Sticker size and lenth?????

[bikedude73]

I went to help a guy with a mill and his stickers were short and I didn't know if there was a reason for that.  I would just cut stickers the length of the whole stack.  Any thoughts?

[zopi]

Size doesn't matter. 

I prefer shorter stickers as it hurts my bloody back to bend over a wide pile of boards...but if you are banding to kiln dry ya gotta stack to fit the kiln cart...

[brdmkr]

If stickers are too long, air flow through the stack will be reduced.  I like to limit my stacks to less that 48" wide.  Normally about 42" is what I use.

[twobears]

 i like 1 inch x 1 inch square by 48 inches long.

 delbert

[red oaks lumber]

i plane my stickers 3/4 thick rip them 1" wide cut 42" long, having the best stickers possible gives you the best air dried wood possible.

[woodmills1]

pine over 4 foot will mold right up here

[Den Socling]

I like red oaks' sticker size. If they are too thin or too long, you don't have enough air flow. If they are too thick, you waste a lot of space especially in a package kiln.

[fireman05]

I have all of mine cut 3/4" x 1 1/2" x 48" and this has workew well for me in 16+ years of sawing & KD all types of lumber.  I have always made mine from northern white cedar so the sticker staining has been minimal.

I place the stickers about 16" apart and an 8' long pile will have 6 stickers per row.

[Cedarman]

Two things very critical in stickering.  Same thickness stickers for each layer.  Stickers must be exactly on top of the one below.  Also bolsters or blocking must be under each row of stickers .

[bzsawyer]

I agree most with Red Oaks and Cedarman for sticker size. We use 3/4 x 1 1/8 x 46''. Ash and Maple have worked the best for me. The 1 1/8'' wide seems to be strong enough to resist compression yet narrow enough to eliminate sticker shadow. And the 46'' length makes the packs just right to fit 2 side by side on the kiln cart. How ever the lumber is put up is the shape it will have when dry so careful stickering and skids under each stick row is a must.

[fishpharmer]

bzsawyer, welcome to forestry forum.  Glad to have you here. 

What kind of mill do you run?

[Magicman]

Welcome to The Forestry Forum bzsawyer.  I read your list of Iron.  Sounds like you have a "full deal".  Your experience will be valuable here on FF.   Again, welcome.....

[inwoodcutter]

If stickers are too long, air flow through the stack will be reduced.  I like to limit my stacks to less that 48" wide.  Normally about 42" is what I use.

I do the same as far as width of stacks. It does get to be a pain to do much wider and much narrower and the stack becomes unstable. Also the narrower stack will force you to stack higher, again making it unstable but also helping by adding weight upon the central boards.

I have to disagree that a wide stack will produce that much air restriction. Several high end commercial hardwood mills I know use 8 foot stickers. they simply have the equipment to handle that size load. Most of them do air dry for a while before they charge the kiln.

Dan