Steve Southwood
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Which is better? Some like kiln dried and some like air dried. Do you prefer one over the other?
Bill,Kiln dried is the more stable, Once it has been dried the wood may take in and expell some surface moisture as the weather or conditions change. Air dried is not totally dry and will constantly expell moisture content as it ages. (reason very old pieces fall apart ) the joints will loosen and open if the MC of the environment is not the same as the MC of the wood.
So, Good furniture is built from Kiln Dried wood. Air dried is OK for upholstered furniture but tight joints need a more stable wood. Kiln Dried is the more stable.
Bill,
I hate to disagree with you but all wood will giveup and take on moisture as the humidiity changes. Wood wants to be in equalibrium with the environment. I have seen kiln drying change the color of some wood like walnut for instance. From my expierance restoring antiques 100% of the joint failure has been the fault of the glue that was used back then. I have worked on pieces well over 100 years old.
Air dried always presents the possibility of infestations. Generally, the modern kilns reach high enough temps to kill bugs and larvae. .
Also note that unless you live somewhere very dry, air drying will not get you down below 10%. If you build furniture that is air dried to 10 or 11% and move it into a heated and air conditioned home you have a higher probabilty of the wood continuing to dry and shrink and crack...
I think I'll start using fiberglass