[jillsy]

Hey Everybody,

I have a question I'm hoping someone might have the answer to regarding drying wood.

Here's the question: Is there a way to properly dry wood so that the bark doesn't come off the piece?

Here's the situation: I take a branch about 3" in diameter and cut out 1/4" disks with my bandsaw. I then drill a hole at the top and let them dry. Once they dry, I paint a picture on the disk, add some twine, and they become rustic Christmas ornaments.

Here's the problem: During the drying stage, the wood shrinks, causing the bark to detach and in most cases, break off.

Since I haven't been able to figure out how to correct this, I bought a bunch of pretreated disks. This not only was waaaay too expensive, but the company really takes advantage in that out of the bunch (100 disks), only a few were a good size (2 1/2"-3"). The rest are like 1" in diameter, not a whole lot I could do with them.

It seems a shame that I live on a wooded lot, with tons of branches, my own bandsaw, but I'm resorting to buying bandsawed disks!

Can anyone offer suggestions? Maybe I'm using the wrong type of wood? Or maybe instead of cutting straight down, should I cut on a slight angle? I've tried Googling this many times, but can't find any information anywhere.

Please send along anything thoughts. I'm really at a loss!

Thank you,
Jillsy

[makinchips]

Jillsy,

The secret is that the wood needs to be cut in the winter. Through the spring, summer and early fall, the cambium layer (which is right under the bark) is activley making sapwood and therefore isn't really part of the wood. In the late fall and winter, when the tree isn't growing, the cambium layer is connected to the bark and sapwood. So, winter cut wood will keep its bark.

Hope this helps.

Joe,

Make Chips!

[chris 71]

thats a very cool tip makinchips. i learn something new every day would that work in reverse to if you want to remove the bark as easy as possiable would spring or summer be the best time

[makinchips]

Chris,

Yes. Many years ago, I was involved in building a zig/zag fence from white oak. We split the logs in quatrers and the bark came off in big sheets.

Joe,

Make Chips!

[jillsy]

Thank you makingchips!

Does it matter the type of tree branch I use?

Is it ok to cut it straight or on an angle? (I prefer just cutting it straight up and down)

Would it be ok if I dried them in a food dehydrator in order to do it quicker?

Should I use a healthy branch, right off the tree, or can I use one that's fallen to the ground?

[makinchips]

All parts of the tree are growing the same way so it doesn't matter which branch you use. The only difference on cutting angle is the resulting shape of the disc. Angled cut will render an oval shape......straight cut , a circle.

A dehydrator will probably be fine as long as the slices are thin and it can dry friom both sides at the same time. I used to carve bola ties....fish, birds etc mounted on an oval slice of wood like you describe.......I dried them on, yes on, the wood stove! They were quite thin and it didn't take long.
I wouldn't use anything off the ground unless it's a green branch. If it fell cause it's dead.......burn it.

Hope this helps,

Joe,

Make Chips!

[jillsy]

Thanks Joe!

Looks like I have a long wait to be able to try this, but I'm really looking forward to it. In the meantime, I guess I'll practice on these itsy-bitsy little disks.

Appreciate your help,
Jillsy