 Freshlycut wood contains considerable

water from 30 to more than200 %

moisture content. Much of this moisture
content must be removed for the
processing and for the utilization of the
wood. The drying of wood during the
lumber manufacture is called wood
seasoning or wood drying. It is the
process of reducing the moisture
content of to a uniform level that is
compatible with its service condition.
1. The primary reason is to reduced weight of
wood and thereby minimize transportation costs
and facilities handling.
2. To avoid shrinkage or swelling with fluctuation in
moisture content, that leads to warping,
splitting, and checking of lumber.
3. To avoid stain, decay and insect attack.
Seasoned wood is far more resistant than wet
wood.
4. Drying wood also increases strength and nail
holding capacity.
5. Wood also has much higher heating value, than
fresh wood when it comes to fuel used.
• Water exists in wood in different forms:
by water vapor, bound water, and
free water. These forms of water move
to the surface by different flow paths
during the drying process:
1. Movement of free water
a. First stage of drying is the movement of free water from the
surface by capillary force.
*this capillary action/force is the ability of the liquid or the water
to flow in the narrow space inside the wood.
* When wet wood starts to dry, evaporation of liquid water from
the surface sets up capillary force that pull the free water
beneath the surface or outside.
2. Movement of bond water
* when the free water start to move, the bond water starts also to
move by diffusion.
* DIFFUSION is the movement of moisture or the spreading and mixing
of substance with another substance.
* Since diffusion is involved in movement of substance to another
substance, it is an extremely slow process in drying of wood.
Kinds of diffusion:
a. Longitudinal diffusion
b. Lateral diffusion
a. LONGITUDINAL DIFFUSION
• Longitudinal diffusion is the
movement of water through the
cell cavities, and much faster
than the lateral diffusion.
b. LATERAL DIFFUSION
* Lateral diffusion is the
movement of water through
the cell walls of the wood
IV. AIR DRYING
 Air seasoning(air drying) is drying lumber by
exposure to air at ambient condition. This is the
oldest and most economical method of drying
wood.

 Air drying of lumber is a slow process. Drying time

is dependent upon temperature and relative
humidity of the surrounding air, precipitation, and
air circulation within the pile.

 In tropical countries, the active drying season is

ideally the time of high temperature and low
relative humidity.
 In the Philippines, the months from February
to April have been observed to have rapid
air-drying period. It ranges from three(3)
months to over a year to achieve low levels
of moisture content.

 Air drying is also used as a preliminary step in

kiln drying.

 Lumber to be used for furniture manufacture,

paneling and interior applications that
requires low levels of moisture content are
generally air dried before kiln drying.
 GENERAL CONSIDERATION IN AIR
SEASONING

 Air-drying has several disadvantages.

 It is a slow process and the lumber cannot

be dried below the locality's EMC.

 In addition, it requires a big operation with

capital tied up in the yard for a long time.
Several considerations for successful air-drying of wood:
a. The Air Drying Yard
 Air drying yard should be close to the mill to minimize
lumber hauling and handling.

 Should be on high ground that is level, well drained,

and not close to bodies of water or wind obstructing
objects such as tall trees and buildings.

 Ground surface should be kept free of debris and

vegetation that could harbor stain and decay
organisms.

 The surface should also be smooth and flat for the

operation of lumber hauling and piling machineries.
b. Pile Foundations
 Foundations should be well built to support
the weight of lumber.

 Poor choice and design could lead to

excessive maintenance costs and early
failure through decay or damage by
machine collisions.

 Foundation should also be high enough off

the ground to allow for air movement
through the pile.
c. Piling (stacking)
 Lumber must be carefully stacked to
minimize drying defects.

 Lumber is usually sorted according to

species, grades and thickness because of
differences in drying characteristics.

 Stacking can be done manually on the spot

or under shelter by semi-automatic stackers
then the pile is transported to the drying
yard by forklifts.
 Box piling, i.e., square appearance of both ends,
with pile size of 4’ by 4-12’ with 2 to 4 feet spacing
between piles is recommended for faster, uniform
drying with least danger of defects.

 Flues and stickers should be employed to promote

flow of moisture-laden air.

