Lumber Kiln Services With iDry Vacuum Kiln
We specialize in kiln drying specialty hardwoods to inspire all of your woodworking creations in Abingdon, VA
Why Choose Us?
Our Mission: Keep the hardwood lumber business local to SW Virginia (rather than shipping our natural resources off to the big city!).
We transform locally-sourced hardwoods into beautiful, unique, kiln-dried SW Virginia lumber and live-edge slabs.
We can work with you to create the perfect, one-of-a-kind piece for any project.
We use the latest and greatest kiln-drying technology from iDry. (See idrywood.com for details)
Our Services
Our primary services are:
Kiln drying hardwoods
Selling kiln-dried hardwood lumber and live-edge slabs.
We occasionally offer custom milling services.
We occasionally offer custom woodworking services.
Woodworking Projects
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to dry lumber?
We generally offer a discount on your first load.
The typical cost of drying lumber is based on the amount (board feet) of lumber and the number of days in the kiln (We start at $0.05/board foot/day). The number of days in the kiln depends upon the starting moisture content of the wood, the thickness of the wood, the density of the wood, and the desired final moisture content.
Lumber that is air dried ahead of time will cost less. Thinner lumber will cost less. Less dense wood will cost less. And vice versa. For example, 4/4 air dried poplar, walnut, maple, or cherry can dry in 7 days whereas 10/4 oak may take 28 days or more.
We are willing to make our best estimate ahead of time so that customers have a predetermined fixed cost.
What capacity limits do you have in the kiln?
The kiln can hold up to 2000 board feet of lumber, but this depends on the thickness of the wood, the shape and uniformity of the pieces.
The capacity of the trolley platform is 48 inches wide and 12.5 feet long.
Spacers (“stickers”) are placed between each layer of lumber, so the thickness of the stickers and the number of layers will affect the capacity of the kiln.
Will you stack and sticker the lumber for me?
We have a skid steer for loading lumber that is already “stacked and stickered”. Loading “stacked and stickered” lumber is free; however, if you have non-stickered wood of various sizes, we may charge for loading time. The loading time can be reduced if you offer to help.
What quality of lumber can I expect after drying?
The advantage of a vacuum kiln is that the drying of the lumber occurs at a lower temperature because the vacuum lowers the evaporation point of water in the lumber. The lower temperature creates less warping of the wood. We also strap down the stacks (and fill in all gaps in air flow) to minimize distortion of the wood as it dries. However, any wood expert will tell you that wood will do what it wants to do to some degree. There may be “checking” (splits on the ends, especially if the center of the log, or pith, is present in the slab). There may be twisting or cupping depending on the internal structure of the wood (how the tree grew). There may be internal tensions in the lumber or damage that was incurred during felling of the tree that lead to splits in the center of a slab as well. We do our best to minimize any distortion, but we cannot guarantee any particular results for any particular piece of wood.
Can I try out one slab to see how it goes?
Yes. If you are unsure about how your lumber will dry, we can place one or more pieces into a kiln load, dry it, and let you see the result before committing to a larger volume of lumber.
Do you have kiln-dried lumber to sell?
Yes. We have a showroom with a selection of kiln-dried lumber for you to choose from.