Replies

1. 
   mrbird90 | Jan 26, 2003 08:12pm | #1

   "KD" around here means kiln dried  usually 8% or less moisture content for most furniture grade hardwoods except for some woods such as cypress and cedar which are only KD to 12% moisture content. I believe your construction lumber is all 12% or more. least ways in this area.

2. 
   PlaneWood | Jan 26, 2003 08:17pm | #2

   Dried in a Kiln.  Usually down to 6-8% moisture content.  Lumber is stacked and stickered and placed in a controlled environment to reduce the moisture content.  Usually carefully controlled to reduce damaging the lumber.  Dry to fast and the wood can be damaged.  Dry to slow and the kiln operator will lose money.

   Why dry to 6-8% you ask???

   Well, I maintain that it's just to help you find the bad lumber.  :)

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
   PlaneWood

3. 
   SawdustSteve | Jan 27, 2003 05:41am | #3

   To save you asking the next question, two other abreviations you will commonly see are s4s and s2s... Surfaced four sides (like a 2x4)  and surfaced two sides.  That will give you the two major faces, top and bottom surfaced and the two edges left rough.

   Sometimes you will see furniture listed a KD.  In that case it means 'Knocked Down'  and you have to assemble it yourself with the installed hardware.  If you have an IKEA store near you, most of their furniture id 'KD".

   SawdustSteve

4. 
   DennisS | Jan 27, 2003 08:48am | #4

   When you go to the lumber yard (around here in Seattle where the lumber (framing lumber that is) is stored outside, and ask for KD stock, you can assume that it's Kinda Dry! (grin). That's what contractors seem to think, anyway.

   ...........

   Dennis in Bellevue WA

   [email protected]