How to dry wood and the benefits of drying

The wood widely used in India is not properly dried or treated, resulting in defects such as warping, cracking, splitting, decay, and insect infestation in the products

In Western countries, wood cannot be extracted from sawmills unless it has been dried and treated. This is mandatory

Wood Drying

Scientific research on the wood drying process is important because a large amount of commercially valuable wood is very difficult to dry.

. The climate conditions are also very strict for various wooden products such as carpentry, furniture, handicrafts, etc In recent years, there has been an urgent need for wood drying due to the short-term use of wood in plantations

The Wood Drying Department is responsible for research on wood drying behavior, research on shrinkage and wood water relationships, and evaluation of kiln drying schedules.

. Other key areas include investigating the suitability of wood used for industrial purposes in India, such as pencil making, wooden accessories used in cotton and jute manufacturing plants, and shoe lasts, as well as investigating the bending behavior of curved wood products made from different wood varieties

As a renewable material, wood plays a major role as a raw material, and its versatility makes it unique in many applications. In most uses of wood, the longevity of wood is very important

The green wood in the growing trees contains a large amount of water/moisture. Most of the moisture must be removed to achieve satisfactory performance using wood. The freshly baked wood contains about 100% moisture, based on the oven dry weight of the wood On the other hand, well dried wood contains only 10% to 12% moisture. An important purpose of drying is to dry the wood to an equilibrium moisture content before use, thereby eliminating rough dimensional changes that inevitably shrink in green wood due to the tendency to reach equilibrium with the surrounding atmosphere

How to dry?

The methods and technologies we use are the most energy-efficient in the wood processing industry, estimated to account for 50-70% of the total energy consumption of wood products.

. Wood is stacked in the room

Methods and Techniques for Wood Drying

Then, use a high-temperature dryer for heat exchange indoors.

. Store wood indoors for 6 to 12 days based on its fiber properties. These remove all possible unwanted moisture through fibers

A drying kiln is a device that is equipped with heating and dehumidifying dry air to the required temperature and relative humidity conditions, and circulates on the surface of wood stacked inside. Fans are used for faster air circulation

Benefits of Dried Products

By drying the wood, the "movement" in the finished components is kept to a minimum relative to the size at the time of production.

. Therefore, drying is the first step in achieving maximum dimensional stability of wood during use

By properly drying under controlled drying conditions before use, serious losses such as cracking, splitting, and warping that are prone to occur when using green wood under unavoidable exposure to uncontrolled climatic conditions around are avoided.

. This is very important in the utilization of wood in India, as climate conditions vary greatly at different times of the year

Drying materials can protect wood from initial decay, mold contamination, and the invasion of certain insects.

. Organisms that cause decay and stains generally cannot grow in wood with a moisture content below 20%. Experienced wood is more prone to decay than green wood used indoors

Dried wood is lighter, making transportation and handling easier and reducing costs

In most strength properties, dried wood is stronger than green wood

Finishing, coloring/painting, and gluing are better in dried and processed wood than in green wood.

The electrical and thermal insulation properties of wood are improved through drying

In addition to utilizing our wood resources reasonably, drying materials can also achieve long-term economic utilization by minimizing substitutes.

Most newly harvested wood contains 100% or more moisture. In order to maintain the shape and size of the product and produce high-quality products, the wood needs to be dried, and the moisture content should be balanced with the surrounding atmosphere (usually 6% to 8%)

Drying is completed in a scientific manner to ensure perfect drying under control. With light weight, variable pitch, Dynamic equilibrium and reversibility, the fan generates the same air flow on both sides of the wood pile to ensure uniform drying of wood

Drying of wood occurs by applying temperature and humidity cycles.

. Check and monitor the drying process by using a qualified operator handled Hygrometer

India is a tropical country with over 80 types of wood The use of mango and rubber wood is increasing as they are used for planting. The moisture content in the wood also plays a crucial role in the quality and smoothness of the product. The ideal moisture content for standard wood is 6-8%.