The Forestry Forum

General Forestry => Drying and Processing => Topic started by: xlogger on July 19, 2017, 02:13:56 PM

Title: Poplar lumber
Post by: xlogger on July 19, 2017, 02:13:56 PM
 Would it be best to cut poplar logs during cooler weather to have whiter boards and less mold while drying? Maybe that's the best for all logs?
Title: Re: Poplar lumber
Post by: Don P on July 19, 2017, 09:41:57 PM
Yup! The wood has a chance to dry to below mold level while mold isn't active, same for insects.
Title: Re: Poplar lumber
Post by: WDH on July 20, 2017, 07:50:53 AM
I have done fine with it in the summer if you sticker it immediately and run some fans on the stack for the first 4 weeks or so.  You need lots of airflow, so box fans are not adequate.



 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/14370/IMG_1132.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1440241888)

I quit using the large belt driven drum fans.  Much more expensive and more prone to issues when run continuously.  The smaller direct drive fans have performed better for me and you can get at least 3 or more for the price of one large drum fan.  I run these now and they work nice.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-orbit-drum-fan-24-in-dia?cm_vc=-10005
Title: Re: Poplar lumber
Post by: xlogger on July 20, 2017, 12:18:59 PM
I've got 3 20" fans running on slabs now. Not sure how much air goes threw first stack to second stack. I should of ask if cutting trees in cooler weather is better that cutting down trees in summer (with sap up) or does it make any difference?
Title: Re: Poplar lumber
Post by: Don P on July 20, 2017, 07:02:53 PM
You're not blowing dry air on the second stack so it is more apt to have trouble.

The sap is always up. Sap going down is an old wives tale. A tree cannot re-establish a broken water column and a cell dies if it has an embolism.
Here's an old thread;
https://forestryforum.com/board/index.php?topic=63607.0