Air dried wood vs kinl dried wood

[Brian J Knudsen]

Is it necessary or better to use air-dried wood for all of the different parts of the canoe?

I've learned that it is best to use air-dried wood for the stems. Is it something to consider when getting planking material, ribs, and rails? I'm guessing yes on the rails, but no on the ribs and planking, but I don't know.

Thank you,
Brian

 

[Dan Lindberg]

Ideally you will find some air dry northern white cedar for the ribs and kiln dry western red is ok for the planking.
Most of the planking I've cut has been from WRC from Menard's, "high graded" from construction stock.
Here NWC is a lot harder to find, most comes from small local loggers/millers.

 

[Andy Hutyera]

Generally air dried wood works better for those components which are to be steam bent.

 

[Dan Miller]

As you have heard, air-dried is preferable. Green can be even better. However, it is possible to steam bend KD stock.

In order to bend stems, for example, you need to select stock with no grain runout, soak it several days in water in advance, make sure your steam box is really hot (200F or more). It is also essential to use a compression strap. Make extra blanks, as you will probably break some.