Wood kilns, electrode systems for wood kilns, and methods of using the systems for the radiofrequency (RF) drying and phytosanitizing of wood are provided. The electrode systems are based on a three-electrode design in which a central plate electrode having winged edges is disposed between a pair of ground plate electrodes. The winged edges of the central electrode improve the uniformity of heating during the phytosanitizing process, relative to a five-electrode parallel plate system, or a three-electrode parallel plate system having a conventional planar central plate electrode.

A wood heating system comprises an electric power source, a first electrode assembly, a second electrode assembly, and a control system. The first electrode assembly is connected to the electric power source and is adapted to make electrical contact with a first end of a wood length to apply electric power to the wood length. The first electrode assembly comprises at least two electrode segments. The second electrode assembly is adapted to make electrical contact with a second end of the wood length. The control system is adapted to selectively connect/disconnect electric power flow between the electric power source and at least one electrode segment of the first electrode assembly.

A wood heating system comprises an electric power source, a first electrode assembly, a second electrode assembly, and a control system. The first electrode assembly is connected to the electric power source and is adapted to make electrical contact with a first end of a wood length to apply electric power to the wood length. The first electrode assembly comprises at least two electrode segments. The second electrode assembly is adapted to make electrical contact with a second end of the wood length. The control system is adapted to selectively connect/disconnect electric power flow between the electric power source and at least one electrode segment of the first electrode assembly.

A method of forming an engineered veneer block includes stacking a plurality of laminate layers and resistive heating the stack of the plurality of laminate layers to cure an adhesive in the plurality of laminate layers.