When I start cutting timber for myself , I thought I could do it well than Home Depot . No more perverted and stooping lumber for this hombre . I planned to be the person who did it the right way , who was n’t limited by the amount of employment that could be done , who made sure that every step was learn and that every board behaved . I call back that the timber would respond in variety if I put the sticks in the right-hand places , used more marijuana cigarette , weighed down the atomic pile , and pay aid in other ways . Boy , was I untimely .
In my early day as a grinder actor , I tried to dry some chewing gum . It ’s one of my pet stories to tell . The customer inquire me to rationalize the Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree log into 4′′ extensive boards so they could be used as flooring . I stuck that 4′′ wide bit of seraphic gum on the bottom of a stack of lumber that was as tall as the Bobcat could reach . There must have been at least 3,000 bd . ft . and another a billion pounds of sweet gum to aid keep the notoriously wacky wood flat while it dried .
After a few month on stick , the lumber had twisted in out of the question ways . Some of the boards twisted 45 degree . They somehow advertize up the whole stack as they dried and went on their way , receive all round-backed even though my thorn were in the right place and the additional exercising weight did n’t bother them . It was really unbelievable . Even if I showed you a dried circuit board in person , you may not have conceive it . Some of the woods was only 8 inches long , so I had to cut it down to make it directly on the long plane before it move through the planing machine . I do n’t cut sweetgum any longer .
After my sweetgum “ education ” , it was unmortgaged that some Grant Wood is just not going to dry out flat . sealed species always dry out wonky . Flatsawn sycamore fig , elm and cottonwood all come to mind , along with the sweetgum , as forged actors . If quartersawn , they are all more stable , but if flatsawn , all bet are off . I always say that flatsawn sycamore dries like a potato chip . Elm and white basswood dry more like thin slice Solanum tuberosum that are fry in oil .
And , it is n’t just certain species that braid . If you develop subdivision or tree with a lean , they will dry out crooked , even if they come from species that usually work on together . Certain areas within the honorable lumber can dry out crooked too . Wood that is close to a branch or fork always dries convulsive because the grain is go in mickle of unlike direction . you may still get stooping baseball bat if you do n’t edit out it with the tree ’s inwardness move down the middle of the board . There are just too many forcefulness in the earth assay to make the lumber unstraight .
The last one , and the one that I can not defeat , is the tree with a turn . Not twisted timber , but a twisted tree diagram . The plait gets in the tree diagram as it grows , and it twists the lumber as it dry out . I have seen it in may unlike hardwood tree and the resulting timber is always twisted . I took a moving picture of a stagnant great maple this summer that showed this “ death - twist , ” which would make a wooden worker who is already very angry miss it . It is easy discover by appear at the open checks in this dry out logarithm .
Acer pseudoplatanus does n’t always look like this . The grain is unremarkably wavy , which arrive at the lumber dry out unflat , but it is n’t normally twisted . This tree diagram is very , very twisted and will dry out with a pronounced twist in every card . It is best left as a decoration in the field . The good newsworthiness is that this twist is usually obvious , even when the barque is on the tree . There will be twisted lines in the barque that match those in the log . This means that it is not worth mill around .
But in the world of sawmilling , not many logs just stand there and say they ’re go to twist . They do n’t say , “ Do n’t waste your sentence cutting me , idiot ! ” Many logs and piece of baseball bat look dainty but do what they ’re supposed to do , and you have to accept that some lumber will not dry matted . I still do everything I can to ensure the wood dries true , but I love that crooked wood is just a part of life . Over the year , I ’ve become very close with my jointer .
perfumed gum is a vernacular hardwood metal money found throughout the easterly United States . It is known for its beautiful cereal patterns and decided reddish - chocolate-brown heartwood . However sweet gum is notorious for being dispute to dry out properly due to its leaning to warp and split . So how long does it actually take to dry out odorous mucilage firewood ?
The Challenges of Drying Sweet Gum
There are a few factors that make odorous gum more difficult to dry out compare to other hardwoods
gamy shrinkage rate – sweet-smelling gumwood shrinks around 15 % from green to oven - dry . This is much high-pitched than many other woods .
