rjR Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Hello to all, I am in need of help identifying a wood and also help(Advice) on how to dry it crack free; without a kiln. Inherited some firewood. Has some nice sized rounds. We cut them to about 3' thick slabs. Problem -- not knowing the exact species of wood; nor the best drying methods! HELP PLEASE! Pictures are attached to help identify please. A big thank you for any and all help. These were just too nice to be firewood! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryEA Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I've tried drying slabs and in my humble opinion, the cost and agrivation for the return is not worth it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birchbark Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 3" thick is really thick imo. But it seems to me that if you have an oven, you have a kiln. IDK, just what i was thinking. Maybe an old stove in the garage, use the oven as a kiln. But it seems like three inches thick would take a long while, but once again, i don't know. Russell Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amazingkevin Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 A box with vent for moisture escape heated with appropriate wattage bulb/s could dry this for you at a reasonable price ,plus paint the box black and put my sunlight.inside you car on a sunny day with the windows up it's 140 degree.as an example of how hot a box would be with no bulb to help out .plus the bulb is on non stop too.Just a quick fix ,maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stu Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Put each one in sawdust guys I know that make burl clocks do this Stu amazingkevin 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
browders Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 The wood kinda looks like Alder. Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Scroller Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 Looks very white, poplar perhaps just a guess I have bigger pieces then them in my workshop in a black plastic bin liner with top open for 9 months now and no cracks yet. Roly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ike Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 3 IN Thick IS WAY TOO THICK UNLESS YOU ARE B\A THEY ARE CUT AT 1 1/4 Thick. I stack mine under my deck on 2x3's on top orf eachother witn 2x2's between rows with ends painted to prevent cracks It takes 8 month to 12 month to cure it out good to about 10 to 15 % moisture IKE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted October 6, 2014 Report Share Posted October 6, 2014 I'd paint the endgrain (faces) with a latex paint or with a wax. This will slow down the drying process and less likely to crack/check. The moisture escapes slowly through the bark, letting everything dry evenly. It might take a year or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heppnerguy Posted October 7, 2014 Report Share Posted October 7, 2014 I have had only poor luck trying to dry wood, Not worth the space it takes to achieve the results. Mine also cracks a lot and leaves a very small amount of useable wood left. Maybe you need to be smarter than the wood you are trying to dry. that could easily be my problem Dick heppnerguy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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