if i buy lumber that isn't kiln dried, what is the best way to dry it? is it even necessary to dry it, and if so how dry does it have to be? by the way this will be riser wood.
Long story short: wood dries at the rate of about 1" per year.
Assuming the wood is sopping wet, a 1" thick piece of wood will be dried to the Relative Humidity of your climate in about a year... assuming you keep it dry conditions (keep it inside).
What kind wood wood is it? How long ago was it cut and what conditions has it been kept in? It might have already air-dried naturally.
I use the 1" per year rule for woods in stave or log form with the bark still on. But in board form, it is much quicker. You can dry 1" thick boards in a couple months or much sooner if you force dry them.
I'd get it down boards that are 1/4" thicker and a couple inches longer than my maximum intended use, coat the ends with wax or shellac, sticker the boards (stacked with small boards in between layers to allow airflow), then store them place them in a steady relative humidity.
As shamus said, if it is sold as lumber, it might be air dried already.
It needs to be dry for risers. The glue will let lose if it cant penetrate the wood. Ive had one let go years ago. Dont dry it to fast eather. If you have forced air furnace,It can get to dry, to fast in your house in the winter. If you have to bring it in, wrap in plastic wrap. It will let it dry slowly. Mark