Interlocking grain – The fibers in dulcet mucilage are arranged in an interlocked pattern which restricts wet bowel movement and aggravate warping stresses .
Tension – Sweet gum logs often hold back significant inner tension which gets relinquish as the wood dries , cause distortion .
Low permeability – Sweet glue is less permeable than most hardwood , slowing the charge per unit of wet red .
These traits lead to major checking , splitting , bowing , cupping , and twisting as the woods dries . It ’s not uncommon to see over 20 % red ink during drying .
General Drying Times
Most sources estimatesweet gum necessitate at least 6 - 12 months flavour timeto adequately ironical firewood split from fresh cut to usable moisture content . This can vary considerably depending on climate experimental condition . Colder northerly areas may require 12 + calendar month , while warmer southerly clime can dry it in 6 - 9 months if stacked properly with good air flow .
Here are some general guidelines for drying time under dissimilar scenarios :
Air dry splits in undecided stacks:8 - 12 month
strain drying rounds:12 - 18 + months
Kiln drying:4 - 8 workweek
dry out time after rainfall / Charles Percy Snow : add up 2 - 4 weeks
Note that even after prolonged flavourer , sweet gum firewood is notorious for reabsorbing wet quickly compared to other Sir Henry Joseph Wood . Plan to burn it soon after dry out .
Tips for Faster, More Effective Drying
Here are some bakshis to help speed dry out and minimize defects when seasoning sweet gumwood firewood :
disregard logarithm in early winter and let them sit down for a few months to release national stress before bucking and splitting .
Use wedge - shaped divider blades to help follow interlocked caryopsis direction .
rive right away after fell before dry mar begin .
seal off logarithm terminate with wax or end sealant after bucking .
heap off the ground with excellent airflow in a cheery location .
expend narrow sticker spacing around 6 - 8 inches . Wider spacing make more bowing .
use free weight on top of stacks to restrict warp .
Rotate and restack schism every 2 - 3 calendar month for even drying .
conceive solar kiln drying or dehumidification kilns to accelerate dry time .
Do n’t leave seasoned Grant Wood exposed to rain or snowfall . hatch or bring within to keep dry .
The Bottom Line
In most display case , sweet gum realistically requires about 8 - 12 month seasoning time to reach useable moisture content for burn . This can be shorter in drier climates or if using kilns , but air drying log or rounds will take over a yr in many areas . right stacking , waterproofing , and manipulation can help minimize dry defects and speed the process . But no matter what , sugared glue is a challenge compared to woods like oak tree , hickory , and ash . Be prepared for hold back , splitting , and warping issues if tackling this species for firewood .
Is Sweet Gum any good for firewood?
How long does sweet gum woodwind take to dry ?
Individuals that are looking to use cherubic gum wood for furniture or other wood decorations should take steaming the Sir Henry Joseph Wood prior to drying . This will help oneself keep the RH unchanging and achieve an overall more vivid people of colour . The woodwind instrument usually fill about a full year to cure altogether .
How can one turn back gum shrinking ?
Gum shrinkage can be bar by regular brush of the teeth twice daily , avoiding vigorous brushing of the tooth , rinsing the rima oris with antimicrobial or chlorhexidine gargle , avoiding smoking and chewing baccy , using a diffused - bristled soup-strainer , flossing every day and getting even teeth cleaning done by the dentist .
How long does sugared gingiva last ?
Once the wood is split , stack away it under a roof or track because sweet gum tends to molder quickly and produce mold when it ’s exposed to moisture . Let the woodwind instrument time of year for about 1 year and it will be ready to incinerate . Sweet gum ferment honorable for the “ shoulder seasons ” when the outside temperatures are meek .
Does mellifluous gum move after drying ?
In addition to this , the gum tree impress considerably after drying when the RH change . someone that are looking to use sweet gum woods for furniture or other Sir Henry Wood ornament should consider steaming the wood prior to drying . This will help keep the RH stable and attain an overall more vivid color .
