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Air Drying

PostPosted: 15 Sep 2018, 17:46
by Woodbloke
Despite my best Tichmarshian endeavours, this little corner of the garden was overhung with trees and nothing would ever grow, but I mentioned to SWIMBO that it would make a great spot for air drying timber, as there's nowhere else to do it:

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(411.09 KiB)


Having cleared the ground and taken the soil to the dump, I made a series of paving stone piles, tamping the earth down hard and checking each was roughly level:

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(353.76 KiB)


...and once that was done, a thick bit of plastic was used as a DPM, over which went some house bricks:

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(431.05 KiB)


Some old wooden bearers were then placed across the piles and it was relatively easy to shim them with oddments of ply to get them all level:

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(387.41 KiB)


The timber for seasoning was then stacked (London Plane and Oak) and if you're observant, you may be able to see the ridiculous sums :D I paid for it; those three lumps of London Plane were 65mm thick and £18 each:

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(328.64 KiB)


The whole lot was then covered with more bearers and a large, heavily weighted tarp placed over the top:

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(398.21 KiB)


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(346.98 KiB)


Not too bad for an afternoons work and the princely sum of £35 - Rob

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 15 Sep 2018, 18:46
by Malc2098
Nice one.

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 16 Sep 2018, 18:02
by Rod
Nice idea but I’d be worried about dampness/condensation and strong wings.
What about some secularly pegged guy ropes as well.
I’ve had my BBQ cover secured by bricks blown off in winter storms.

Rod

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 16 Sep 2018, 20:28
by Woodbloke
Rod wrote:Nice idea but I’d be worried about dampness/condensation and strong wings.
What about some secularly pegged guy ropes as well.
I’ve had my BBQ cover secured by bricks blown off in winter storms.

Rod

There's a damp proof membrane so no rising damp and it's a very secluded corner which gets very little wind owing to the fences and overhanging trees...I shall see what happens when we get a bit of wind. There's also plenty of through draught so it ought to be OK - Rob

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 16 Sep 2018, 20:57
by Mike G
I inadvertently spalted some sycamore with an arrangement like that. That close tarp is the issue. I suggest you raise it at least 3 or 4 feet, such that light and air can get into the stack directly.

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 16 Sep 2018, 21:05
by Woodbloke
Mike G wrote:I inadvertently spalted some sycamore with an arrangement like that. That close tarp is the issue. I suggest you raise it at least 3 or 4 feet, such that light and air can get into the stack directly.

The tarp has been folded back on itself so is much bigger than it looks, I might have a cunning plan - Rob

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 16 Sep 2018, 21:17
by RogerS
Curious to know why you used a spirit level. Surely eye-balling the level is good enough for this situation?

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 16 Sep 2018, 22:04
by Woodbloke
RogerS wrote:Curious to know why you used a spirit level. Surely eye-balling the level is good enough for this situation?

Probably correct, but just nice to get this sort of things accurate if poss - Rob

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 17 Sep 2018, 09:19
by Woodbloke
Taking on board Mike's suggestion, I've used some old greenhouse grow boxes;

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(306.07 KiB)


....to make a couple of frames to raise the level of the tarp over 400mm above the surface of the wood, so when it's covered;

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(285.25 KiB)


...there's plenty of space underneath and at the sides for a through draught of air.

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(200.36 KiB)


It's not perfect, but much better than the original set-up. Thanks for all suggestions, much appreciated - Rob

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 17 Sep 2018, 09:44
by Mike G
You've a better chance now Rob.

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 17 Sep 2018, 10:32
by Woodbloke
Mike G wrote:You've a better chance now Rob.


Thanks Mike, I think it should be OK now. I've put a piece of green garden mesh over the open end to diffuse any direct sunlight so it will still allow a goodly flow of air through the stack - Rob

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 21 Sep 2018, 14:17
by Woodbloke
We had a storm pass through last night and after checking this morning, everything's secure, so happy bunny - Rob

Re: Air Drying

PostPosted: 21 Sep 2018, 16:51
by Rod
That’s good but part of my wormery didn’t

Thankfully it was empty ready to make the next layer.

Rod