 Commonly used configuration is the vertical flue

consisting of 6” wide space at 15” interval.

 Stickers are strips of wood placed between layers of

lumber to provide horizontal movement of air and
facilitate drying.

 Spacing of 16” to 2 feet between stickers is

common.
 A good pile roof or sheds is considered
essential for good air-drying.

 The roof protects the lumber from direct

sunlight and precipitation that could
cause checking and warping.

 Roof are usually made from low grade

lumber or galvanized iron sheets and
should extend beyond the ends and sides
of the pile.
 End coating by application of moisture
resistant paints retards rapid end drying that
could lead to splitting and checking.

 End coating should be done before the

ends have started to check.
Box piling
 the drying of lumber to low levels
of moisture content using a
chamber (kiln) design to control
environmental conditions (heat,
humidity, and air circulation).
 drying in a batch process
wherein lumber is loaded in one
operation
 the load remains stationary during
the entire drying cycle.
 Lumber is dried by subjecting it to
a combination of progressively
increasing temperature and
decreasing relative humidity at a
specified air velocity.
drying schedules vary by :
 specie
 thickness
 grade
 end use of the material

 the
goal of witch to minimize dry
defects.
A. The kiln structure
B. The heating system
C. The venting and humidifying
system
D. The air circulation system
E. The recording and control system
 must be made from materials
that can withstand elevated
temperature and acidic
conditions during drying.
 wood
Reinforced
concrete

Concrete
bricks
Concrete
asbestos

Concrete
Insulated
blocks
aluminum
panels
 Vapor barriers - to minimized
vapor movement from inside the
kiln
 insulation -to prevent heat loss
 Provides the required energy to
evaporate moisture from the
wood.
 The heat of evaporation of water
is about 1,000 Btu per pound of
water, thus considerable
quantities of energy must be
generated and transferred to the
circulating air to lumber.
Heating system include the use of:
 steam
 electricity
 hot water, or thermal oil radiated
through finned iron pipes

 Direct heating uses products of

combustion discharge into the kiln
after bringing down temperatures
to safe levels.
 Regulates the rate of drying by
controlling the relative humidity inside
the kiln.
 Humidification is usually done by
injecting low- pressure steam or
spraying fine water mist.
 Dehumidification is achieved by
opening the vents to remove moisture
laden-air.
 Low relative humidity is result in
rapid drying, and consequently
excessive surface checking and
drying defects.
 High relative humidity reduce the
rate of drying.
 A compromise RH value is usually
used for low degrade rapid
drying.
 Moves heated air to the lumber
and carry moisture-laden air way
from the pile.
 This is accomplished by the use of
fans or blowers.
 Fans are usually mounted over a
false ceiling and driven by
individual motors.

 baffles
are used to direct air flow
between layers of lumber and
prevent flow over and under the
load for uniform drying.
 Traditionally,
constant air velocity
of about 300-400 fpm is used
throughout the duration of the
drying, higher air speeds are
needed in the early stages of
drying when large quantities of
water need to be evaporated.
Lower air speed is used as the
wood becomes drier.
 The space between the lumber
and the wall on either side of the
load. It provides space for the fan
to build a slight air pressure,
thereby improving the uniformity
of air distribution through the
load.
 Necessary for uniform drying
 Measures and records on a chart
the dry bulb and wet bulb
temperatures within the kiln during
the drying cycle.
 Sensors located in strategic
locations within the kiln sends signals
to the recorder-controller indicating
the current conditions inside the kiln.
 Ifthe conditions are not the same
as those set by the operator, it
sends signals to the controller to
open or close the vents to bring
the kiln to preset conditions
 A series of dry- and wet-bulb
temperatures that establish the
temperature and relative humidity inside
the kiln.
 Generally, schedules call for a
progressively increasing temperature
and progressively decreasing relative
humidity to produce lumber with
minimum drying defects at a reasonably
short.
 Classification of Kiln schedules
1. General schedules are for drying
lumber intended for any product.
2. Special schedules are those
develop to achieve certain
objectives such as reducing
drying time, drying chemically
treated wood, or drying to
maintain maximum strength of
lumber.
MC (%) DBT (°F) WBT (°F) RH (%) EMC (%)

