Storing and Seasoning Wood for Woodworking

Properly storing and seasoning wood is a critical first step for any successful woodworking project. Using wood that is too wet or unstable can cause a variety of issues, from cracks and checking to poor finishes and weak glue joints. By following some key guidelines, you can ensure your wood is ready for use in your next carpentry project. This article covers everything you need to know about prepping wood through proper storage and seasoning.

Topic	Key Takeaways
Why Season Wood	Reduces moisture content Improves stability Allows better finishes Enables strong glue joints Easier to work
Storing Wood	Store in covered, dry area Use stickers when stacking Allow airflow circulation Check moisture levels Prevent insect damage
Seasoning Wood	Air dry 6-12 months minimum Sticker boards every 16-24 inches Accelerate with heating/dehumidification Check moisture content progress Ready at 15% moisture content
Storage Mistakes	Poor ventilation Not using stickers Allowing wood to get wet Direct sun exposure Not checking moisture Leaving bark on logs
Best Practices	Optimal climate conditions Label wood stacks Use oldest stock first Frequently inspect Plan projects based on drying times Research exotic wood storage

Why Seasoning Wood is Important

Before using wood for woodworking, it is highly advisable to first season or dry it properly. Freshly milled “green” wood has a high moisture content from the living tree, which must be reduced through seasoning to improve stability. Here are some of the main benefits of seasoning wood:

• Reduces moisture content – Removing moisture prevents future shrinking or expanding of wood.
• Improves stability – Minimizes cracking and checking as moisture leaves the wood.
• Allows better finish – Dried wood accepts stains, paints, oils better.
• Enables strong glue joints – Glue bonds best to stable, dry wood materials.
• Makes wood easier to work – Less moisture means cleaner cuts from saws, planes, etc.

Wood that is too wet will warp, crack, and move unpredictably during projects. It can also damage tools and ruin finishes. Always check the moisture content before using any wood.

Storing Wood Properly

Once wood is milled, it must be stored correctly while being seasoned. Consider these tips for safe, effective wood storage:

• Store in a covered, dry area if possible – moisture is the enemy!
• Utilize stickers in between stacked wood to enable airflow
• Allow space for airflow circulation around wood stacks
• Check moisture levels with a meter throughout seasoning
• Prevent insect damage by keeping area clean and monitoring for pests

Also consider factors like sun exposure, humidity, ventilation, drainage, and wood species when deciding on storage. Hardwoods like oak, for example require longer drying times than pine. Ensure your storage facilitates thorough seasoning.

Seasoning Green Wood

“Green” wood fresh off the sawmill can have moisture content over 50% by weight. Here are tips for reducing moisture to usable 15% levels:

• Air dry green wood stacks for 6-12 months minimum
• Sticker boards every 16-24 inches in stacking process
• Accelerate drying with heating or dehumidification
• Check progress with moisture meter throughout
• Wood is ready when moisture content is 15% or less

Be extremely patient when air drying lumber. Thickness, wood species, climate all impact total time. Condition wood properly before using in any project for best results. Monitor for checking cracks and oxalic acid crystals forming on surface.

Common Wood Storage Mistakes

Improper storage can ruin or critically delay wood drying times. Avoid these key pitfalls:

• Storing wood in poorly ventilated areas
• Not using stickers when stacking
• Allowing wood to get too wet from rain/spills
• Direct sun exposure which warms/damages wood
• Failing to check moisture content levels
• Leaving bark on logs instead of debarking

Carefully staggering and stacking wood in an open-air, covered area is ideal. Continuously check moisture content rather than relying on timeline guesses. Be wary of insect damage and fungal growth on bark. With attention and oversight, stored wood should air dry nicely.

Best Practices for Stored Wood

Once you have drying wood stacks in place, be sure to:

• Locate storage in the optimal climate conditions
• Clearly label different wood species/stack dates
• Use oldest stock first on projects (first-in/first-out)
• Frequently inspect for moisture content and insects
• Plan projects based on realistic drying schedules
• Research storing exotic/specialty wood properly

Using these wood storage and inventory tips eliminates surprises for woodworking timelines. Always check each board’s moisture levels before final milling steps or using in finishing steps. Patience and organization will pay dividends for stored wood quality!

Conclusion

Seasoning lumber through careful storage is too often an afterthought for woodworkers – but it truly impacts every project. Prepping raw wood correctly reduces future stability, workability and aesthetic issues. Allow significant lead time for thorough air drying to under 15% moisture content. With attention to detail in the drying process, you can better leverage the incredible material properties that wood offers.

If you have any other questions about properly storing wood or ensuring lumber is fully seasoned before use, please reach out! We’re always happy to discuss best practices to set up woodworking success.

FAQs

What moisture content is ideal for using wood in projects? For most furniture building and millwork, the target moisture content is 6-9% moisture. Up to 15% moisture content is allowable, but any higher risks stability problems through future expansion/contraction as wood adjusts towards equilibrium moisture content. Always check!

Does all wood need time for air drying/seasoning? Nearly every wood species (with a few exceptions like osage orange or lignum vitae) must be seasoned from its green state before use. Higher density woods require substantially longer air drying times as moisture slowly evaporates from the deeper cells.

Can I tell if wood is dry enough by appearance or weight? Unfortunately not – wood can appear dry and feel lighter while still retaining very high internal moisture content. Use a moisture meter to test the internal percentage rather than relying on guesswork through appearance or weight which could be misleading.

What are stickers and why are they so important? Stickers are thin slats of wood (often 1 x 2 boards) placed between each layer of stacked, drying lumber. This separates the wood piles and enables crucial airflow to carry away humidity which accelerates seasoning.

Is air drying wood prone to cracking or checking? Air drying can contribute to surface cracks/checks especially on the board ends, as well as loosened knots dropping out of the wood. In most cases these defects only impact appearance rather than structural integrity for future woodworking use. Monitor for insect or fungal damage.

Can I accelerate lumber drying with heat?
Yes, dehumidification kilns or other heating methods may speed drying compared to ambient air drying. Take precautions because aggressive drying risks additional checking on the wood surface. Heated drying should happen slowly and steadily.

When should I avoid air drying lumber? In consistently humid, wet climates air drying lumber becomes extremely difficult. The ambient conditions will continually rewet the wood rather than enabling evaporation. In these cases, focus on selecting lumber that is already fully seasoned to the proper moisture content.

External Links

This wood moisture meter from Rockler is great for testing stored wood.

For more details on the wood air drying process and best practices.

Special considerations when storing exotic woods with higher densities.

Proper Wood Storing and Drying (YouTube)

Avoiding Mistakes when Seasoning Lumber (Wood Magazine)

Optimal Wood Moisture Content Levels (Design, Development & Testing Magazine)