After three months in the kiln, these massive spruce slabs are ready for action! This slow drying process allows moisture to escape gradually from the deepest cells of the wood in order to prevent warping and cracking. The humidity of the wood has been reduced to 10 percent, which is premium for woodworking. The slabs will soon be transformed into a 21 foot conference table for the Sealaska Corporation of Seattle.
Cody begins unpacking wood from the kiln, which has been drying for 3 months at a temperature of 200 degrees.
Looking out from inside Smith & Vallee’s wood drying kiln in Edison, WA.
Andrew Vallee carefully cuts one of the spruce slabs that will be made into the Sealaska Corp. Conference Table.
Sealaska Corporation is a Native owned company that represents Haida, Tlingit, and Tsimshian heritage. Sealaska is the largest private landowner in Southeast Alaska.
To learn more about Sealaska visit www.sealaska.com
Follow Sealaska: facebook.com/sealaskacorporation
Nice work! By simply maintaining the temp at 200 degrees for 3 months, was there no separation of the knots from the surrounding wood?