Air Drying The simplest way to air-dry lumber is to randomly pile it on the ground. This practice is not recommended, however, since it can lead to problems with rot, discoloration, warp, and slow drying. A much better method is to neatly pile the lumber on a good foundation using stickers between layers of boards. The foundation's purpose is to keep the wood off the ground and provide better air circulation. Any foundation will do as long as it is level and keeps the wood 12 to 24 inches off the ground.
Railroad ties make good foundation timbers because they are strong and are treated to resist decay.
An example of a good foundation is shown in Figure 1 . Once you have a foundation, you are ready to pile lumber. The pile consists of alternating layers of stickers and boards. Narrower boards from the lumber being stacked may also be used as stickers. Stickers are kept narrow for better drying and to reduce staining where boards meet.