Drying Out Logs For Furniture

Purchase a moisture meter.

Drying out logs for furniture.

Doing so will help to open up the wood and aid in drying which can prevent rot or stain from marring the wood. Test the wood s moisture content. There is no accurate visual or tactile test for determining a wood s moisture content. It s like a slice of celery.

Using straight true logs that grew on flat ground would be important as well as logs that are as close as possible to the same diameter at each end. Arrange wood antiques even upholstered pieces with wood frames at minimum of 2 feet from any fireplace radiator heater or other heat source. Bark on whole logs can act as a natural moisture barrier and if left unsawn can contribute to fungal decay and deterioration in some species. When that isn t an option do your best to minimize.

Lay out a row of stickers on which to dry the wood. The only thing to do would be to seal the ends well and hope for the best. If you choose to store the logs to dry then make sure they are flat and kept from the weather. Air drying wood tip 1 stack with spacers and a light breeze as wood comes off the sawmill it s wettest of all with a moisture content that can be higher than 30.

If you drive a nail into it water will appear. I start when the wood is under 20 moisture content and start with a temp of 85 90 deg and at the end kick the heat up to 130 150 degrees for a solid 24 hours 130 kills all bugs. Drape the tarp over your wood stock pup tent style cut a ventlation slit in the top seal off the ends and sides and space heat away down the end of the tent. Process logs in a timely fashion.