How We Sticker and Stack Rough Cut Lumber

Today we want to talk about stickering rough cut lumber.  So, what are stickers?  In sawmilling they are narrow strips of wood used between lumber when stacking.  So why do we use them?  Stickers are used to help air flow between the fresh cut lumber.  For our mill, we typically use 1”x1” stickers. 

We make our own stickers by cutting a 1” thick board into 1”x1” thin wood strips.  One thing you need to be aware of when making stickers is to never utilize wood that is rotten.  Also, you don’t want to use a wood for stickering that could stain your rough-cut lumber. 

To start, begin with a log.  Cut a slice off four sides of the log so you have a beam.  Once you have a beam, cut the beam into the thickness of your stickers.  In our case, this is typically 1”.  Then, place the one-inch board (or multiple boards clamped together), perpendicular to the sawmill and make more 1” cuts.  This will give you strips that measure 1”x1”. 

Begin your lumber stack by stacking boards side by side on level surface.  Make sure your lumber stack is not on the ground and level it as best as possible.  You will want to stack your lumber where there is good air flow, too.  Air movement is very important in the drying process.   You will also want to make sure your lumber does not get too much direct sunlight.  We generally make our stacks about three or four-foot-wide and up to four feet high. 

Our stacks are typically moved rather quickly so we don’t sticker as much as if we were leaving the stacks to fully dry.  If you intend to store the lumber until completely dry, make sure your stickers start and end within two inches of the boards and make sure you space the stickers every 18” to 24” or less depending on your species of wood.  The stickers should align from the bottom of the pile to the top.

Please check out our Youtube sister channel, “Pioneer Mountain Homestead”.  Also subscribe to this Youtube channel (“Bren Chucks Wood”).   Thanks for visiting and make it a great day!