kiln operator associations

[Den Socling]

As some of you know, there are many regional groups of people who have kiln operation in common. These groups are loose-knit but meet a couple times a year for a day or two of meetings and presentations. They also visit each other's company sites to share know-how in group tours. Another thing that some do is make scholarship money available to those who are eligible.

What I want to do in this thread is list all the groups we can find so that you can join one, if you wish. Many have websites.

Being in Pennsylvania, our local group is the Keystone Kiln Drying Association. They don't yet have a website. Current acting president (I believe) is Troy Feldbauer at Babcock Lumber Company near Pittsburgh, PA. I don't feel right about posting his company email address but I will give it to you if you ask via PM.

[Den Socling]

In New England it's:

New England Kiln Drying Association
William Smith is Executive Secretary
Bill can be reached at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
Their website is www.esf.edu/nekda

[Den Socling]

Allegheny Dry Kiln Club
Brian Bond
VA Tech
Blacksburg, VA
www.woodscience.vt.edu/about/extension/adkc.asp

[SwampDonkey]

Some of our western members might have an interest in The Centre for Advanced Wood Processing where you can take a top notched, comprehensive 150-hour modular course in kiln drying. There is other wood processing training there as well.

[Den Socling]

I'll be speaking next week at the meeting of:

Southeastern Dry Kiln Club
Joe Denig
NC State
Raleigh, NC
www.ces.ncsu.edu/nreos/wood/dry_kiln

The meeting will be in Martinsville, VA

[Den Socling]

Ohio Valley Dry Kiln Association
Carrol Fackler
Department of Forestry
University of Kentucky
Jacksonville, KY
www.ukwoodcenter.net/ovlda.htm

[Den Socling]

Great Lakes Kiln Club
Bob Seavy
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN
www.glkda.org

[The Woodcooker]

Morrisville College, Morrisville, NY  Wood Technology Program
has scholarship recipients and has a wonderful program.

[SwampDonkey]

I also think UNB has a wood science and technology centre as well. I had forgotten. It's a forest products testing lab. It's up at the Ranger School.

http://www.unbf.ca/forestry/centers/wstc.htm

Here is the kiln drying course: FOR 6883 Kiln drying wood-Wood hygroscopicity, moisture movement, shrinkage and swelling; dry kiln types and operation.

As well as some Wood Tech Courses in the undergraduate and graduate programs. I think they go hand in hand in understanding wood, personally.

[Den Socling]

I copied this from another forum. I need to point Troy to the Forestry Forum.

If anyone is looking for information on the Keystone Kiln Drying Association or looking for an application please feel free to email me at troy@babcocklumber.com and I will follow up with you ASAP.

Please use KKDA for the subject.