Show Shrinkage of Lumber Halted By Salt Soaking A new process of soaking lumber in salt solutions to prevent shrinkage in dry weather that may eliminate the oven drying method was disclosed by Dr Alfred J. J Stamm chemist of the U. U S. S Forest Pr Products ducts laboratory of Madison Wis before a meeting of at the thc Am American rican Chemical society meet meeting ing in Chicago Lumber used In buildings must withstand changes in dampness from 30 to 80 SO per cent humidity without appreciable change in shape Wood treated with a definite amount I of I lithium chloride salt will not shrink until the relative humidity is less than 11 per cent according to tests conducted conducted con con- ducted by Dr Stamm This dryness Is b rarely attained under natural condi condi- lions Although lithium chloride is b the most effective agent in preventing shrinkage it leaves the wood wet and sticky so that that- it is useful only in special cases Other salts show a smaller effect but leave the lumber much drier and more adaptable to commercial use Oven drying of gr green n wood is equivalent equivalent equi equi- valent to reducing the dampness from per cent to 0 per cent hu hu- hu This l is unnecessary because lumber is never subjected later to such dryness The new process depends depends depends de de- de- de on the sal salts binding the water in iri the wood and Iso also an initial swelling swellIng swelling swell swell- ing effect |