TIMBER 2 SEASONING

Green timber cut from a freshly felled log is almost unworkable and unsuitable . The water
content in the timber will affect it in many ways as follows;

[1]strength properties will be reduced

[2] fungal attack is likely

[3] timber is vulnerable to wood destroying insects

[4]if moisture is allowed to leave the timber uncontrolled way , it could shrink and leave the
timber distorted

[5] timber is unworkable by hand or machine

[6] timber is unsuitable for treatment with wood preservative or fire retardant

[7] adhesives will have minimal holding properties

[8] conductivity increases and thereby reduces thermal and sound properties

AIR DRYING OR NATURAL DRYING

Timber is stacked under controlled conditions in the open air in order to reduce its
moisture content naturally . The system relies on the sun and wind to provide drying .Sun
provides the heat to raise the air temperature and air in turn picks up the moisture whilst
the wind carries away the warm moisture and prevent it from becoming saturated .

-timber should be placed on stickers at 0,6 to 1,2 m at intervals

-raised off ground

-clear off ground vegetation

-free circulation of air

-protection from rain -----under good drying conditions 50mm hardwood could take a year to
reach 20% moisture content whereas softwood of the same thickness takes 4 months to reach
20% moisture content. The success of drying timber depends on the following --- [a] weather
protection [b] site condition [c] stacking [d] climatic conditions for drying

ARTIFICAL DRYING

The drying kilns are generally large closeable chambers into stacks o f green timber are moved
via a system of trolleys to under a controlled method of drying . Kiln reduces the drying
time as compared to air or natural drying methods. Kilns vary in their construction size and
function.

COMPARTMENT KILN

Comprise of sealable drying chambers which receive batches of loaded timber on trolleys
which remain in position until dry time is over or complete . Heat is provided via steam or
hot water pipes . Ventilation is achieved by adjustable openings positioned in the kiln wall or
roof . Air circulation is provided by a large fan or via a series of smaller fans located above or
on the sides of the stack . Temperature and amount of water in the air surrounding the stack
is measured with a kiln hygrometer.

PROGRESSIVE KILNS

Green timber enters the kiln at one end then after a period of time eg 3 to 4 days it will
emerge from the exist end much drier . On entry each batch goes through a series of
stationary drying stages , the entry end will be cool and humid whereas the final stage will be
warm and dry . As each batch leaves the tunnel a new batch will enter from the other end to
take its place.

DRYING DEFECTS

Are caused by the speed and unevenness with which moisture was removed from the timber .
When timber is dried it is the outer layer that dries first and that as the moisture is lost
through evaporation it is replaced with that contained within the timber . If this action
becomes unbalanced ie the rate at which surface moisture is lost , means it cannot be
replaced quickly enough , then internal stresses within the timber will be created