Q. I use a lot ofrough-sawn 1x6 T&G pine siding. This often comes from the mill slightly green. What is the best way to dry and stabilize white woods so that no irregular coloring occurs from the stickers?

A. Allowing the material toair-dry will certainly help stabilize the white wood. On a tour of an Oregon mill last summer, I discovered that they were using mahogany stickers in their drying kiln. Mahogany is strong, and doesn’t seem to stain the wood. If mahogany is hard to get, try fence pickets made of recycled polyethylene. These should do the job without staining, too, and are readily available at most lumberyards and home centers. While the wood is drying, keep it sheltered from the sun to prevent discoloration from uneven exposure to the sunlight.