Drying wood

[missquacks]

Is there something I can put on the ends of cut pine logs to keep them from cracking and splitting as they are drying? Also, how long does it take to dry enough to use for carving?

[AlArchie]

Besides the specialty sealers made just for that, you can coat the ends with melted paraffin, latex house paint or primer, shellac, or.......well, just about anything that is waterproof. Depending on the size of the log, plan on at least a full year. Check it often to see if cracks are developing and re-coat immediately if (when) you notice that. And after all that, it most likely will crack anyway.

Al

[mdallensr]

Coat them right away. Some logs will crack within a few hours after cutting. Watch closely for the first few days for cracks. Re-coat if you see any cracks. As Al said, just about any paint will work. I've been using some left-over Behr pigmented deck sealer and it works great. Make sure you get the logs up off of the ground to let the air get at the entire surface and to keep the bugs out. Mike

[georgetroy]

I suggest you use Sealtite from Klingspor's. Showing price and description. You should cut your logs down the middle at the pit. Cutting them up from the get go will reduce cracking and speed up the drying time. GT

http://www.woodworkingshop.com/cgi-b...onthsBetween=0

[Skulli]

Ok so say we're talking the average size walking stick from a sapling trunk, approx. 1 1/2" diameter? I swear some of silver maple was bone dry indoors in a couple of weeks, while some is still heavy and green after 2 months? Any "rule-of-thumb" on sticks, not logs?

[AlArchie]

Rule of thumb on sticks:

WHEN IT'S DRY, IT'S DRY!

A lot depends on whenthe wood was harvested. Spring cut wood has a lot more initial moisture than that cut late in the fall. Spring is "sap rising" time and in late fall the trees are loosing moisture for dormancy.

An adjunct to that is that sticks harvested in the spring are generally easier to peel than those cut later in the summer or in the fall. In spring the trees are putting on a growth layer, beneath the bark, and this allows the bark to slip off easier. Later in the season, this layer toughens up and the bark becomes more and more difficult to get off.

Al

[Skulli]

Thanks, I never knew that about the growth cycle and the bark! Cool stuff.