Rutabagared Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 I posted in the Declining Lumber Quality thread about buying green lumber direct from the sawmill and drying it yourself for big savings, and I wanted to follow-up since I just received a load of green lumber about a week ago. Below is about 400bdft of 4/4 and 60bdft of 8/4 cherry. I got this delivered and stacked as you see it for just over $600. All of it is FAS. Green lumber prices are down due to the unfortunate state of the housing market. This will amount to about three kiln charges (solar kiln). If things go well, all will be dried to a workable state by fall. (Solar kiln drying is pretty much nonexistent during the fall and winter in PA.). I found that cherry looses about 10% moisture content each week. The m.c. of the first charge was about 38%. So the first charge will take about 3-4 weeks. Each subsequent charge will take less time because the initial moisture content of the lumber will be lower at the beginning of the charge due to air drying. I've been purchasing green lumber this way for several years with no issues. As I stated in the other thread, I built a solar kiln several years ago for a few hundred bucks. It's paid for itself many times over. The concept is simple. Google the subject. There's a lot of info available. Go green! Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vic Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Cool! I'll have to check around, but here in the NW, the only hardwoods are domestic and unless I sawmill myself (which I don't want), my best is still my sawyer in Walla Walla. Jensen Hardwoods. Great place, great sawyer. Way to score nice lumber!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted June 18, 2011 Report Share Posted June 18, 2011 Ya i love air dried wood much easer to work with less chiping, aclimates better from higher moisture levels. Plus if you can find someone who will cut up logs for you you can just pay like .25 cents a foot. Trying to get my class to buy green wood store it till the next year and then the following years repeat have cheap mapple and oak. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave H Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I would love to see some pics of the solar kiln, I've see plans, but would love to see what you've come up with for your kiln. It sounds like your an old hand at this. Thanks Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duckkisser Posted June 19, 2011 Report Share Posted June 19, 2011 I have seen some that are as big as garages stacked to the top in lumber i had to wipe the drool off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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