In article <[email protected]>, tiredofspam
wrote:
> I stopped by a lumber mill in Plumsteadville PA today.
> They had great prices on air dried lumber.
> The name of the lumber mill was Heacock Lumber. I didn't check the
> lumber out, since I was on my way to pickup a tool repair.
>
> The prices were too good. Anyone have any experience with them?
Heacock Lumber is quite reputable, and will sell you what ever grade of
local hardwood you want from FAS on down.
In a later post, you mentioned about bringing a plane and moisture
meter with you. I've had no problems with using either tool there. In
fact, half of the time I'm free to walk around the yard and look
throught the inventory.
Air dried is what it is. Great for some uses, not so great for others.
The last mill in the area that I knew of that had a kiln was
Hunsberger's, north of Sellersville on the old Rt. 309. Alas, they
closed up shop in the fall of '04. It seems as if the 4th generation
Hunsberger clan had no interest in keep the mill going.
Joe
aka 10x
In article <[email protected]>, tiredofspam
wrote:
> What is wrong with Air dried lumber?
> I usually leave it for a year or so to finish drying. I have some wood
> drying for 10 years... YEA it's dry. Just haven't gotten around to using it.
>
>
> At the prices some of this wood is at, I can also consider it cheap
> enough for utility wood, for the shop.
Wood is a dynamic material. It has a tendancy to absorb or desorb
moister that is present in it's environment. This is why certain doors
and drawers stick or bind in the summertime, yet work as expected in
the winter when relative humidity is at lower levels.
There is nothing "wrong" with air dried lumber. That said, one needs to
consider it's intended use. If used in a fine piece of furniture for
indoor use, it will be more prone to movement because air dried lumber
cannot be brought down to a moisture content comparable wood that has
been kiln dried. 7-8% moisture content is a number generally bandied
about for furniture grade lumber here in Pennsylvania. If you can get
your air dried lumber down to 10-12% you've done a good job. There is
some interesting reading at wikipedia. It get somewhat technical, but
some of it is understandable by mere mortals like us :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_drying
One generally accepted rule for air drying lumber is 1 year of drying
for every inch of thickness of the board. This assumes the pile of
lumber is prooperly stickered, covered, and with adequate air movement
over the pile. YMMV
Joe
aka 10x
In article <[email protected]>, tiredofspam
wrote:
> As you said air will absorb the moisture, even kiln dried wood.
> So that being said, I have air dried lumber that is in the 6% area right
> now. Left long enough Air dried lumber will be dry. Left long enough
> kiln dried lumber will hyrdoscopicaly pick up the moisture in the air
> and be at a higher moisture content than it was after kiln drying. NO?
>
> Kiln drying brings it down quicker. It doesn't mean you can't get there
> slower.
The below is quoted from:
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE FOREST SERVICE FOREST PRODUCTS
LABORATORY MADISON, WIS.
In Cooperation with the University of Wisconsin
U.S.D.A. FOREST SERVICE RESEARCH NOTE FPL-0226
1973
MOISTURE CONTENT OF WOOD IN USE
The entire 6 page report is available as a .pdf from the following url:
http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fplrn226.pdf
"Air-Dried Lumber and Dimension
In most parts of the country, the minimum moisture content that can be
generally obtained in air drying is about 12 to 15 percent. Most
air-dried material is usually closer to 20 percent moisture content
when used.
Air-dried lumber is suitable for items that are not ordinarily
subjected to the artificial heat and dehumidification of buildings or
where appreciable shrinkage can be tolerated. All types of out-
buildings, such as sheds and barns, can usually be safely constructed
of air-dried lumber. Air- dried lumber is also satisfactory for
products used outdoors, such as boxes and crates, parts of agricultural
implements, and truck and trailer bodies."
If you got 6%, good for you. I tend to go along with the FPL figures
publisehed in the report.
Joe
aka 10x
"tiredofspam" <nospam.nospam.com> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I stopped by a lumber mill in Plumsteadville PA today.
> They had great prices on air dried lumber.
> The name of the lumber mill was Heacock Lumber. I didn't check the lumber
> out, since I was on my way to pickup a tool repair.
>
> The prices were too good. Anyone have any experience with them?
If longevitity is any indication of quality then buy from them, Heacock
Lumber mill has been in Plumsteadville for as long as I can remember, At
least 55 years for sure, Possibly longer. They used to have a big saw blade
as their sign. I remember them from my childhood. (I am now 65 years old)
There used to be a covered bridge not far from there and on the other side
of the stone bridge is where we used to go swimming.......
I miss Pennsylvania when the seasons change.
Jack Cassidy
Living in Florida, God's waiting room.
On 2010-11-30 23:48:59 -0500, Larry Jaques
<[email protected]> said:
>> I prefer air dried lumber.
>> Usually less stresses.
>
> F E W E R
fewer stresses
less stress
Also:
things that
people who
I prefer air dried lumber.
Usually less stresses.
On 11/30/2010 7:32 PM, Sonny wrote:
> No experience with them, since I am in Louisiana, but air dried lumber
> is bendable/formable by steaming (a plus for some woodworkers). Most
> mills, I am aware of, will kiln dry lumber, also, so check prices in
> that department, also.
>
> Sonny
As you said air will absorb the moisture, even kiln dried wood.
So that being said, I have air dried lumber that is in the 6% area right
now. Left long enough Air dried lumber will be dry. Left long enough
kiln dried lumber will hyrdoscopicaly pick up the moisture in the air
and be at a higher moisture content than it was after kiln drying. NO?
Kiln drying brings it down quicker. It doesn't mean you can't get there
slower.
