I was wanting to try making some spoons from curved limbs as shown in the site below and have heard of drying small wood in the microwave, anyone have any tips on how to do it? Thanks http://www.pinewoodforge.com/eating.spoons.html

I have only done a little experimental microwave drying but have found that short times work best. Try putting the piece in for 45-60 seconds, let it cool, repeat until the wood is dried. Be careful as the wood can get VERY hot in 60 seconds.

P.S.
If you see or smell smoke you put it in for too long.

[don]

I have tried this with apple wood and maple. Like Clifford said dry it in short bursts . I wrapped mine loosely in newspaper and changed the paper often as it became wet.
As a cautionary tale, I dried a turned goblet this way and had it laying on its side and it came out slightly oval instead of round. Now it's a sugar bowl with a locking lid Don

[Dave_from_Toronto]

Remember that wood will shrink, while drying, more across the grain than with the grain (and more tangentially than radially - I think.) Any completed (turned) piece will come out oval. The trick is to dry the turning in its 'roughed-out' state then complete the turning/carving after drying.

[don]

Here I thought it was something I had done rather than a property of the wood. I expected it to shrink equally around the perimiter of the cup.And was a bit surprised that there were no cracks. Don