Thread: Hello from WA - Seeking advice on drying timber slabs outside

Old Jarrah decking will be fine for stickers.

A couple of other considerations.
Use stickers at about 450-500 mm spacing with one on each end.
Ratchet straps won't do much unless they are tightened on a very regular basis so they never come loose.
Covering (but not wrapping) the slab stacks is worthwhile. try to avoid direct sunlight if you can
The cover should be "end to end" so air can get between the stickers rather than side to side.

The old man dries all his timber outside. Phase 1 is behind the shed on the south side which is also under the shade of some trees for 1-2 years. Phase two is out in the full sun until it's needed. All stacks are made the same way. Gluts (5×3's) on the ground spaced approx 600mm (jarrah or wandoo in WA - anything termites won't eat). Use a straight edge to make sure they are all the same height on the top surface and won't introduce any twist to the boards once they are laid across the tops. Stack the boards separated by spacers and aligned with the gluts. Usually a row or two of heavy boards at the top to weigh everything down. Cover the top with iron sheets to keep the sun and rain off. Tie the iron sheets down well and put an old tyre rim or two or anything heavy on top for good measure to stop stop the iron sheets coming off in strong winds. Paint all the ends of the boards with latex paint. If there are several stacks next to each other they will provide some shade for the sides of the adjacent stacks.

It's a slow process but I cannot think of anything to add to the above advice. A good firm foundation with plenty of air circulation is essential, as is keeping the sun and rain off. Be patient.

Welcome Tom

Thanks for the feedback, it’s much appreciated!

Just one more thing, would you spray for white ants or other insects?

The only thing I would add is to double up on the end stickers. This helps to stop the ends of the slabs drying too quickly and helps prevent end split.

Originally Posted by rustynail

The only thing I would add is to double up on the end stickers. This helps to stop the ends of the slabs drying too quickly and helps prevent end split.

Agreed. Or cut some stickers double width for the ends.

Paint the ends so the paint is thick (several coats if it is just old paint and not a proprietary product) and do this as soon as practical after the slabs are cut.

Regards
Paul

Welcome to WA Tom.
I dry my timber slabs (tuart, jarrah, marri) in an open concrete floored shed also with, by chance, 19mm jarrah stickers and also 20mm tuart stickers. All stickers in each stack are of course the same thickness. Keeping your stacks off the ground by 300mm is a good idea. You can then check for snakes and other animals plus termites. If you want to use an anti termite chemical barrier then just mix it up (I buy mine from Bunnings - David Grays I think is the name) and poor it around and over the base sticker before starting the stack.

If the stack is in full sun then ensure you cover it with a waterproof "roof" such as tin that is well above (say 500mm) the top slab otherwise the top area will become an oven. Keep good air flow all around. Dense woods here like jarrah will dry out at a rate of about 25mm thickness per year.

Apply lots of paint (oil based I reckon) to the ends of the logs as soon as you cut them from the tree. Do not wait until they are slabbed.

I suggest to vary the thicknesses of your slabs unless you have already decided that you need 60mm for everything. Note a 60mm slab will take 2 or 3 years to dry sufficiently for furniture use.

Last tip ...... it is very dry here so expect pretty severe timber shrinkage compared to what you may be used to in the UK.