Wood Trimmings

[Billy Tallant]

I've had to trim my trees this evening. Branches dropping to the ground. I've cut some silver leaf maple, red leaf maple, & oak branches. Some of the branches are idea sizes for pen blanks. I know the blanks will need to age/dry before ready for turning. Should I cut the blanks down to pen size blanks & seal them? Or just leave them long & seal them? I plan on just stacking them in my shop out of the way & let them dry with time.

Any comments/suggestions welcome...

[Norm Zax]

the thinner the slice, the faster the readiness. An inch per year is an approximation so if you know that a branch is intended for pens, Id recommend preparing a 1X1X6 blank andd coating its ends. Allow for some warping. Keep in shade.
If you still dont know what the wood will serve, cut into reasonable lengths and seal.

[Bernie Weishapl]

Billy I had some maple that I trimmed which were from about 3/4" to 1" in diameter. I left them 2' to 4' long and sealed the ends. I had forgotten about them and about a year later cut some up and made pens.

[Steve Schlumpf]

Haven't dried branch wood yet but have to think it would be best to leave whole and seal the ends. If cut close to size while green, I believe they would warp pretty bad during the drying process. Hope the wood dries for you with no problems!

[Aaron Wingert]

There's always the option of soaking them in DNA for a day or two and drying them with that method. Waiting a month or so sure beats the heck out of waiting a year!

[Jim Underwood]

Cut 'em twice as wide as you need and dry 'em in the microwave.

TaDA! Done.

Better do it when Mama's out of town tho.:D

[Robert Snowden]

I don't know about drying wood in the microwave but had to buy LOML a new one after drying some gator bones.

[Billy Tallant]

Thanks for all of the replies. Not sure at this time which way I will go. Temperature was sitting around 101 F this afternoon. Wasn't too interested in cutting anymore wood this afternoon. Really wasn't even interested in doing much of anything outside in this hot weather....:)