Kiln Drying Services

Kiln Drying Services, Pricing, and FAQs Sheet

Our iDRY vacuum kiln works by placing wood in a vacuum chamber, where the reduced pressure lowers the boiling point of water, allowing moisture to evaporate quickly and evenly at low temperatures. This process speeds up drying and effectively kills insects, larvae, and mold, ensuring that the wood is thoroughly sanitized and ready for use. Properly drying lumber in our iDRY kiln results in stable, high-quality lumber that is ideal for furniture and fine woodworking. 

Kiln Drying Pricing & Board Foot Calculation

Kiln drying is priced per board foot (bd ft) and per day in the kiln. Typical kiln loads take around 21 days, though full loads (1800-2000bdft) can be longer or shorter dry times depending on customers' needs.

Understanding Board Feet (bd ft)

  • Board Foot Calculation: To find the bd ft, multiply the width (inches) by thickness (inches), and by length (inches) of the lumber, then divide by 144.
  • Live Edge Lumber: For live edge pieces, use an averaged width:
  • Formula: End with + middle width + opposite end width divided by 3 = average width. This method gives you an accurate bd ft measurement for both standard and live edge lumber.

Cookies are measured in length and width perpendicular to each other across the piece, and thickness is the thickest part of the cookie.

Pricing:

  • Under 50 Bd Ft: .16 Cents per Bd Ft per Day
  • 51 – 399 Bd Ft: .14 Cents per Bd Ft per Day
  • 400 – 999 Bd Ft: .12 Cents per Bd Ft per Day
  • 1000 – 1499 Bd Ft: .10 Cents per Bd Ft per Day
  • 1500 – 2000bdft: .09 Cents per Bd Ft per Day

General Questions

  • Can I put my lumber or slabs in the kiln as soon as they’re milled?

    You can… but I would typically advise against this practice. Patience and proper air drying beforehand are the absolute best practices to ensure minimum defects in material, such as cracks and warping. So, not only will you be taking chances with the quality of your material, but it will also cost more because it will need longer times spent in the kiln.

    I recommend putting in the kiln from a fresh cut for cookies, crosscuts, rounds, or whatever else you want to call them. I have had better luck putting them directly into the kiln than trying to air-dry them outside. These pieces almost always crack (a lot), no matter how you dry them. I also recommend cutting these around 4-5” thick because it will help minimize cracking and help with the strength of the piece because short grain is easy to break.

  • What is the process if I want to get my material dried?

    Give us a call, email, or even text message, and tell us what you have that needs to be dried. Photos, dimensions, and the amount of slabs or lumber are very helpful information for us to give you pricing and other information. We will then give you a date on when we will have availability in future kiln loads and put you on the schedule if you would like.

  • How long will my wood take to dry in the kiln?

    This is a loaded question; typically, our thicker hardwoods at 2.5” thick take about 3 weeks after 9-12 months of air drying. We typically like to air dry no less than 1 year to ensure every bit of our slabs is fully dried to about 7-8% moisture content when we take them out of the kiln. Many hardwoods at 1” thick can be put into the kiln after only air drying for about 4 months and be fully dried after 3 weeks in the kiln. Softwoods can dry even faster! If you have any other questions about this, feel free to ask!

  • Does kiln drying kill insects and larvae?

    Yes, our iDRY vacuum kiln reaches temperatures that eliminate insects, larvae, and mold, ensuring clean, pest-free wood.

  • How do you ensure quality control?

    Unfortunately, we can not guarantee there will be no defects in the wood we are drying.

  • What factors make wood unpredictable during drying?

    Some common factors include:

    • Internal Tensions: Naturally occurring stresses within the wood can cause it to shift, crack, or warp as moisture is removed.
    • Species-Specific Traits: Certain species are more prone to issues like checking (surface cracking) or bowing, especially thicker pieces or denser hardwoods.
    • Grain Orientation and Density: Wood with varied grain or density may dry unevenly, leading to minor or unexpected changes.
    • Moisture Distribution: Wood may have uneven moisture from air drying or exposure to elements, causing it to react differently in the kiln.
  • What if my wood does warp or crack?

    While we strive to minimize these issues, some level of movement or checking can happen due to the nature of the wood. We provide our best expertise and carefully monitor the process, but we can’t eliminate all risks.

  • What moisture content will my wood reach after drying?

    We typically dry wood to 6-8% moisture content, ideal for furniture and indoor projects. If you need a different moisture level, let us know.

Share by: