Wood Conversion and Seasoning

Question	Answer
Through and Through/Slash	More often used for softwoods, slab sawn timber is simple to make and is relatively cheap with little waste. Unfortunately the planks may be prone to warping and cupping because of the arrangement of annual rings.
Quarter/Radial Sawn	Higher quality and more expensive than slab sawing because of increased wastage. Cut to make the annual rings as short as possible and thus decrease the risk of twisting or cupping.
Natural Drying	Allowed to dry in air. Ends are painted to prevent them drying out faster than rest of timber. Very cheap method, but no way of establishing water content so inconsistency in final product. Can take up to 5 years to season - one year per 25mm.
Kiln Drying	Steam kills any bugs or insects in the timber and ensures the moisture content is consistent throughout wood. Far quicker than natural seasoning, and the moisture content can be controlled. However much more expensive.

Resource summary

	Created by Alec Stevens over 11 years ago