Scored first load of free wood

[Chris Daigh]

Its maple and some has a little spalting in it. The tree was dying so the wood isn't really wet as far as I can tell. I was going to latex the ends for now. I just need my new chuck to get delivered. I sure hope I don't screw them up and have them crack. How do you store your freshly cut wood.

[Robert McGowen]

The tree was dying so the wood isn't really wet as far as I can tell. I was going to latex the ends for now.

Hi Chris, Good score! Sounds like you have some good wood on your hands. You will hear all different ways to store the wood, but it mostly varies with what to coat the ends with. So coat the ends with your choice of material and store out of the sun up off of the ground. Spalting is really a nice name for decay, so you need to check the wood to make sure that it doesn't spalt to far for you to use. As far as being wet, unless it was laying on the ground for numerous years, it is probably still "wet" by tree standards.
Good luck with it!

[Frank Kobilsek]

Chris

Keep indoors or in covered shade. Get tehm up off the ground, an old pallet works great. Latex (a couple coats) is OK but a green log end sealer is much better. Leave logs as large as possible if you will store for an extended period.

If time permits improve your odds of larger uncracked pieces by slabbing out the pith of the logs. In other words cut a slab from the center end to end of the log to remove the center smallest rings. If the log was say 20" in diameter cut a 2 to 4 inch thick slab end to end from the log. Smaller logs just sawing down the pith is sufficent.

Be warned you have started a habit that will eventually cover your garage, your shed, garden, back lot, etc. with wood. At some point expect a sit down with your wife concerned for your mental health, or annomous letters from nieghbors demanding you clean up the place, or maybe even a visit from the county building inspector. They just won't understand why the whine of a distant chainsaw or the threat of a violent thunderstorm will make you smile.

Frank

[Chris Daigh]

Frank I definately can see your point. I got this wood off of Craigslist. They were just cutting down a tree. I didn't even have to cut anything. I find myself looking for free wood everywhere. Not sure where it will all be stored someday, because you never have enough free wood. I actually would have taken more but it wouldn't fit in the wifes mini van. I am just starting out and have a spindle adaptor and chuck and some other things coming so I am a serious newbie.

[TYLER WOOD]

You couldn't make more than one trip? AMATEURE!!:p

Oh wait this didn't happen, NO PICS!! LOL

Great score if it really happened. I would be jealous, free maple. That stuff is nearly as valuable as water here in WT. I got some small logs about 4" dia. but the cracked like crazy. I think the wind had already splintered the wood, and the drying just made it evident. Good luck and get that wood coated on the ends!

[Bernie Weishapl]

Chris if you have some old latex paint around just give the ends 2 coats. I have some been laying there now over a year and no cracks. Make sure you paint them all the way to the edge.

[Chris Daigh]

Thanks everyone. Got them latexed last night. All pieces have different levels of spalting started. I cut into the dryest one and its still pretty hard in the center. When I do start turning them what do you use to keep the wood hard. Do you put a coat of hardener on or I think I have seen BLO, let it dry and finish turning?

[Chris Tiedt]

What does coating the ends of the cut logs do? Does it slow down the drying so the wood won't crack as much? What is the purpsoe behind that. I too am new to turning and haev seen several places talk about sealing the ends, but no one ever seems to mention why or what it does. Thanks!

I am asking because I just got about x3, 6" diameter, 4' long logs of Walnut and don't want to screw it up!
Chris

[Jeff Bower]

Chris, yes sealing the ends does prevent cracking. My dad has told me he read that saran with rubber bands does as well as some of the sealers. Has anyone here ever tried that? PS I hope to have a wood gloat this weekend.....pics will follow.

[TYLER WOOD]

Easiest way to stop walnut from cracking is to send it to me. I'll do all the work for you. I'll turn it for you too.

Coating the ends of the sut logs cuts down on the cracking by limiting the drying on the sides. The more even you can get the wood to dry the less chance of cracking there is. The ends of an unsealed log dry faster than the bark covered mid portion, this causes shrinkage on the ends of the logs and none in the center, which causes cracking. Another thing to consider is to cut the logs in half sawing out the pith. Then sealing the cut portions of the log. This gives you smaller sections of log, so it dries quicker. It also creates a more controlable situation for the shrinkage the wood will pull in on the center of the log rather than out towards the ends. The more evenly the drying the better.

Hope this helps you to understand the drying of wood a little better. I don't explain thinngs well, so someone may post how to state it easier than I can.

[Chris Tiedt]

That does make perfect sense. I will have try something and see what works best. Thanks for the info and sorry to take over the topic....
Chris

[Dennis Peacock]

Hey Chris,

You can also seal your wood by melting some parafin wax on it. I know that Keith Burns has done this with very good success and some wood that I've purchased via retail was also sealed up with wax. It's fairly inexpensive and seals the wood well.

Just an idear. ;)