Air Drying Lumber        For exterior or construction uses, better results can be obtained by air drying lumber. This process is easy and free.               Green lumber should he piled on stickers as soon as possible after sawing. This improves air circulation between the boards, speeds drying and prevents discoloration. Applying an end coating to the boards will reduce splitting and saves as much as 10% of the lumber value.             Properly piled lumber dries quickly in warm, dry weather. Softwoods like pine and hemlock will air dry to suitable moisture content in as little as 6 weeks during the spring and summer months. Hardwoods like maple will dry in 8 - 10 weeks. Little or no air drying takes place in late fall or winter.          The illustration below shows a properly stacked pile of green lumber.  The "stickers" ( 1 inch thick by 1.5 inches wide) and top weights should be aligned vertically and placed about 2 feet apart.          Cover the top of the pile with a tin sheet with overhang on all sides. Leave a space between the cover and the lumber pile.

Source: A Consumers' Guide to Buying and using Locally Produced Lumber, New York Department of Environmental Conservation and Black River - St.Lawrence Resource Conservation and Development Council.    

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