Hazy appearance
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Q: I have some red oak lumber that has a hazy appearance. The color just doesn't look sharp and lustrous like normal. The color is perhaps a little browner than normal too. Is this in the wood?

A: In a nutshell, this appearance is typical of lumber that is dried too slowly, especially in a predryer.

I suspect that your predryer has uneven air flow, requiring a higher-than-normal relative humidity to be used. This high RH causes slower drying and the poor color.

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About the author
Gene Wengert

Gene Wengert, “The Wood Doctor” has been training people in efficient use of wood for 45 years. He is extension specialist emeritus at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.