Safely turning a small log into lumber

[Don Kondra]

Greetings,

A friend asked me for advice on how to dry a short section of lignum for use as knife handles. Of course my answer basically volunteered me for the job ;)

The rough log was just over 7" long, I started by squaring off the ends.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Log.jpg

Then I cut some 1/4" ply and wedges to hot glue the log to a sled.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Applyglueblocks.jpg

Ready to saw.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Readytocut.jpg

The first cut was just to square up a side and evaluate the yield.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Firstcut.jpg

Log cut into 3/8" boards.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Cutscompleted.jpg

I treated the ends with glue.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Treatends.jpg

And stickered the pile before loosely wrapping the flitch in a plastic bag.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Stickerandwrap.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Inthebag.jpg

I prefer to dry my blanks slowly, after three days I checked to be sure mold had not started to grow and found no beaded moisture inside the bag.

After a month or so I'll remove the flitch from the bag. As I said the bag is not totally sealed and handling the material will punch small holes in the bag. I use this procedure to dry 4" x 4" x 3" blanks of maple burl with virtually no cracking.

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg202/donkondra/Threedays.jpg

Cheers, Don

[Chuck Walker]

Thank you for a very useful set of pictures and procedure. I frequently work with small logs from pruning work and other locally grown species.

Chuck

[Don Kondra]

You are welcome Chuck, I'm glad someone found it useful.

Cheers, Don