Making a drum

[denis]

Greetings all,
I am as beginner as it gets so please bear with me! I recently felled a cherry tree and would like to make a drum from a piece of it.
Could anyone provide any information about storing and drying the green log, making a perfect cylinder, sealing an/or stain, tools, methods, etc.
HELP!

Thanks

Denis

[Clifford_Parker]

Cut several pieces to >6" over length and use an auger bit, chainsaw, chisels, or whatever tools you have to remove the heartwood and get the walls close to the final thickness you want. Cracking and checking are caused by the different layers of a log drying at different speeds, causing the faster drying outer layers to stretch over the slower drying heartwood.

[denis]

Thanks! I'll cut out the center and post some pics. How long should I let the shell dry? Also should I apply anything to it? It is in my basement and is dry and warm.
Thanks again

Denis

[Clifford_Parker]

General thought is to let wood dry for 1 year for each inch of thickness but many of us have shorted that with no problems. Assuming you have more than one piece to work with you could try working one after 6-8 months and let the other(s) dry longer.

Coating the end grain with old paint, glue, etc. slows the drying process by forcing the moisture to migrate out the sides of the grain (think of grain like drinking straws stacked together). This slows the drying and reduces the chance of cracking and checking.

[denis]

uggggh. I blew it!
I tried to carve out the center and totally mangled my wood.

I'll try again when I find a good piece. The cherry was surprisingly soft. I think I had better use oak next time.

Thanks for the help!

[Clifford_Parker]

How close to the outside is the worst area? I would only leave an inch or so for a drum. If the wood isn't cracked through you still might be able to "rescue" it.

[don]

That cherry will be a lot tougher when it is dry than it is right now. Not as hard as oak but still pretty hard

[denis]

Thanks don,
could have used the advise earlier. but anyways. Here is what I have learned.
1. DO NOT use a big chain saw to do a rough cut of your project, think small from start to finish, Oh, and don't get caught up in drying methods.
Even if the outside is cracking and looking gnarly the inside is beautiful. I found out the hard way.