82DeanZ Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 I picked up some alder and swamp ash this weekend and it didn't occur to me to ask if the stuff was air dried or kiln dried. How much is this going to matter for the bodies I'm planning on making with the stuff? Does it make more of a difference if I was using the wood to make necks? I believe the stuff you get at hardwood stores is mostly kiln dried. Is that correct? Thanks for your advice! Best Regards, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 well unless you got the wood for big bucks, it is mostly klin dried. all air dried wood takes a good 20-30 years to dry. it shouldnt matter since the most aknowledged difference between the 2 types is that air dried is a tad stronger, but this only shpould matter if your building a wooden car garage, and not a guitar (unless the tension exerted by the strings is extreme in which case the neck is more liekly to bend instead of the body). besides air dried wood has a greater possibility of having cracks while it was drying out for that 25 years, since humidty levels and temperature levels change rapidly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
82DeanZ Posted May 24, 2004 Author Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 Ahh...understood. Thanks! Best Regards, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 well unless you got the wood for big bucks, it is mostly klin dried. all air dried wood takes a good 20-30 years to dry. Actually, its one year, per inch of board thickness.... but, we wont let facts get in the way of a good story will we! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 it shouldnt matter since the most aknowledged difference between the 2 types is that air dried is a tad stronger, but this only shpould matter if your building a wooden car garage, and not a guitar Actually, you will find a lot of building materials are green timber, not dried at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 besides air dried wood has a greater possibility of having cracks while it was drying out for that 25 years, since humidty levels and temperature levels change rapidly Wow, wrong again!! Cracks appear when the wood is dried out too quickly, not too slowly. Which is why you often buy pieces with latex/rubber/wax dipped ends, especially from specialist suppliers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted May 24, 2004 Report Share Posted May 24, 2004 well dance on my parade and i got all this info from hiscocks book so um blame him but at least he got the jist of things that its probably klin dried and it wont make a difference here the wood is stored for 20-30 years in the open air and air dried wood is a little stronger then klin dried, but it is almost impossible to find both on page 54 and ive seen wood crack from being left out in the open for a long time, humidity and temperture can lead to this, especially if the changes are rapid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devon Headen Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 exactly, "if the changes are rapid". Like a kiln. Air dried wood for a garage could get expensive. I remember reading Hiscock where he said that about 20-30 years. Doesn't make much sense to me. You won't have any problem with kiln dried wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
truerussian558 Posted May 25, 2004 Report Share Posted May 25, 2004 same i didnt think it was 20-30 years but i reread to be sure and thats what is says doesnt make too much says, but i trusted him oh and i ment like climate weather changes that are natural occurences every years. say one winter was unusually cold and the spring unusually warm, then you have a porblem and more chances of it happening the longer you keep the wood out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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