood below 20%
• To allow drying process to be controlled
• Helps to prevent splits in the wood
• Fungi do not attack dry timber
• Dry wood doesn't shrink as much
• Dry wood is easier to work with
• Dry wood is lighter, harder and stronger.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAhUudG
57ao
Recommended moisture content for wood-
based products
 Two methods of seasoning

Natural seasoning

Kiln seasoning
 Natural seasoning
Natural seasoning
• Overhanging roof
• Stack raised off
the ground
• Stickers give space
for air to flow
evenly around the
boards, drying the
boards Recap - 15mm x 25mm Stickers are placed
• Ends of boards between each row of boards to allow airflow to
pass above and below each board allowing
protected drying to take place.
 Natural seasoning
How are the ends of boards protected from
splitting during drying?
• Cover with a sack cloth
• Paint the ends of the boards
Describe, using notes and freehand sketches

Easier to draw side view

 Wood Technology Exam Paper
You must have a Pencil for
the exam - approximately
15% of exam is sketching

Describe, using notes and Design a poster

freehand sketches…… to explain….
 Natural seasoning
Advantages
• No expensive equipment
needed
• Little labour cost
• Not energy dependent
Disadvantages
• Slow drying process
• Large area required
• Depends on the weather
• Cannot be controlled
Activity - Design a poster
• Only dries to 20% – 22%
to explain….
 Kiln seasoning
Timber for indoor use is kiln dried to get the
exact Moisture Content of wood. 10% - 12%
Parts of Kiln
• Vent: allows moist air out of kiln
Heating coils
and fresh air in.
• Fan: used to circulate the air
around the kiln.
• Steam jets: raise the temperature
of the kiln without drying out the
boards.
• Heating coils: heat up the air for
drying out process.
• Stickers: keep the boards properly
spaced and allow the air to
circulate. Activity - Design a poster
• Trolley: used to bring the timber to explain….
stack in and out of the kiln easily.
 Key questions
• Explain is the function of the vents?
• Explain is the function of the fans?
• Explain is the function of the steam jets?
• Explain is the function of the heating
coils?
• Explain is the function of the stickers
What would happen if stickers were not
in stack?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VF6CNWCf2NY
 Stages of kiln seasoning
Stage 1 : the timber stack is brought into the kiln
on a trolley. Prongs are inserted into the timber at
different locations. The doors are closed. 30%
A computer controls the drying out schedule.
Stage 2 : live steam is blown into the kiln
through jets to heat each board through to its
center, heating up the wood without drying it out.
Stage 3 : once heated up, drying can start by reducing the steam from jets thus
reducing the moisture, as the steam jets are gradually reduced the heating coils
provide the heat to dry the timber to exact moisture content. Fans circulate the
steam and warm air around kiln.
Stage 4: when the exact moisture content is achieved
the kiln is opened and timber is removed. 10 -12%
 Kiln seasoning
Advantages
• Dries more quickly.
• Final moisture content is
lower. 10-12%
• Can be properly controlled.
• Defects associated with
seasoning are minimized.
Disadvantages
• Heating the kiln uses a lot
of energy. Activity - Design a poster
• It is an expensive method. to explain….
• Requires a skilled operator.
 Natural and kiln seasoning

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZAhUudG57ao
 Comparing kiln seasoning
and Air seasoning.
Headings Kiln Seasoning Air Seasoning

Moisture o Minimum MC 18%

o Achieves a MC of 6-8%
content
o Quicker, 25mm can be dried in o Very slow, takes up to a
Duration hours/days year to dry 25mm

Defects o More prone to drying defects o End splits predominantly

o Expensive o Inexpensive
Cost
 Recapping – Word Wall
Moisture Vents
Kiln
Content

Steam jets Heating coils Stickers

Trolley 30 % 10 - 12 %