Combination Schedule Improves Drying of Western White Spruce Lumber

Two dimension-lumber charges of Picea glauca (Moench) Voss were dried under a combination schedule using initially high air velocity (900 fpm) and conventional temperatures, followed by low air velocity (400 fpm) and temperature of 232?F. The lumber originated from the interior of British Columbia, Canada. These charges were dried to an average moisture content of 10 percent in only 40 hours, compared with the 75-hour period required for similar material dried using conventional kiln temperatures and air circulation of 250 fpm. The quality of the lumber dried by the combination schedule compared favorably with that kiln-dried under conventional conditions, while a reduction in drying time of 47 percent was achieved.

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