Initial to 40 150 142 80 13

40-30 150 135 66 9.5

30-20 160 140 58 7.9

20-15 180 145 41 5.0

15 to final 180 130 26 3.3

1. moisture content based schedule
- dry- and wet bulb temperatures
are changed when lumber
reaches certain moisture content.
- Dry- and wet bulb temperatures
determine the relative humidity
and EMC of wood.
2. time based scheduled
-when dry- and wet bulb
temperatures are changed after a
certain period with no estimate of
moisture content as guide.
 Hardwood lumber  Softwood lumber
-dries slower and -dries faster and
more susceptible to uniformly
drying defects -with few drying
-require uniform defects
moisture content -can be dried with
and permit few both MC and time
defects based schedules
- generally dried
using MC based
schedule
Lumber DBT WBT Time
thickness (°F) (°F) (hrs)

1 x 4 and 180 170 24

1x4 190 150 36

1 x 8 to 155 150 24
1 x 12 165 150 24
175 150 48

2 x 4 and 160 150 24

2x6 165 145 24
175 140 24
180 140 24
190 140 48
 It is essential in achieving the less
degrade and uniform drying.
 It include lumber segregation and
pilling methods
 Drying time is determined by the
schedule and characteristics
(density, permeability, MC and
size) of the wood being dried.
 Segregate by : single species, or
mixed species but similar drying
characteristics, a single dimension,
and a small differences in initial
moisture content.
 Segregation reduces drying time
and energy consumption, and
reduce degrade losses caused by
over drying drier pieces of mixed
load.
 prevent overhanging ends that can
reduce air circulation and increase
drying time.
 Overhanging ends are exposed to
higher volume of air, and dry faster than
the bulk of the pile. This results in uneven
drying and end checking of lumber.
 Ifmixed length is unavoidable,
longer pieces should be placed
at the side of the pile to prevent
air form bypassing the load.
Shorter pieces are placed on the
inside and flushed on either end.
 There should be no overhanging
boards.
 Stickers (3/4” to 1”) placed at a
regular intervals (about 3-4 feet) on
each row of boards such that they are
in vertical alignment. The outermost
stickers should be placed as near to
the ends of the boards as possible.
 This minimizes warp at the ends of the
boards. To prevent warping near the
top, weights such as concrete blocks
or steel I beam can be placed on top
of the loads.
 based on refrigeration technology.
 A refrigeration-based dehumidifier
is used to recover the heat of
vaporization by condensing the
water vapor removed from the kiln.
 Heat generated by the dehumidifier
is returned to the kiln to provide the
energy needed for evaporation of
moisture from the wood.
 Since refrigeration units will not
operate efficiently at high
temperatures, dehumidification dry
kilns operates at lower drying
temperatures (typically below 160 °F)
than do conventional kilns, which
results in longer drying schedules.
 Although dehumidification kilns are
slower than conventional kilns for
drying, there is less tendency for drying
degrade, and shrinking and warping is
reduced.
 Inspection during the course of
drying is enhanced since
operators are able to move freely
in and out of the kiln.
 Compared to conventional kiln
drying, dehumidifier kiln drying
conserves more energy, and is
most commonly used by
significant number of
manufacturer.
Easy to Slightly difficult Moderately Difficult to dry
dry(schedule I) to dry difficult to dry (schedule IV)
(schedule II) ( schedule III) Binggas
Almaciga Acacia Agoho Dao
Almon Antipolo Apitong Dungon
Balakat aranga Bok-bok Ipil
dita Bagtikan Dagang Kamagong
k. Bangkal Benguet pine Dalindingan Kamatog
Kalantas Lanete Hagakhak Malabayabas
Lauan, red Lanipau Lamarau Molave
Lauan, white Lamutan Karaksan Narig
Mangasinoro Lumbayao Malapanau Supa
Mayapis (luzon) Malakauayan Malugai Yakal
Spanish cedar Mayapis Palosapis
tiaong Mindoro pine Panau
narra Tindalo
Nato Toong
Pahutan Tuai
Tanguile
 Thickness

