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Seasoning
- seasoning is the process of drying timber which contains a great deal
of water when growing. It is dried mainly, to minimise shrinkage and to make it
more resistant to fungal attack, but it also makes it lighter and easier to handle,
better for painting etc. Seasoning is quite an exact science undertaken in two basic
ways, "air seasoning" in which the timber is referred to as being "in stick" and, "kiln
drying."
While most conservationists prefer timber to be seasoned naturally, one advantage of kiln drying is that it does
kill off any boring insects that may be lurking within the material. (Rather confusingly, sticking is nothing to do with seasoning, it is a joinery term for cutting a moulding).