Author Topic: Drying Wood: Let's Call it Investing in the Future  (Read 2365 times)

Rasch Chronicles

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Drying Wood: Let's Call it Investing in the Future
« on: January 27, 2011, 01:32:58 AM »
Hello there fine gentlemen!

The post on Stock Width set me to thinking...

again...

And as I am reluctant to put the money I earn in the stock market, (I gamble with my life regularly thank you very much.) I thought that I would be better off investing in lumber.

As I see it if you buy decent planks of wood, that is well figured of mid to high grade, (excluding exhibition grade as I would never want to part with it), the return on investment would be better than that of the market!

You know you're going to use it eventually right? Why not get it while it's a bargain, compared to what it will be three or ten years later!

So now that I've convinced myself with my insightful, intuitive and clearly magnificent grasp of irrefutable logic, I would like to know what the appropriate steps should be to store this soon to be desirable wooden treasure trove. It would be a travesty to find your AAA plank twisted and deformed for lack of good storing practices!

Best Regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
The Best Turkey Hunting Tips!


Offline James

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Re: Drying Wood: Let's Call it Investing in the Future
« Reply #1 on: January 27, 2011, 02:03:59 AM »
I'm new to all of this, but I'm thinking barrels might be a good choice to gather too. As far as the stocks go- if they are properly seasoned to begin with, then storing them where there are not extreme swings in humidity is important.
"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined... The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun." P.Henry

Offline Kermit

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Re: Drying Wood: Let's Call it Investing in the Future
« Reply #2 on: January 27, 2011, 04:55:54 AM »
Off the floor, stickered, away from light, no wide swings of temp or humidity. Do not store standing on end leaned against the wall. Periodically (2-3 times a year) unstack and restack with stickers in slightly different locations. Make sure all the stickers are exactly above one another to avoid the weight of the stack bending the stuff below.

That's what I do with my furniture wood.

Be aware that wood markets change. Stuff goes in and out of fashion and supplies vary. If you are talking buying stock blanks in things like curly maple, mesquite, claro and English walnut, it's a different game.

At one point several years ago, boat builders were in a panic 'cause Middle East buyers (at least they got the blame) were stockpiling teak against future supply problems. Hawaiian koa is in short supply because it's not being harvested except as salvage. News circulating among woodworkers is that there's a wee insect that's got into walnut trees in this country. I've heard of coming restrictions on shipping anything but kiln dried walnut. It's working its way east, and some foresters and dendrologists are predicting that American walnut will go the way of chestnut and elm. Gone, kapput, finished, no more. You might want to buy up walnut stock wood.

??? :'( ??? Your grandkids may thank you.
"Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." Mae West

Rasch Chronicles

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Re: Drying Wood: Let's Call it Investing in the Future
« Reply #3 on: January 27, 2011, 04:31:07 PM »
There is a blight of some sort attacking oaks in the West that is creeping its way East. I'll have to research that walnut buisness...

I was pretty sure that wood was to be stored stickered and stacked, but its good to be reminded.

I was basicly considering the primary gun woods like walnut, maple, and cherry, And I am considering full planks rather than stock cut outs. We will see where it leads.

Best regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
The Best Turkey Hunting Tips!