Perry Holbrook
06-26-2009, 9:34 PM
This may be a crazy idea. Yesterday I lucked into a 150 year old Walnut tree that had been cut down for firewood and managed purchase it at a per truck load price. The trunk piece is almost 4 ft dia and 8 ft long before a 3 piece crotch that is 5 ft across. Huge tree, and solid. A couple of professional turners are going to take the largest pieces and I'll take a couple of loads of the stuff less than 24". (Sorry no pictures, not intended to be a gloat).
Anyway, in addition to turning blanks, I think I'll take some cross cut slabs in the 24" to 18" dia to make into table tops, stool tops, etc. So I need to decide how to dry them with the least chance for cracks and checks. I'll probably cut them 2" to 3" and maybe 4" thick and since they are 100% end grain, drying without defects will be a challenge. If I coat them with Anchorseal, it will take forever to dry and of course I have project ideas that can't wait.
So it occured to me that maybe alcohol soaking would be a possibility. Or, maybe boiling in water.
Or, maybe you've got the perfect solution.
What do you think?
Perry
PS One other thing to consider, the wood is so wet that water was actually running out of the end grain after the chainsaw cut, if that makes any difference.
Anyway, in addition to turning blanks, I think I'll take some cross cut slabs in the 24" to 18" dia to make into table tops, stool tops, etc. So I need to decide how to dry them with the least chance for cracks and checks. I'll probably cut them 2" to 3" and maybe 4" thick and since they are 100% end grain, drying without defects will be a challenge. If I coat them with Anchorseal, it will take forever to dry and of course I have project ideas that can't wait.
So it occured to me that maybe alcohol soaking would be a possibility. Or, maybe boiling in water.
Or, maybe you've got the perfect solution.
What do you think?
Perry
PS One other thing to consider, the wood is so wet that water was actually running out of the end grain after the chainsaw cut, if that makes any difference.