Drying firewood is an important part of the production process. Therefore, you should carefully choose the method by which you dry your own firewood. By choosing the right drying method, you can improve quality control and facilitate transportation.
Drying firewood affects the speed of the production process
When cleaning firewood, it is important to dry the firewood as quickly as possible, as this speeds up the entire production process. We already discussed this in our previous article how to produce cleaner firewood.
Firewood should have a moisture content of 15–20 %. At this moisture content, they burn and produce thermal energy as efficiently as possible. Many firewood producers rely on traditional firewood drying methods, that is, natural drying.
In Finland, it is best to make firewood during the spring. To make the drying process more efficient, the firewood can be split directly into a storage shed with breathable walls or stacked under a shelter.
Air drying in firewood bags or crates makes it easier to move firewood and transport it to the customer. Firewood bags are a popular solution especially on the market, and almost all bags are made of highly breathable material. This allows the firewood to dry quickly and easily in them.
Kiln drying is an efficient method for firewood professionals
In Finland, from March to May, firewood dries well using traditional methods through the effects of wind and sun. During other months, the relative humidity is often high, which makes drying more difficult. If you want to make firewood that is dry year-round, artificial drying is needed to support the process.
Mechanical drying is a popular drying method, especially among professionals. In artificial drying, the drying process is accelerated by using a firewood dryer with cold or warm air.
In a cold-air dryer, air is drawn through the pile and blown directly outside. As the airflow passes through the pile of firewood, it carries moisture away from the wood. A cold-air dryer can also be built in an old, uninsulated shed. In cold-air drying, firewood is generally handled in bulk. The cycle time is on average two weeks, but just like in outdoor drying, the operating season of a cold-air dryer is limited to spring and early summer.
In a hot-air dryer, warm air is circulated by means of fans, and heat exchangers remove the moisture brought by the wood from the air. In hot-air drying, it is advisable to insulate the building to prevent heat loss. In a hot-air dryer, firewood is often processed in crates, and the cycle time can be only a few days depending on the temperature.
Mechanical drying achieves lower inventory levels. In addition, the firewood producer can more flexibly make firewood to order to a specific length regardless of the season. This also provides a competitive advantage over firewood sellers who only have a certain length in stock dry, or whose stocks are even sold out, and who can only offer customers fresh wood.
When considering the method for drying firewood, it is therefore advisable to take into account the volume of firewood you produce as well as customer needs. Investing in mechanical drying can be a sensible choice if you produce firewood professionally, need a shorter turnaround time for the firewood, or if your customer base has specific requirements regarding the quality and dimensions of the firewood.
Additional tip!
An easy way to check the dryness of firewood is to use a moisture meter. Moisture meters are sold affordably at hardware stores and department stores.
Remember that you can also use creativity when drying firewood! For example, you can utilize an old greenhouse for drying.
You can find more tips on wood drying at the Finnish Forest Centre from the firewood dryer guide.
Are you interested in a firewood processor? In Hakki Pilke's selection, you will find a suitable firewood processor for industrial production, professionals, semi-professionals, and those making firewood for personal use.