Sawing stickers

[heavyhorseman]

what is the best wood to saw drying stickers out of, does it make a difference if it is hard/softwood to be dried?

[woodmills1]

I like to use hemlock, it is white and doesn't usually transfer or stain, and it is long fibered so it doesn't break.  When it is fresh it cuts pretty easy, but watch out for splinters they are fuzzy and tend to not wanna come out and then they seem to get infected.

[Norm]

I try to remember to cut a few of the low quality boards into stickers out of each log I cut.  I let these sit in a loose pile in the shed. In a couple of months I'll use them. Sometimes I'll use boards that have dried but had too many defects. One thing tho, it seems I never have enough of em.

Since we don't have any softwoods around here I can only comment on hardwoods for stickers.

[solidwoods]

I cut most of my stickers from SYP.  If there is a 3/4” x 4’  board above the opening cut (any/all sides) I use it (usually butt logs).  I then rip them 1.5” and stand that dimension up/dn..  You can rip to whatever sticker thickness you like.  This method allow me to use 3/4” thick lumber for stickers, 4’ long, and makes it obvious to the stacker how to orient the stick.
Aaaand if you happen to have any miscut/thin lumber it can be incorporated into this also.
JIM

[Brian_Bailey]

I make my stickers mainly out of hardwoods because that is what I saw the most of.
When I'm edging, I'll set aside anything that could be sticker stock. Doesn't matter what species.
After they're air dried, I'll dress them down to 7/8" x 1.25" x usually 50".  
Then I'll dado a groove 13/16" wide x 5/16" deep down both wide faces.
By dadoing the sticker you'll eliminate most (not all) sticker shadow in light colored woods.

[Kevin_H.]

I saw mine out of 3/4 cdx, I have the lumber yard cut it into 2 4' sheets, I stand them up on the WM and set the setworks to 3/4" and cut away.

Now with the price of plywood on the rise that may change.

[Oregon_Sawyer]

I cut my stickers out of WRC most of the time.  Sometimes Doug fir if that is what I am cutting.

When I edge my 2 in lumber I take 3/4 in strips off the end as I go.  It takes a few more cuts to get to my size but I get the stickers and with multiple boards I get better recovery.  Sometimes with cedar I also get clear strips 8ft long.  They are worth as much as a 2x4.