The Effect of Drying Schedule on Treatability and Check Formation of Southern Pine Landscape Timbers

In a study designed to determine the effect of drying schedule on treatability and defect formation, drying schedule had no effect on the treatability of southern pine landscape timbers. Drying procedures evaluated were a conventional schedule that required 72 hours at a maximum temperature of 180?F, a high-temperature schedule that required 22 hours at constant temperatures of 245?F dry-bulb and 165?F wet-bulb, and drying for 20 hours in superheated steam at 245?F at atmospheric pressure. There was no discernible differences in the checking patterns among timbers dried using different schedules. Check parameters were weakly correlated with specific gravity. The magnitude of checking was reduced after 3 months of storage. These data indicate that rapid methods of seasoning can be used with southern pine veneer cores without concern for seasoning defects or impaired treatability due to seasoning.

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