1" to 1-1/4" 1-1/2" to 2"

sche moisture DBT WBT RH EMC DBT WBT RH EMC
d. # condition (°F) (°F) (%) (%) (°F) (°F) (%) (%)

Initial to 40 150 142 80 13 140 134 84 14.8

1 40-30 150 135 66 9.5 140 128 70 10.9

30-20 160 140 58 7.9 150 132 60 8.6

20-15 180 145 41 5 170 130 26 5.5

15 to Final 180 130 26 3.3 180 130 26 3.3

Equalize and condition, if necessary

 Thickness

1" to 1-1/4" 1-1/2" to 2"

sched moisture DBT WBT RH EMC DBT WBT RH EMC
.# condition (°F) (°F) (%) (%) (°F) (°F) (%) (%)

Initial to 40 140 133 82 13.8 130 124 83 14.9

II 40-30 150 138 72 10.8 130 120 73 12.1

30-20 160 140 58 7.9 140 125 64 9.6

20-15 170 136 40 5.2 160 130 43 5.8

15 to Final 180 130 26 3.8 180 130 26 3.3

 Thickness

1" to 1-1/4" 1-1/2" to 2"

sched moisture DBT WBT EMC DBT WBT EMC
.# condition (°F) (°F) RH (%) (%) (°F) (°F) RH (%) (%)

Initial to 40 120 114 82 15.7 110 105 84 16.2

III 40-30 130 120 73 12.1 120 112 77 13.4

30-20 150 132 60 8.6 130 116 64 10

20-15 160 130 44 6 140 118 51 7.6

15 to Final 180 135 30 3.8 170 132 35 4.6

 Thickness

1" to 1-1/4" 1-1/2" to 2"

sched moisture DBT WBT RH EMC DBT WBT RH EMC
.# condition (°F) (°F) (%) (%) (°F) (°F) (%) (%)

Initial to 40 110 105 84 16.2 100 96 86 17.5

IV 40-30 120 113 80 14.1 110 102 75 13.3

30-20 130 118 69 11 120 110 77 12.1

20-15 150 180 57 8 140 122 58 8.7

15 to Final 170 130 33 4.4 160 130 43 5.8

WITHIN THE CONTROL OF
OPERATOR
 Temperature
 Relative humidity
 Venting
 Air circulation.
NOT WITHIN THE CONTROL OF THE
OPERATOR
 Species and anatomical
structure
 Shrinkage and strength
properties of the material
 Density
 Thickness and manner of sawing
 Quality of material being dried
VIII. DRYING DEFECTS
 SURFACE OR END CHEEKS AND SPLIT
Surface checks occur when surface
layers dry and shrinks faster than the core.
Too rapid drying of the ends of the
boards causes end splits or cheeks.
 COLLAPSE
It is the distortion or crushing of
wood cells caused by compressive
drying stresses that exceed the
compressive strength of the wood. It
usually shows up as grooves or
corrugations in various places in the
board.
 Honeycomb
It is an internal cheek caused by
failure across the grain when tensile
drying stresses exceed the strength of
wood.
 Ring failure
It is the separation of annual rings
due to excessive internal stresses. Failure
occurs parallel to annual rings
either within or between rings.
 Loose knots
It is the loosening of encased knots
during drying. Nothing can be done to
prevent loosening of dead knot
during drying.
 Warp
is any deviation of the face or edge
from flatness. It is caused by uneven
shrinkage along different directions.
 1. Cup is a deviation from flatness
across the width of the board. Flatsawn
lumber has a natural tendency to cup
due to the greater shrinkage across the
width.
2. Bow is a deviation from lengthwise
flatness of the board.
3. Crook is a departure in end-to-end
straightness along the edge of the
board.
4. Twist is the turning of the four corners
of a flat face so that they are no
longer lie in the same plane.
 CHEMICAL STAINS
due to the reaction of wood extractives
and moisture with iron. Discoloration
range from dull yellow, dark brown to
almost black. Also appear on kiln drying
when rust-containing water leaks through
the steam pipes.