| Most people believe that they must use furniture | | | | woodworking project, but do not be fooled. For |
| grade lumber for their woodworking projects. This is | | | | construction grade lumber the term kiln-dried means |
| not necessarily true. Construction grade lumber can | | | | that the wood has less than 20% moisture. While this |
| be used as long as you follow a few simple guidelines. | | | | level of moisture is low enough to prevent the |
| What Is The Difference? | | | | growth of mold, it is still too moist to be used for |
| In most areas, kiln-dried construction grade lumber | | | | furniture building immediately. |
| sells for around 70 cents per linear foot. Now that is | | | | The optimum moisture content for furniture building is |
| approximately half the price of furniture grade | | | | actually between 6% and 8%, so the lumber will |
| material, which can greatly reduce the raw material | | | | need to be dried further before it can be used |
| costs of any project. Most furniture grade lumber is | | | | effectively. The extra drying can be done once you |
| harvested from pine, while most construction grade | | | | get the wood home, but before you leave the |
| lumber comes from spruce, jack pine or fir trees. | | | | lumber yard, ask about taking some of the thin wood |
| While these are all considered softwood, they are | | | | strips that are used to separate boards within the |
| surprisingly strong and dense. | | | | stacked piles. These will usually be free, as the |
| If you inspect the boards carefully, you will find that | | | | lumber yard will throw them out anyway. |
| most of them can actually be very high quality. It is | | | | Performing the Extra Drying |
| not unusual to find boards that are nearly free from | | | | Once you get the wood home, re-stack the boards |
| knots. Even boards with defects can contain sections | | | | using the thin spacers you picked up at the lumber |
| of beautiful wood on both sides. Spruce can be | | | | yard. It is extremely important the each board has |
| particularly attractive when it is quarter-sawn. This | | | | the maximum amount of surface area exposed to air. |
| reveals its closely spaced growth rings, which has a | | | | You will need to stack the wood in a fully heated, |
| very striking appearance. | | | | indoor environment. The best time of year to do this |
| You can produce high quality furniture from | | | | is during the winter months, as the humidity will be |
| construction grade lumber as long as you choose | | | | the lowest. |
| your boards carefully and handle it properly. Do not | | | | To speed up the drying process, place an oscillating |
| be deterred by minor damage or defects in the | | | | fan blowing on the pile. This will reduce the moisture |
| wood. You will probably plane and join the wood | | | | content from 20% to 8% in about a month. Now |
| anyway, so these minor defects can be hidden or | | | | this does not mean that you need to wait this long |
| worked around. | | | | before working with the lumber. You can measure |
| How Dry Is Kiln-Dried? | | | | and cut the lumber for your project, just make sure |
| When you hear the phrase kiln-dried wood, you | | | | that you do not plane, join or assembly the pieces |
| would think that you are ready to start your | | | | until reaching the 8% moisture level. |