United States Department of Agriculture

Air Drying of Lumber United States Department of Agriculture

This report describes how lumber can be air-dried most effectively under outdoor conditions and illustrates the principles and procedures of air-drying lumber that were developed through field investigations and observations of industrial practices. Particular emphasis is placed on the yarding of lumber in unit packages. Included are topics such as why lumber is dried, advantages and limitations of the drying process, properties of wood in relation to drying, layout of the drying yard, piling methods, causes and remedies of air-drying defects, and protection of air-dried lumber.