Ash Timber (Kiln Drying for hurleys)

rodney11

I am looking for advice on kiln drying ash for hurley making.

I am considering building my own kiln. From talking to different people about it I have become quite confused. Some people have recommended drying the planks with a dehumidifier with a little heat to help draw out the moisture. Others have recommended using heaters with fans and more tell me the heat will warp and split the planks.

I understand fans are crucial to establish an airflow to consistently and evenly dry the planks. I am unsure now if I should use heaters or dehumidifiers or if I should in fact use both. I also know that if the timber is dried too quickly it is not suitable for hurley making.

If anyone who knows anything about this and could grant me some advice it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

brian_t

There is an Irish Guild of Ash Hurley Makers.

http://www.igahm.ie/

pakalasa

I worked in a hurley making business a few years back. They stacked the planks in an open shed, away from direct sunlight, and allowed them to dry to X% moisture before putting them into the closed insulated shed with the de-humifier. They then dried them further to Y% moisture before cutting the planks. They had no fans in the insulated room, no need for them.
I can't remember what the X and Y % values were though.:D
You're right though, slow drying is the answer to stop them warping and cracking.

1chippy

You can buy kits in England to build your own kiln, but can get expensive. I seen one a lad built in cork, about 8' sq for dryiing for hurls. it was the kit form and worked well. i think he only part dried then turned then final dry.
The fan is a good option. the dehumidifier does work on its own to but it is a bit complicated getting it to work properly (i.e the system you have to go through to get it to work).
The best way is to dry wood naturally and kiln dry for to pull the last 5-6% moisture content out , however i hear of hurley makers complaining about problems this way.

To cut a long story short there are a lot of variations and combinations on the way you get the moisture right. it will take a lot of research. for me i have a bale of oak just drying naturally in shed another bale of spalted beech done the same way . if it gets long enough it will be ok

rodney11

Thanks for yer help!!

If I was to purchase a dehumidifier does anyone know what size extraction I would need if I was to dry about 300 planks in a room with fans? For example say 10 or 20ltr/day?