Incidentally, a solar kiln does not dry lumber very fast in the winter.
So, that's why I'm investigating doing the lumber thing. Get all the knowledge you can and I would strongly advise you not to use these trees as your first experiment in drying or milling. Incidentally, a solar kiln does not dry lumber very fast in the winter.
The drying thing has slowed me down, because most all the lumber I'm seeing sell on eBay is kiln dried, so I worry that air dried lumber won't move too well. So, you're suggesting I line up my customers before I start cutting? I thought I'd do that while it's drying. This should have been done 5 years ago when the market was up for lumber and veneer. We have been talking about hardwoods that would be used for interior projects furniture, cabinets, flooring, etc.
For construction purposes, the rain issue is not very important. If you can't recoup that small expense, then don't even cut the trees down. Don't forget about all the firewood potential there after the harvest is done. It will regain moisture if left in an unheated shed, barn, etc. The comments below were added after this Forum discussion was archived as a Knowledge Base article add your comment. They aren't too expensive and are pretty bullet proof. The solar kiln is hot and dry through the daylight hours and cooler and more moist through the night, allowing stresses to release.
Contributor G, I would think the bundles would need to be wrapped air tight. Within 3 to 4 weeks, it can already have gained enough moisture in a few pieces to cause trouble. Nobody's hauling away any logs, unless I go veneer, in which case their scale should match my scale. Grades can drop due to drying defects man-made or natural defects.