Prevention of drying defects and drying degrade in hardwood lumber by predrying treatment.

摘要

Hardwood lumber drying in the South is subject to hot and humid weather that promotes enzymatic stain in sapwood. Danny Elder of Elder Hardwoods in Jasper, Texas, developed, through trial-and-error, a patented predrying treatment method referred to as the Elder Process. The purported benefits of the Elder Process include prevention of enzymatic stain and reduction of drying degrade in all wood species. At the request of local hardwood industry, the Texas Forest Service conducted a study to substantiate these claims by comparing the Elder Process with chemical dipping (using Busan 1009). Four treatment types/combinations were tested to determine their effectiveness at reducing drying degrade. The grade retention results were: Busan 67 percent, Elder Process 97 percent, Busan and Elder Process 96 percent, and the Control group (no treatment) 50 percent. The ability of the Elder Process to reduce drying defects over the chemical dipping treatment translated into potential financial gains. On average, it increased the dry lumber value by 3.0 percent or $32/MBF for First and Seconds (FAS) red oak, and by 7.4 percent or $58/MBF for No. 1 Common red oak. The potential financial gains from the reduced drying defects and degrade may help the southern hardwood industry compete more effectively with northern hardwood and Appalachian hardwood industries that have less enzymatic stain.