Plum wood - update on if it splits..

[toycarver]

I tried cutting the bark off the Plum wood and making squared lengths of it. I then cut the shape of a spoon/scoop out of it and proceeded to carve it green. I had no trouble with it splitting on the piece I was carving. It is however, very plain looking wood. There was a section of the wood that was quite pretty down the center of the blanks, some purple shades...but that part did split shortly after I cut it on the bandsaw. I wrapped it in plastic for now, and will see if I can use any of it after it dries. Will post a picture of the scoop in a couple days, after I have finished it.

[Mitchell]

Thanks for the update....

I haven't had any success with using Plum without splitting/checking. But I've only tried it for walking sticks and mostly out of curiosity. Plus it was free....

[Robson Valley]

Here's another way to prep the wood which worked for me (surprisingly): 6" x 30" piece of willow from a front yard cleanup. Fresh, soaking wet. Real grunt to carry it home. Got the bark off. Next, I used a Skil Saw to cut a wedge of wood out of what I considered the "ugly" side of the log. Right down to the very center of the log, maybe 1/6 of the wood. The wood fiber shredded and I thought, that I had killed the saw when it got bunged up and stalled.
Neglected to seal the ends and stored it in my shop. Two years later, I think it's quite dry, the checks in the ends can't be more than 1" deep. The wedge cut must have helped more than I imagined. Plain white, about as featureless as basswood.

[Merle Rice]

I used a piece to make a cane and did it Green. It turned out OK. When cutting the Branches off I left a small stub and sanded over them and blended them into the cane. The only cracking that I got was where I cut the Branches off and they were small and added character to the cane. Oh, it was free also. Merle

[Robson Valley]

I'll make two educated guesses:
1. The drying rate depends on which tree species you have at hand.
2. The temp and humidity in the first 2 months (assuming you will let it dry) are of greatest importance. Our spring 2011 was long cold and wet. Sopping wet. Of the 2 cords of stick wood that went into storage down the street, NO cracks. Everybody pleased as can be.

The stick, cane and furniture guy down the street always cuts his wood 8' or so, no matter what he might want to use it for in 3-5 years from now. Off with all the bark, cool dry outdoor storage (with a year tag on the door!) Tables, chairs, coffee tables, hiking sticks, canes, bed headboard bits, long & short, it gets used except for the end bits with the cracks = firewood.
In fact, the double-bent willow handle for my planer knife was wood destined for the stove this winter!

[toycarver]

I made a couple of small scoops from my Plum wood. Didn't have any trouble with splitting. I dried it in the microwave (15-20 sec at a time). When the wood is wet it turns sort of gold. After it dried I carved & sanded most of the gold off (although it looks interesting with it on). I put some light olive oil on the scoop when I finished. I forgot to take a picture of the first scoop (gave it away), but here's the second one:

[Magicman]

I don't know anything about carving Plum Wood, but Woodturners like it for the color in it. If you harvest Plum Wood down near the bottom of the tree the colors are amazing. There is Yellow, Gold, Purple, Red and Pink that is all wavy and blended together.
Larry

[toycarver]

Thanks for the info, Larry. I was given a couple of pieces from a branch, so maybe not the nice color in them as near the bottom of the tree.

[Tom Ellis]

Looks about right for a coffee scoop Kris. I like the rope look that you carved.

Tom

[toycarver]

Thanks, Tom. I felt like it needed the 'rope' since it was pretty plain otherwise.