THE ARTIFICIAL SEASONING OF TIMBER 



415 



Metal cleats do no harm, but wood cleats, far from preventing splitting, 

 often cause it, and should therefore not be used. The protection given 

 to the end of the plank by having a pihng stick above and below, is better 

 than any cleat, as the latter becomes useless or worse, as soon as shrinkage 



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TRUCK LOADS DRESSING ALTERNATELY TO RIGHT ^ LEPT 



takes place. The thickness of the piling sticks fixes the space between 

 the boards. The edges should not be together, but i inch or more left 

 between each board. 



With compartment dryers, the timber is sometimes piled directly on 

 the floor, in other cases it is stacked outside on kiln trucks, and the truck 

 loads pushed into the dryer, and \\dthdrawn after treatment. In either 

 case a full charge is desirable, and any avoidable gaps in the pile should 

 be blocked by curtains. 



If there is material for only half a charge, it is well to fill the whole 

 length, making a narrower width. 



As in the case of progressive dryers, the planks should be sorted to 

 length, and paired in order to avoid any overhanging. WTiere planks are 

 of irregular shape, as resulting from logs sawn through and through, 

 the butt ends must be kept to one side, and be in a vertical hne. The top 

 ends may be somewhat uneven, but being lighter, can be more easily 

 supported. 



With regard to moisture test samples in progressive dryers, one test 

 per load of about 250 boards is ample. When the dryer is running 

 constantly on one consignment, and regular results are being obtained, 

 the number of tests can be diminished to about one every three loads. 

 Compartment dryers generally hold very much more per charge, and 

 two or three samples should be drawn representing 1000 cubic feet or 

 more of material. If there is any variation in the thickness, a sample 

 from each is required. These samples are taken in the first place from 

 the green plank, and the moisture result is a guide as to the length of 

 process required. When it appears to be approaching completion, a 



