Influence of Kiln Venting on Brown Stain in Pinus Radiata Sapwood

This study assesses the influence of a closed drying environment on kiln brown stain in Pinus radiata sapwood. Three sets of matched timber samples (N = 50) were dried at low temperature (50°C), one without and two with kiln venting. Statistical analysis showed that the closed drying environment produced no significant change in the lightness (L*) of kiln brown stain. Relative to the samples dried in the vented process, there was a small but statistically significant increase in the green color (Δa* ≈ - 1.7) for both the stained area and the unstained early-wood of the samples dried in the non-vented kiln.