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Seasoning and Preservation of Timber

The document discusses seasoning of timber, which is the process of drying timber to reduce its moisture content. This makes the timber less prone to warping, splitting, decay and more suitable for construction uses. There are natural (air drying) and artificial (kiln drying, boiling) seasoning methods. The document also covers common timber preservatives like tar, paints, creosote and their uses to protect timber from fungi and insects.

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418 views

Seasoning and Preservation of Timber

The document discusses seasoning of timber, which is the process of drying timber to reduce its moisture content. This makes the timber less prone to warping, splitting, decay and more suitable for construction uses. There are natural (air drying) and artificial (kiln drying, boiling) seasoning methods. The document also covers common timber preservatives like tar, paints, creosote and their uses to protect timber from fungi and insects.

Uploaded by

valeidshafik
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SEASONING OF TIMBER

timber may be defined as a wood which retains its natural physical structure and chemical composition
and is suitable for various engineering works. Timber cut from freshly felled trees is too wet for normal
use and is dimensionally unsuitable. Seasoning is the process of reducing the moisture content (drying)
of timber in order to prevent the timber from possible fermentation and making it suitable for use.

Some of the objects of seasoning wood are as follows:

1. Reduce the shrinkage and warping after placement in structure.


2. Increase strength, durability and workability.
3. Reduce its tendency to split and decay.
4. Make it suitable for painting.
5. Reduce its weight.

METHODS OF SEASONING:
Timber can be seasoned naturally or artificially.

1. NATURAL OR AIR SEASONING:


The log of wood is sawn into planks of convenient sizes and stacked under a covered shed in cross-wise
direction in alternate layers (Fig. 4.2) so as to permit free circulation of air. The duration for drying
depends upon the type of wood and the size of planks. The rate of drying is however very slow. Air
seasoning reduces the moisture content of the wood to 12–15 per cent. It is used very extensively in
drying ties and the large size structural timbers.

Figure 1: Air seasoning

2. ARTIFICIAL SEASONING: The prevalent methods of artificial seasoning are as follows;

a. WATER SEASONING: The logs of wood are kept completely immersed in running stream of water,
with their larger ends pointing upstream. Consequently, the sap, sugar, and gum are leached out
and are replaced by water. The logs are then kept out in air to dry.
b. BOILING: Boiling in water or exposing the wood to the action of steam spray is a very quick but
expensive process of seasoning.
c. KILN SEASONING: This method is adopted for rapid seasoning of timber on large scale to any
moisture content. The scantlings are arranged for free circulation of heated air with some
moisture or superheated steam. The circulating air takes up moisture required from wood and
seasons it.
d. ELECTRIC SEASONING: The logs are placed in such a way that their two ends touch the electrodes.
Current is passed through the setup, being a bad conductor, wood resists the flow of current,
generating heat in the process, which results in its drying.
e. CHEMICAL SEASONING: In this method, the timber is immersed in a solution of suitable salt. Then
the timber is dried in a kiln. The preliminary treatment by chemical seasoning ensures uniform
seasoning of outer and inner parts of timber.

PRESERVATION OF TIMBER:
Preservation of timber means protecting timber from fungi and insects attack so that its life is increased.
Timber is to be seasoned well before application of preservatives. The following are the widely used
preservatives:

1. Tar
2. Paints
3. Chemical salt
4. Creosote
5. ASCO

1. TAR: Hot coal tar is applied to timber with brush. The coating of tar protects the timber from the
attack of fungi and insects. It is a cheapest way of protecting timber. Main disadvantage of this method
of preservation is that appearance is not good after tar is applied it is not possible to apply other
attractive paints. Hence tarring is made only for the unimportant structures.

2. PAINTS: Two to three coats of oil paints are applied on clean surface of wood. The paint protects the
timber from moisture. The paint is to be applied from time to time. Paint improves the appearance of
the timber. Solignum paint is a special paint which protects the timber from the attack of termites.

3. CHEMICAL SALT: These are the preservatives made by dissolving salts in water. The salts used are
copper sulphate, masonry chloride, zinc chloride and sodium fluoride. After treating the timber with
these chemical salt paints and varnishes can be applied to get good appearance.

4. CREOSOTE: Creosote oil is obtained by distillation of coal tar. The seasoned timber is kept in an air
tight chamber and air is exhausted. Then creosote oil is pumped into the chamber at a pressure of 0.8 to
1.0 N/mm2 at a temperature of 50°C. After 1 to 2 hours, timber is taken out of the chamber.

5. ASCO: It consist of 1 part by weight of hydrated arsenic pentoxide (As 2O5, 2 H2O), 3 parts by weight of
copper sulphates (CuSO4⋅5 H2O) and 4 parts by weight of potassium dichromate (K 2Cr2O7) or sodium
dichromate (Na2Cr2O7⋅2 H2O). This preservative is available in powder form. By mixing six parts of this
powder with 100 parts of water, the solution is prepared. The solution is then sprayed over the surface
of timber. This treatment prevents attack from termites. The surface may be painted to get desired
appearance.
Uses of Timber:

Timber is used for the following works:

1. For heavy construction works like columns, trusses, piles.


2. For light construction works like doors, windows, flooring and roofing.
3. For other permanent works like for railway sleepers, fencing poles, electric poles and gates.
4. For temporary works in construction like scaffolding, centering, shoring and strutting, packing of
materials.
5. For decorative works like showcases and furnitures.
6. For body works of buses, lorries, trains and boats.
7. For industrial uses like pulps (used in making papers), card boards.
8. For making sports goods and musical instruments.

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