COREDRY is Elk Creek’s trademark name for timbers that have been dried in a controlled process to a moisture content of 16% to 19% throughout. Because wood naturally changes with its environment, Elk Creek offers COREDRY timbers in an effort to provide stability to a product cut from this dynamic substance. By starting with dense fiber not less than 6 rings per inch and controlling the drying process, the normal twisting, checking and splitting that occurs in wood is greatly reduced.
COREDRY begins as full sawn rough cut green timbers that will shrink approximately 3% in the drying process. After exiting the kiln, COREDRY will initially have a moisture content that varies from surface to core. The material is then brought in to Elk Creek’s distribution center to further season. This allows the slightly differing moisture gradient to equalize, achieving very consistent moisture content readings from surface to core. Timbers destined for a custom order are moisture tested with a Delmhorst RDM3 electronic moisture meter (up to a depth of 6” – the center of a 12”x12”) one final time before leaving our yard with the quality assurance of a COREDRY stamp.
In contrast to KD timbers that are dried to the industry standard moisture content of 19% measured at approximately 1” penetration, COREDRY timbers are dried to achieve average moisture content of 19% or less – measured to the core.
We are often asked what the difference is between COREDRY and radio frequency (“RF”) dried timbers. Simply, the name COREDRY refers to a product, whereas RF dried refers to a method. COREDRY can be produced in conventional kilns or RF kilns, but the fiber must be dense and the measured moisture content 19% or less throughout in order to be stamped COREDRY.
COREDRY originates at Forestry Stewardship Council approved mills and can be specially ordered as FSC certified.