Im looking to build a log bed. What will happen if I use green soft wood?

Question

Will it crack considerably?...whats the least amount of time you should dry wood before using it, if its kept in a heated garage?...is soft wood better to use green than hard wood..if so what softwood is best?.

Answer 1

The pine wood will be OK....but let it dry good. If it's in your garage...rotate ( roll it 1/4 of a turn ) it each day to keep it from drying to fast on one side. If it does that it will bow too much to be any good.

You can always bow one for the head board. Just set a large brick under it's middle and weight the ends. Don't rotate it like the others and the bend will stay in it. I would let them dry all summer, if not longer. Scrape all the bark off so you don't get any wood bugs or bores digging in under the bark.

Answer 2

dont use green.....let it dry out...stack it up with spacers between the lumber to allow air to move thru it.....if not dried it will crack and split and leak sap.....

lic. gen. contractor

Answer 3

If you are wanting an authentic looking log bed, then, by all means use peeled "green" wood, white pine is okay, even popular or maple would be suitable.   Plus maple and popular will not yield the sticky sap white pine will.   I have used popular and maple for log furniture after the logs were peeled and seasoned for just two weeks.   IF you are planning on using wooden pegs for fastening devices, they will need to be made from a stronger wood such as yellow pine (with white pine) or oak ( with popular or maple) that have been seasoned.  

By using green wood you will have an amount of shrinkage, that is a given and will need to be considered in your planning.  The shrinkage will produce some bows and possibly some deep cracks, ( shrinkage of lengths over two feet is very slight,,, shrinkage is mostly in the diameter )  that is the nature of the beast as it seasons.  If you are using seasoned wood pegs the green wood logs will tighten against the seasoned pegs creating a very tight, strong, durable connection.

If you are not planning on using seasoned pegs for the connections and opt for metal connectors, make sure the metal connectors are secured by the longest screws with the deepest threads possible.  Full mortise and tenon joints with secure pegs is not only authentic but the best way to deal with log joints.

Allow a year of seasoning before applying any finishes.

Now, on the other hand, if you want something that is stylized and just looks somewhat old,,, then follow the advice of everyone saying you need to completely season the wood before use.