Andy London
12-05-2004, 7:13 AM
Many will recall a couple of weeks ago there was a discussion concerning the drying of green wood using alcohol.
This time of the year we are going night and day with orders so I haven't had a lot of time to record specific detail(s) but I wanted to share this with you as I must admit I am a bit shocked.
Denatured is not readily available at a reasonable cost so I bought Methyl Hydrate, I figured for $11.00 (2 gallons) I had nothing to use. My son received a birch log from a client two weeks ago (white) who wanted bowls for Christmas as the log was from their front yard and was brought down by hurricane Juan. I also had orders for Birdseye bowls buy all my bigger birdseye is in log form and very green.
We cut bowl blanks and rough turned to 3/4", the bowls are 8 to 10" being the max for the Jet Mini. I soaked them for 24 hours each in Methyl Hydrate let them air dry overnight then followed Daves instructions to place paper on the back and tape around the rim. They are in a room that is not heated, avg daytime temp would be around 30 F, night time it dips to 24 or so. Moisture level was 30 to 34%. I left one bowl of each with no soaking to compare.
It is now 10 to 12 days later and I decided to check the moisture this morning using my wagner pinless meter. I was shocked, all are in the 10 to 14% range, the bowls that we did not soak are still at 30%.
I am no scientist but all I can say is whatever this process does to the wood, it works. Not one bowl has warped even the slightest nor are there any cracks.
Come January when there is more time, I will compile a list of woods, measure them each day and produce a chart.
All I can say is thanks Dave, this will make someone's Christmas and it has sure made mine!!
Andy
This time of the year we are going night and day with orders so I haven't had a lot of time to record specific detail(s) but I wanted to share this with you as I must admit I am a bit shocked.
Denatured is not readily available at a reasonable cost so I bought Methyl Hydrate, I figured for $11.00 (2 gallons) I had nothing to use. My son received a birch log from a client two weeks ago (white) who wanted bowls for Christmas as the log was from their front yard and was brought down by hurricane Juan. I also had orders for Birdseye bowls buy all my bigger birdseye is in log form and very green.
We cut bowl blanks and rough turned to 3/4", the bowls are 8 to 10" being the max for the Jet Mini. I soaked them for 24 hours each in Methyl Hydrate let them air dry overnight then followed Daves instructions to place paper on the back and tape around the rim. They are in a room that is not heated, avg daytime temp would be around 30 F, night time it dips to 24 or so. Moisture level was 30 to 34%. I left one bowl of each with no soaking to compare.
It is now 10 to 12 days later and I decided to check the moisture this morning using my wagner pinless meter. I was shocked, all are in the 10 to 14% range, the bowls that we did not soak are still at 30%.
I am no scientist but all I can say is whatever this process does to the wood, it works. Not one bowl has warped even the slightest nor are there any cracks.
Come January when there is more time, I will compile a list of woods, measure them each day and produce a chart.
All I can say is thanks Dave, this will make someone's Christmas and it has sure made mine!!
Andy