Kiln or Air Dried

[woodtrapper]

As I understand it furniture makers prefer outside air dried wood because it dries harder than kiln dried.I think most of the bass wood is kiln dried.Here is my point.Our local saw mill has 1"x10" basswood boards.I plan on buying some boards.plaining them down and laminating them. This way I can I will have the option of the size of project.This is just an experiment.Has anyone else tried something like this?

[AlArchie]

Here's a couple things I've learned (or heard) from mill folks and buyers.

Kiln dried lumber is cured to a controlled moisture content, of whatever specific percentage the individual mill operator uses.

Air dried lumber is generally cured to a moisture content specific to the ambient air temperature and humidity and can vary quite a bit.

Either type, will "adjust" itself to the new ambient conditions once it is brought into a fresh environment. That's why builders try to bring their lumber into their workspace and let it "adapt" for a while before using it. If you buy wood flooring, for instance, the instructions will tell you to bring it into your home and let it there for a few days to let it get "stabilized". Same with lumber used for furniture and cabinetry.

But now ya got my curiosity piqued about the hardness of the different curing techniques...have to look into that!

Al

[Ashbys]

I am sure you know it won't be long before the choice will be a non issue. As there is a major push going on to allow nothing but heat-treated lumber to be shipped anywhere in the US. If this happens all wood will have to be kiln dried including walking staffs and carvings. I am not sure of all the issuse going on with it at present , but I do know it has to do with insect and parasite fungus control.

Ash

[brian-bailey]

Woodtrapper,

You need to get your wood to below 12% moisture content in order for the glue to adhere properly and minimized any more wood shrinkage.

Doesn't matter whether it is kilned or air dried.

Here's a link to a good book on the subject.

http://www.woodcentral.com/books/hoadley.shtml

[woodtrapper]

Thanks Brian, Maybe I am going to to much trouble but it seems like to me bass wood is hard to get in big pieces.I personally like larger carvings instead of small and that was my reasoning for lamination from my old woodshop days in high school.

[brian-bailey]

I don't think it's a matter of to much trouble.

If you want a large block without the pith, you need to glue up.

I just recently sold all my 2 x 12 stock to a local carver and that is what he intended to do with it. Glue it up for carving ship mast heads or something like that, I believe.

Your planks need to be dry enough before you glue up or you're just wasting your time.

[wade clark]

There's a seller on ebay, fullcycle , who has a mill in Tennessee. They sell lots of glued-up basswood (not on ebay) to Dollywood for woodcarvings. I believe all of theirs is kiln dried. I've bought some beautiful kiln dried sycamore from them in the past.
Al is right, kiln dried may be 12% when it leaves the kiln, but it's going to adjust to the humidity or moisture content where it's stored in little time.
Wade

[Nancy-G]

I want to start most Santas from 6" x 6" basswood and that's almost impossible to buy now so I have Dale Heinecke laminate it up for me. He uses two 3" x 6" and his method is absolutely PERFECT. In most chunks it's almost impossible to see location where the two pieces meet.
I imagine that Dale would laminate the wood to any size that someone wanted.

[dart]

A few years ago I was talking to an old woodcarver. He told me that basswood and poplar get harder with age. Some of it gets too hard to carve. I wondered if anyone else has heard this? Or is it even true? I had a piece of basswood and poplar and they were very hard to carve and they were several years old. Just wondered...

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

yep...they get hard! I am wondering if misting a little water on them when stored might keep them from getting so dry and hard? Anyone know?