I got a couple of maple 4x4's a while back from a Maine mill that
specializes in figured maple and uses vacuum kilns. Four days to low
equlilibrium. Nice stuff but the inside is full of honeycomb from too fast a
drying time. I question if it was caused by rapic water loss or by stresses
in the wood. Likely both?

--
God bless and safe turning
Darrell Feltmate
Truro, NS Canada
http://aroundthewoods.com
http://roundopinions.blogspot.com
"spaco" wrote in message
...
Several people have already mentioned that speed and heat are your enemy
when drying wood. Sawmill around here takes 7-9 days to kiln dry
softwoods (like basswood) and about 32 days to dry hardwoods (like oak).
I'm sure that they'd do it faster if they could. This sawmill uses
sawdust and bark to fuel its kilns and it sure could make a hotter fire if
they wanted to.

Pete Stanaitis
------------------------

Lyndell Thompson wrote:

I know it sounds crazy but othere than getting kicked out of the house by
SWMBO....................I don't see why it would not work. I did the
math and and it looks like it would run for $3.74 per hour @ my electric
rates. I am not talking about a lot of wood here, just a few pieces to
turn or maybe sheet or two of veneer. The stationary rack is about
24"long and 16" wide. They kiln dry here for about 30 cents a board foot,
but won't fool with a few pen blanks or similiar. Just curious.....cuz I
hate to be the first fool to try this and tear up the dryer or
worse......burn down the house! It was time for an upgrade and we did the
HE4 washer and dryer from kenmore. They sat here about a year due to
deaths in the family & you name it. Got them in last weekend and thought
about this. All comments pro and con welcome. Really hoping to hear from
Arch on this one as he says Turn To Safety. :-)
Thanks Lyndell