Our Beloved Altadena

Altadena is more than where we live—it’s our home. Tucked into the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, it's a peaceful, wooded community that draws people who value nature, quiet, and connection. For those of us lucky enough to call this place home, the towering oaks, winding streets, and deep sense of neighborliness are part of who we are.

The fires that swept through Altadena on January 7th and 8th changed everything.

While we were fortunate—our home was spared—many of our neighbors lost everything. In the days and weeks that followed, we did what many others did: we showed up. Not because we were heroes, but because we were here. Because being present, helping where we could, and doing the quiet, necessary work was our way of coping with the chaos around us.

And when the smoke cleared—literally and figuratively—it became clear that we had another way to serve: through our work.

At Urban Lumber Los Angeles, we’re committed to offering pro bono consulting and significantly discounted drying services to our fellow Altadenans. If you have a tree on your property and don’t know what to do, we can help. In many cases, we can connect you with qualified professionals to assess the tree's health—sometimes, it can be saved. But if it can't, we’ll work with you to see if part of it can be salvaged and used in your future rebuild, or donated to Angel City Lumber’s Altadena Tree Bank.

The Tree Bank is a simple but powerful idea: trees that must come down are milled, dried, and made available back to the Altadena community at far below market cost. It's a way to preserve the character of our neighborhood, keep local material local, and help rebuild with meaning and intention.

We grieve with our friends, family, and neighbors. But we also believe in what's ahead.

Whether tree-related or not—if there’s a way we can help, we will. Our prayers are with everyone affected. Our hope, and our confidence, is in a future where Altadena comes back stronger, more united, and more resilient than ever.

What’s a Vacuum Kiln?

If you’ve ever worked with freshly milled lumber, you know it’s not immediately ready for fine woodworking. Properly drying wood is essential—too wet, and it warps or cracks; too dry, and it can become brittle or unusable. But how that drying happens matters just as much as that it happens.

At Urban Lumber Los Angeles, we specialize in vacuum kiln drying, but it’s helpful to understand the different types of wood drying methods—and why we’ve chosen to invest so deeply in this technology.

The Four Main Methods of Drying Wood

1. Air Drying

This is the oldest and simplest method. Cut lumber is stacked in a covered, well-ventilated area—usually outside—and left to dry naturally over time.

• Drying time: Several months to over a year, depending on thickness, species, and climate.

• Cost: Low, minimal energy or equipment needed.

• Common uses: Hobbyist woodworkers, farms, or remote locations without power access.

2. Solar Kiln Drying

Solar kilns are an upgraded version of air drying. Wood is stacked inside a small structure that uses the sun’s heat, paired with passive airflow and vents, to accelerate the drying process.

• Drying time: Typically 2-4 months, faster than air drying but still dependent on sunlight and weather.

• Cost: Low to moderate, depending on design.

• Common uses: Small-scale or eco-conscious drying operations.

3. Dehumidification Kiln Drying

This method uses a sealed chamber with a heat source and a dehumidifier to remove moisture from the air. It’s one of the most common methods in commercial lumber operations.

• Drying time: Several weeks to 2-3 months, depending on species and thickness.

• Cost: Moderate to high energy use, but fairly automated.

• Common uses: Cabinet shops, hardwood suppliers, production-scale drying.

4. Vacuum Kiln Drying

Vacuum kilns are the most advanced of the four. By lowering the atmospheric pressure inside the chamber, water in the wood can boil and evaporate at much lower temperatures. This allows for faster, more controlled drying with significantly less stress on the wood.

• Drying time: Typically 3 to 6 weeks, even for thick slabs.

• Cost: Higher upfront investment, lower energy per board foot.

• Common uses: High-end slab producers, custom woodworkers, urban lumber yards.

Pros and Cons of Each Method

Air Drying

Pros - Free, no electricity needed

Cons - Very slow; weather dependent; inconsistent results; risk of bugs and mold

Solar Kiln

Pros - Low operating cost, environmentally friendly

Cons - Still weather dependent; limited control; slower drying

Dehumidification Kiln

Pros - Reliable, consistent, widely used

Cons - Longer drying time; energy intensive; can overdry outer layers

Vacuum Kiln

Pros - Fast, efficient, minimal degrade or warping

Cons - Higher equipment cost; requires trained operator

Why We Chose the iDry Plus Vacuum Kiln

At Urban Lumber Los Angeles, we’re focused on preserving local trees and helping people give them a second life—so quality and efficiency matter. After researching every method available, we chose the iDry Plus Vacuum Kiln for several key reasons:

• Speed without sacrifice – We can reliably dry 3-5” thick hardwood slabs in a matter of weeks, with minimal checking, warping, or case hardening.

• Capacity and scalability – Each iDry Plus unit can handle over 3,000 board feet. With two units running in rotation, we now dry up to 7,000 board feet per month.

• Energy efficiency – Vacuum drying uses far less energy per board foot than conventional kilns.

• Consistency – Our results are repeatable and dependable, even for challenging species like coastal live oak and sycamore.

After a full year of running our first iDry Plus, we were so impressed with the performance, reliability, and finished quality of the wood that we purchased a second unit. It’s not just about speed—it’s about drying wood the right way, reducing waste, and honoring the material.

Conclusion

Vacuum kiln drying isn’t just a high-tech gimmick—it’s the future of sustainable, precision wood drying. Whether you’re salvaging a tree from your yard or preparing material for a large-scale millwork project, our vacuum kilns offer unmatched speed, control, and results.

Got questions about drying your own lumber? Reach out to us—we’d be happy to walk you through the process.