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Aaron Wakeling
02-21-2016, 12:55 PM
Hey I was given some scraps of douglas fir from a local mill. I plan to one day build a dining table out of it. For now I am planning to store the wood in a crawlspace connected to my shop. I have never worked with or purchased slabs this large before. I am not sure how recent the wood was cut but I am led to beleive it was fairly recent and has been sitting outside. What I am wondering is there a certrain way the wood should be stacked and how long it needs to dry? Should I purchase a moisture meter to test the wood? Thanks.

The one stack is all 2x4, 2x6, 2x8, 2x8. And the second stack is 2" and 3" thick slabs.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/guitarguy89/Mobile%20Uploads/20160220_183453_zpsxcrkm69a.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/guitarguy89/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160220_183453_zpsxcrkm69a.jpg.html)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v384/guitarguy89/Mobile%20Uploads/20160220_183446_zpsymspmpyr.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/guitarguy89/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160220_183446_zpsymspmpyr.jpg.html)

Cody Colston
02-21-2016, 3:42 PM
Rather than stacking it in a crawl space, place it outside, in the open, and cover it with something like metal roofing sheets. That crawl space is likely too cool and damp.

You need a flat base for the stack. 4x4's laid across 8" cinder blocks works well but everything needs to be in the same plane. Any uneveness in your base will transmit to the wood while it's drying. Keep the width of the stack to 4 ft. or less and place stickers (narrow "sticks" a minimum 3/4" thick x 1" - 1 1/4" wide) across each layer no more than 24" apart. Keep the stickers aligned directly over the ones in the preceding layer as you build the stack. Place a last row of stickers on top, cover the stack and use whatever you have to hold down the cover. Sand bags would be ideal but anything heavy will be okay.

As for drying time, you didn't give your location but it will take a while for those thick planks. Plan on at least a year of outside drying, then bring them into a less-humid place like your shop and let them dry for another year or two before building with it. The 3" stock will take longer than the 2" stuff to dry. Wider also takes longer than narrower stuff.

The alternative would be to have it kiln-dried and then you could use it right away.

Phil Stone
02-22-2016, 12:18 PM
Cody has covered everything pretty well, and that wood doesn't look too green, so maybe this doesn't apply, but...you might want to seal the ends of those planks. If too much moisture escapes too rapidly through the ends during the initial drying, you'll get checking (small splits at the ends). Use Anchorseal, or make your own out of paraffin and mineral spirits. Even latex paint works.