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This E-mail came from Stuart,
I have some logs of oak and cherry that was cut for firewood.
I am trying to use the logs on my lathe to make spindles etc.
After turning a couple of the oak logs and putting stain on them
they have started to crack overnight. How can I prevent the spindles
from cracking. The logs I am using are about 4 inches in diameter
and was cut about two weeks ago.
Dear Stuart,
I am afraid that I do not have good news for you. Turning green
wood is always fun but the down side is that if you do not control
the drying process it will crack and if they do not crack they
will turn every which way. One thought that I have would to try
to slow the drying down by placeing the spindles in the chips
that you make truning the spindles and keeping them moist and
allow the wood to dry slower. I place green bowls that I have
turned in brown paper bags and that seems to help. There are different
material out that you can soak them in, like PEG, but that would
not be the way I would go. I am going to guess that you turning
around the pith, this is the most unstable part of the wood. splitting
the wood into four parts may help. Good luck and let me know what
happens.
Keep on turning,
Terry
>I am making a doughbowl of green poplar. Do you know of
a way to keep
> >it fom splitting ? Steve Allen
> >
>
> Splitting will not be problem if you dry it correctly. (I
know, thank you for
> pointing out the elephant in the room).
>
> Here is a number of ways that I have used.
>
> 1. Rough out bowl to about 1.5 inches Let dry for about two
months or so
> (you like the "or so") depending on the type of
wood. Then remount and turn
> to final shape. If you chose this way call me at the shop
and we can talk
> more about it.
>
> 2. If the bowl is small enough you can always dry it in the
microwave (not
> suggested in the house micro it has been know to get messy,
my wife still
> does not want to talk about it)
>
> 3. Another way is to turn the bowl to the final shape green
all at one time
> and then place it in a paper bag. Depending on the size and
thickness it may
> take a couple of months too.
>
> 4. Most of the time I take a chance and put a finish on the
bowl on the lath
> and hope for a slow drying through the oil. I feel the finish
shape is just
> part of nature.
>
> There a number of products out there Like PEG that will stabilize
your wood
> if soaked in them, but I do not know that I would use the
bowl for food prep
> afterwards.
>
> Thank you for your question.
>
> Please feel free to call me at Woodwright, Best time is AM
before I get
> started on the bench or I'm out.
>
> Terry Bruns
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