Wood drying

Wood drying also known as seasoning lumber or timber seasoning in the UK refers to reducing the moisture content of wood prior to its use. The two most important issues are 1) the level of moisture desirable and 2) the means to achieve this.

With regard to the level of moisture, for some purposes wood is not dried at all, prior to its use. It is used as is, "green". For other purposes wood must be in equilibrium with the outside air, as in much construction wood. For use indoors, as in furniture, wood must be in equilibrium with the air indoors.

With regard to the means used in drying a distinction is made between air-dried wood (AD) and kiln-dried wood (KD). There are many different types of kilns, as time used for drying is an economic factor, and new types of kiln are constantly being developed to reduce drying time.

Usually wood is sawn prior to drying, but this is not always so. As drying in the log takes a long time, especially for big logs, sawing prior to drying is the rule. If wood is to be kiln dried it will always be sawn first.