The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: Briankinley2004 on May 30, 2017, 11:02:36 PM

Title: Metal stickers
Post by: Briankinley2004 on May 30, 2017, 11:02:36 PM
Has anyone used metal stickers for drying wood? I have bundles of metal stud stiffeners left over from jobs. They are roughly 1-1/2" wide by 1/2" thick c shapes. They are a heavy gauge and probably wouldn't crush. I think maybe 16 gauge. Any negatives to using them and how they would react in kiln. They are dipped galvanized. They are in my way and need to be used for something. Make excellent straight edges but I can only use so many
Title: Re: Metal stickers
Post by: longtime lurker on May 30, 2017, 11:18:16 PM
Ferrous metals - iron, steel etc will stain wood due to chemical reaction.
Copper based- copper brass bronze cupronickel are ok but too expensive to waste  like that.
Aluminum okay so far as i know.
Title: Re: Metal stickers
Post by: GeneWengert-WoodDoc on May 31, 2017, 12:23:20 AM
1/2" is too thin, especially for fast drying species and products.

Are the bearing surfaces flat?  Are the bearing surfaces 1-1/2" wide?  What cross-section shape?
Title: Re: Metal stickers
Post by: Briankinley2004 on June 03, 2017, 11:19:05 PM
I will measure when I get to shop next eeek. I think bearing surface is 1.5". They are "c" shape meaning hollow. They will handle the applied load well. Not worried about them crushing. Also have a mile or so of 1" angle iron. Thought about laying it on a "v" to use for stickers. Most of it is primed and not raw wood
Title: Re: Metal stickers
Post by: GeneWengert-WoodDoc on June 04, 2017, 06:41:49 AM
Iron will react with tannic acid in the wood to form a blue-black colored chemical called iron tannate.  For this reason, metal stickers are aluminum or stainless.
Title: Re: Metal stickers
Post by: Ljohnsaw on June 04, 2017, 11:36:50 AM
Quote from: Briankinley2004 on June 03, 2017, 11:19:05 PM
I will measure when I get to shop next week. I think bearing surface is 1.5". They are "c" shape meaning hollow. They will handle the applied load well. Not worried about them crushing. Also have a mile or so of 1" angle iron. Thought about laying it on a "v" to use for stickers.
Is that a 90° corners on the C or rounded?  In either case, I'd be concerned that the two thin channel edges on the bottom of the stack might start to put indents into your wood.  And if a rounded C, then the top might want to dent the wood as well.  I'm thinking softwoods, so maybe not an issue with oaks and such.
QuoteMost of it is primed and not raw wood
So this is not fresh cut, green wood?  Something that is getting painted and you are stacking it to dry or just to store?  If it is already dry, you can just flat stack.