RF Kiln Dried White Oak
6/14/23
I’m in the process of finalizing an outdoor project that requires some White Oak Timbers to be used as table slats. Planning on sawing out 3.5 x 7” by 8.5’ long and machining down to finished s dimensions after having been dried. Has anyone had experience or success with Radio Frequency kiln dried White Oak? Have timber suppliers in my area with the kilns but they have had mixed success with WO.
6/15/23 #2: RF Kiln Dried White Oak ...
Wy use kiln dried white oak outside? I'd put it up green. Barn builders did it for about a century.
6/15/23 #3: RF Kiln Dried White Oak ...
The slats are going between steel supports. Want very little to no wood movement or shrinkage to happen after install.
6/16/23 #4: RF Kiln Dried White Oak ...
White oak in contact with steel outside will very quickly turn the area around the contact points solid black. A chemical reaction between the steel, water, and tannic acid in the oak.
6/16/23 #5: RF Kiln Dried White Oak ...
Kiln drying will only last as long as the first rain. Kiln drying does not stop wood movement outdoors.
6/16/23 #6: RF Kiln Dried White Oak ...
Steel will be galvanized, so no problems there. Some wood movement is to be expected and that is normal considering it’s for exterior use. Shrinkage is more my concern with installing freshly sawn vs kiln dried. A local mill with a RF kiln advised to air dry the pieces 2 months per inch before kiln drying. That’s probably what I’ll do.
6/16/23 #7: RF Kiln Dried White Oak ...
Galvanized will work if you don't drill a hole in it. Drill a hole and it goes black in no time.