Minimizing stress, carving green wood?

[toycarver]

Are there things one can do to keep the wood from checking ?
I'm carving a small scoop from Cherry wood, that someone trimming their tree, gave me last year. It seemed fairly dry, although not totally by any means. I noticed the end grain of scoop started to check within an hour or so of starting the project. I went back and cut the checked part off (with my bandsaw), as I had plenty of wood left it was not a problem. Then I got the scoop wet and am still working on carving it. I was wondering if perhaps less checking would occur if I carved in certain areas first...like more of the inside taken out or more on the endgrain and right inside that first? I will probably finish carving this project in another hour or so. I have more wood though....in case the checks win. ;-)
any ideas?
Thanks

[SeaLeveler]

Sounds like the wood is still wet,maybe just the surface is dry and you are exposing the wet wood and as it drys it checks.I have read that putting the wood in a paper bag in between carving sessions will help with checks.Tony

[W.duBois]

There are endless tricks, tips and choices as how to dry green wood. Every wood behaves differently. Add factors such as humidity, sunlight, wind and you'll get the idea.

My experience:
- Wood dries inward about an inch per year, very slow.
- Taking out the corewood aids in releasing cracking/stresses.
- Keep the carving out of sunlight, wind and low humidty environments for at least a year.
- Drying green wood in the microwave works quite good on smaller objects.
- Oil finishes (with optional polyurethane) form a skin which allow moisture to pass slowly, aiding in releasing stresses.
- When the half finished carving needs to be stored, use a paper bag, or plastic one (be sure to invert the bag now and then)

[toycarver]

Thank you, I am going to save the info you have given me.

[carverswoodshop]

i just posted a video how i am drying green branches,, this is new to me but so far i had alot of luck with it, i have it posted on my youtube channel, and also on my blog,, this is my way,,, it may work for you but it made sense to me to do it this way,, i micowave it, more then once, and watch the branches get lighter in weight,,, if you want more info go to my site, there are alot of ways to do it, you just have to figure which one will work for you
YouTube - ‪carverswoodshop's Channel‬‎
blog,,,, www.carverswoodshop.blogspot.com
good luck,, nothing is for sure in life lol

[Donsexton]

I used to do all that I have stated many times here to fight on coming cracking, now days all I do is make a best guess where the bad wide crack will be and carve.

[fpace]

I have been told that if you rub a potato on the exposed ends it will prevent or slow down the checking... Pentacryl is a product you can put on it too that stabilizes the wood and prevents checking but it may not be something you can use on a spoon that will be used to eat or cook with.