On 12/10/2010 8:15 AM, 10x wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>, tiredofspam
> wrote:
>
>> What is wrong with Air dried lumber?
>> I usually leave it for a year or so to finish drying. I have some wood
>> drying for 10 years... YEA it's dry. Just haven't gotten around to using it.
>>
>>
>> At the prices some of this wood is at, I can also consider it cheap
>> enough for utility wood, for the shop.
>
> Wood is a dynamic material. It has a tendancy to absorb or desorb
> moister that is present in it's environment. This is why certain doors
> and drawers stick or bind in the summertime, yet work as expected in
> the winter when relative humidity is at lower levels.
>
> There is nothing "wrong" with air dried lumber. That said, one needs to
> consider it's intended use. If used in a fine piece of furniture for
> indoor use, it will be more prone to movement because air dried lumber
> cannot be brought down to a moisture content comparable wood that has
> been kiln dried. 7-8% moisture content is a number generally bandied
> about for furniture grade lumber here in Pennsylvania. If you can get
> your air dried lumber down to 10-12% you've done a good job. There is
> some interesting reading at wikipedia. It get somewhat technical, but
> some of it is understandable by mere mortals like us :-)
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wood_drying
>
> One generally accepted rule for air drying lumber is 1 year of drying
> for every inch of thickness of the board. This assumes the pile of
> lumber is prooperly stickered, covered, and with adequate air movement
> over the pile. YMMV
>
>
> Joe
>
> aka 10x
Thanks, it helps, but first hand knowledge would be helpful.
They know they are cheap. The question is at what price?
I am going to trust that they have decent quality wood and make my next
purchase from them. Of course I'll bring my moisture meter and a block
plane if they will let me use both.
On 12/1/2010 2:41 AM, Jack Cassidy wrote:
> "tiredofspam"<nospam.nospam.com> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> I stopped by a lumber mill in Plumsteadville PA today.
>> They had great prices on air dried lumber.
>> The name of the lumber mill was Heacock Lumber. I didn't check the lumber
>> out, since I was on my way to pickup a tool repair.
>>
>> The prices were too good. Anyone have any experience with them?
>
> If longevitity is any indication of quality then buy from them, Heacock
> Lumber mill has been in Plumsteadville for as long as I can remember, At
> least 55 years for sure, Possibly longer. They used to have a big saw blade
> as their sign. I remember them from my childhood. (I am now 65 years old)
> There used to be a covered bridge not far from there and on the other side
> of the stone bridge is where we used to go swimming.......
> I miss Pennsylvania when the seasons change.
>
> Jack Cassidy
> Living in Florida, God's waiting room.
>
>
On Thu, 2 Dec 2010 20:52:06 -0800, "Lew Hodgett"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>"Larry Jaques" wrote:
>
>
>> It's OK, though.
>> He's -real- near Palm Springs, the California God's Waiting Room.
>-----------------------------
>Typical Jaques bull shit.
>
>Not a desert rat and P/S is a shade over 100 miles from me.
My mistake. I thought you hailed from the HelL.A. area, Lew.
But 100 miles is a daily commute to many Californicators.
<shrug>
--
"Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty.
There is also in human nature a resentment of injury, and
indignation against wrong. A love of truth and a veneration
of virtue. These amiable passions, are the latent spark. If
the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling
the differences between true and false, right and wrong,
virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of
mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?"
--John Adams
Thanks for the info.
What is wrong with Air dried lumber?
I usually leave it for a year or so to finish drying. I have some wood
drying for 10 years... YEA it's dry. Just haven't gotten around to using it.
At the prices some of this wood is at, I can also consider it cheap
enough for utility wood, for the shop.
On 12/8/2010 4:19 PM, 10x wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>, tiredofspam
> wrote:
>
>> I stopped by a lumber mill in Plumsteadville PA today.
>> They had great prices on air dried lumber.
>> The name of the lumber mill was Heacock Lumber. I didn't check the
>> lumber out, since I was on my way to pickup a tool repair.
>>
>> The prices were too good. Anyone have any experience with them?
>
> Heacock Lumber is quite reputable, and will sell you what ever grade of
> local hardwood you want from FAS on down.
>
> In a later post, you mentioned about bringing a plane and moisture
> meter with you. I've had no problems with using either tool there. In
> fact, half of the time I'm free to walk around the yard and look
> throught the inventory.
>
> Air dried is what it is. Great for some uses, not so great for others.
>
> The last mill in the area that I knew of that had a kiln was
> Hunsberger's, north of Sellersville on the old Rt. 309. Alas, they
> closed up shop in the fall of '04. It seems as if the 4th generation
> Hunsberger clan had no interest in keep the mill going.
>
>
> Joe
>
> aka 10x
On Thu, 2 Dec 2010 18:17:38 -0800, "CW" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>>
>> "Jack Cassidy" wrote:
>>
>>> Living in Florida, God's waiting room.
>>
>> -------------------
>> Which is why I chose CA.
>>
>Worse.
It's OK, though.
He's -real- near Palm Springs, the California God's Waiting Room.
--
"Human nature itself is evermore an advocate for liberty.
There is also in human nature a resentment of injury, and
indignation against wrong. A love of truth and a veneration
of virtue. These amiable passions, are the latent spark. If
the people are capable of understanding, seeing and feeling
the differences between true and false, right and wrong,
virtue and vice, to what better principle can the friends of
mankind apply than to the sense of this difference?"
--John Adams
"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Jack Cassidy" wrote:
>
>> Living in Florida, God's waiting room.
>
> -------------------
> Which is why I chose CA.
>
Worse.