I've been buying air dried lumber from a local seller who has been in the business for over ten years. He offers a fantastic selection, including large walnut boards for projects like bookshelves. All the wood is air dried for several years before he sells it, but I've seen some posts suggesting that air dried lumber can be risky due to potential bugs. Should I be worried? I also just acquired some white oak from an old woodworker who's selling off his air dried boards at a bargain, and while I'm thrilled, I can't shake the worry that there may be insect issues, even if I know it's probably unwarranted.
3 Answers
Just a heads up about wide panels—if they still have moisture, they could crack when you bring them into a drier environment. Keep an eye on that!
Sounds like you've got some great wood there! Air dried lumber, especially when it's been properly dried like yours, is usually quite stable for furniture. Bugs often hang out under the bark, so if your seller has stripped that away, you should be in good shape. Any damage you notice likely happened while the tree was still alive rather than during drying. Just be cautious with wood that's been sitting around for over ten years—it can start to rot and attract bugs. And if you have live edge bark on that oak, it might be a good idea to remove it just to be safe!
I feel you! I once bought some green lumber back in the day and air dried it for years. I did get some bugs in my oak, but they left my walnut, cedar, and maple untouched. They seemed to prefer the sapwood. I built furniture before I noticed them, and honestly, just a couple of pinholes are the only signs now. The price on that wood was so good, I didn’t mind the chance I was taking!
Absolutely! If it's been drying for more than four years, any infestations would probably show signs. Better to be safe and give it a good inspection.