Article: Processing a Bowl Blank

[Dennis Peacock]

You can view the page at http://www.sawmillcreek.org/content....g-a-Bowl-Blank

[Paul Brinkmeyer]

I have never turned a bowl, but have thought about it.

NOW I have many more questions than before.
I think this might be why some others I know always work from bowls that were roughed out.

Thanks for the great article.

[Dave Wagner]

Nice article. I did my first bowl today, had a piece of 2x8 and thought I would experiment. Turned out pretty good for my first try.

[Chuck Wintle]

Why is it necessary to soak the bowl in the alky bath?

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Chuck,

The alky bath is supposed to aid in a check-free, crack free drying of green wood.

[James K Peterson]

Is there some ingrediant list for the "alky bath" ? I thougth about using it, but never found a good list.

Thanks for the great tutorial.

[john davey]

So 3 weeks is all you need to let it dry? Somehow I though most people believe a much longer drying time is in order. I don't know but really am interested in this. Thanks, John

[Dennis Peacock]

James,
No special ingredients needed, just Denatured Alcohol.

John Davey,
21 to 28 days is the basic rule I've always used. I've even left bowl blanks in the alky bath for over 3 months before and then still dried them for 21 to 28 days (or longer) with great success. Allowing them to dry longer is fine as well, it's really up to the turner as to how long he wants his own bowl blanks to dry on the rack.

I have found that less than 21 days doesn't work as well for me as 21+ days on the drying rack. Of course, my shop is heated and before my A/C units broke, I had running A/C in my shop which also help the drying process.

Just use a time that is acceptable for you. But in my humble opinion, 30 to 45 days on the drying rack is plenty.

[Jack Camillo]

Thanks for the article - valuable nformation I need to know when I begin turning, which will hopefully be soon.

[Jim Colombo]

Do you have or know of a formula that tells you how long to leave a certain sized bowl in the alky bath? I imagine the soak time depends on the size of the bowl as well as the wood type.

[Dennis Peacock]

Jim,
I've treated every size bowl the exact same. I've soaked 6" bowls in with 15" bowls, took them all out at the same time, wrapped them, and put them on the drying rack. All came out exactly the same...unchecked and uncracked.

The alcohol encapsulates the water molecules in the wood and helps with getting the water out of the wood faster (as per Dave's research). I've been using this alky method since before it was published in public.

[Skip Spaulding]

Nice article Dennis, I've been using the same method since I found it here on" SMC" a few years ago. I do use the McNaughton system on larger blanks and like you, I have found the drying time for small to large blanks about the same.
Thanks again for a nice pictorial.
Skip

[Allen Linton]

My biggest issue with turning is with drying the wood. I have tried Anchor Seal with poor results. I have buried rough turns in sawdust, I have also tried the Alky bath and drying with out a paper wrap; no real success. I have just aquired some Cherry from a good friend and will try this method. Wish me luck, I would hate to lose this fantastic aquisition.

[Primvs Aebvtivs]

I have acquired, through a fire, some silver birch, suitable for bowl turning, it's been outside for a year "aging / drying", and some walnut, which was a standing dead tree at work. I'm going to see where I can get denatured alcohol from in the U.K. This alky bath works on rough turned bowls, so does it work on tree branches also? I've a few bits put aside, but am worried about them cracking as they dry out.Any help would br gratufully received!'Bvt

[Melissa Messick]

I too have been given some wood holly wood still with the bark on. I'm wondering if this will work on it?