Virginia Tech hosts 23rd annual Oak Drying Workshop
Wood products extension specialist and Virginia Tech wood science and forest products assistant professor Brian Bond will be conducting the 23rd annual oak drying workshop this year.
This workshop will be held Dec. 7-9, 2005 in at the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center in Roanoke, Va. The Virginia Tech Department of Wood Sciences and Forest Products, the Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education Program, and the Virginia Forest Products Association sponsor this annual event.
Bond has a bachelor's degree in forest products from Clemson and a master’s degree and Ph.D. in wood science and forest products from Virginia Tech. He specializes in cruising timber and engineered wood products manufacturing. Moreover, he currently coordinates programs that focus on comparing efficiencies of various lumber stacking methods in drying operations and reducing the target size of lumber through decreasing sawing variation.
For the past seven years Bond has worked as an extension specialist in the areas of lumber drying and sawmill efficiency. In addition, he provides extension programming for the hardwood industry and continues to devote time to researching new developments that will improve resources and increase productivity for manufacturers in the wood industry.
Manufacturers who must dry lumber prior to further processing are constantly looking for ways to reduce degradation and improve quality. The oak drying workshop will offer fundamental information on techniques and procedures that are essential to achieving quality drying of oak and other hardwood lumber in steam and the dehumidification of dry kilns and pre-dryers. Air-dry yard layout and operation will also be covered.
This clinic requires no experience in lumber drying because it is designed for new and novice dry kiln and pre-dryer operators. Nonetheless, supervisors of drying facilities will also find this course beneficial.
For further details contact Brian Bond, Department of Wood Sciences and Forest Products, 1650 Ramble Rd. Blacksburg, Va. 24061, (540) 231-8752, fax 540-231-8868, bbond@vt.edu, http://www.conted.vt.edu/oakdrying.
The College of Natural Resources at Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top five programs of its kind in the nation. Faculty members stress both the technical and human elements of natural resources and instill in students a sense of stewardship and land-use ethics. Areas of studies include environmental resource management, fisheries and wildlife sciences, forestry, geospatial and environmental analysis, natural resource recreation, urban forestry, wood science and forest products, geography, and international development.
