Hey Gang,
I have a question I am sure someone can answer. I have been roughing end grain Walnut vessels, some 9-15 " tall by 6-8" wide from green Walnut. It seems as if it goes well until they come out of the DNA and get wrapped until they stop losing weight for 4-5 days. Somewhere in the process of drying they seems to crack, and not little cracks, big honking cracks that ruin most of them. I have tried double wrapping them in brown paper, and even adding some chips from the rough turning to slow them from drying too fast. They are drying in my basement shop, which is fairly dry in the winter. Now the question: Can I coat or soak the rough turning with Tung oil or Antique oil to slow the drying process or will it stop the process? Other green rough turned bowls ( other than Walnut) have dried in two-three weeks and have been fine to finish turn without cracking or warping. Is there something about Walnut or is it because they are end grain turned? Inquiring minds want to know.