Operation
4
4-1
SD3000doc020322
Operation
SECTION 4 OPERATION
4.1
Timber Preparation
Preparing timber to be placed in the kiln is one of the most important phases of the kiln
drying process. If the following procedures are taken, the first step toward high quality,
kiln dried timber will have been taken.
Timber must be sawn or planed to a uniform thickness. A variation in thickness causes:
Timber to warp because thin boards between two thicker boards are not held flat;
Thin boards to overdry, while thicker boards may still have high moisture, unless the
kiln charge is equalized for a longer period of time;
Unnecessary and valuable kiln space to be used as opposed to more volume of
properly sized timber to be dried at the same cost and time;
Sticks to be broken or cracked rendering them unusable;
Packages which are stacked high to lean or fall over.
