by Professor Gene Wengert
Q.
I saw your message on the Dry Kiln course on WOODnetWORK, and it is very interesting. Unfortunately as a one man shop with a very small dehumidifier kiln, I can't justify the cost of a trip to Memphis. I was wondering if you could refer me to some references on the subject. I have Bruce Hoadley's books and the FW book on drying wood but would like more information.
A.
I think that you underestimate the potential loss due to improper drying. The class is worth every $$. For the novice, it will provde everything needed for kiln operation with minimal problems. For the more experienced (who never has been to a class) the training is like an insurance policy. However, there are also many dry kiln clubs in the U.S. that provide the opportunity for a person to spend a day or two a year rubbing shoulders with other kiln operators, discussing common problems, attending educational sessions, and so on. Dues are usually under $10 per year.
New England Kiln Drying Assoc.
Bill B. Smith, Exec. Dir.
SUNY-ESF
Wood Products Engineering
1 Forestry Drive
Syracuse, NY 13210-2786
South Eastern Dry Kiln Club
Steve Hanover
Appalachian Kiln Club
Dave Groom
Wood Education and Resource Center
RR#2 Box 556
Princeton, WV 24740
Ohio Valley Kiln Assoc.
Carroll Fackler
PO Box 892
Jackson, KY 41339-0982
Keystone Kiln Drying Club
Gregg Lutter
Mann & Parker
335 N. Constitution
New Freedom, PA 17349-9521
Great Lakes Kiln Club
Harlan Petersen
Dept of Forest Products
2004 Folwell Ave
Univ of Minn
St. Paul, MN 55108
Tennessee Vallley Kiln Assoc
Ric Toenission
TVA Forestry
Norris, TN 37828
West Coast Kiln Clubs
Charlie Kozlik
2290 SW Winchester Ave
Portland, OR 97225-4460
In response to your question about reference books, I have prepared a list of publications of interest to folks drying hardwoods and furniture-grade Eastern softwoods. (Contact the source listed for prices, availablity, etc.)
DRYING EASTERN HARDWOOD LUMBER by McMillen and Wengert
STORAGE OF LUMBER by Rietz (US Dept of Agr Handbook No. 528 and 351 respectively. Out of print: see a big library.)
DRYING OAK LUMBER by Wengert. Univ of Wisconsin-Madison, Dept of Forestry, 1630 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706.
KILN OPERATOR'S MANUAL FOR EASTERN CANADA by Cech and Pfaff, Forintek, Canada, 800 Montreal Rd., Ottawa, Ontario,CANADA K1G 3Z5
OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEHUMIDIFICATION DRYING OF HARDWOODS by Wengert et al. Virginia Forest Products Assoc., PO Box U, Sandston, VA 23150
DRYING LUMBER FOR QUALITY AND PROFIT - PROFITABLE SOLUTION FOR QUALITY DRYING OPF HARDWOODS AND SOFTWOODS - DRY KILN SCHEDULES FOR COMMERCIAL WOODS - APPLIED DRYING TECHNOLOGY, 1978-1988 by Quarles and Wengert, and APPLIED DRYING TECHNOLOGY, 1988-1993 by Milota and Wengert. Forest Products Society, 2801 Marshall Ct., Madison, WI 53705
DRY KILN OPERATOR'S MANUAL by US Forest Products Lab, US Dept of Agr. Handbook No. 188, One Gifford Pinchot Drive, Madison, WI 53705
DRYING MANAGEMENT NOTES by Wengert. Pace Products, PO Box 10925, Overland, KS 66210
LUMBER DEFECTS CAUSED BY INSECTS, FUNGI, AND CHEMICAL STAINS by Moore et al. Publ AG-425. Ag Communications, NC State Univ. Box 7603, Raleigh, NC 27695-7603
