I think Al is not unique, in that there are probably many turners who haven't found a way to organize their seasoning process to include periodical weights, and keep that information readily available. What's needed is a system that is organized, and easy to use......and, a plan to make that system work in a shop environment.
I suppose many people who are organized, turn to the computer these days.......and that would work, but I choose to organize in the old fashioned way. I use a file card box with index cards. This is a method that your Grandfather may have used, and it works just as well in 2013 as it did in 1923!
The 4x6 file card in the photo shows all the information I need to know about one individual bowl throughout it's term being processed in my shop:
This is bowl #1054, a 3x6x6 Zebrawood bowl that I purchased from Woodcraft in August of 2012. The cost was $16.45, plus $1.34 shipping, for a total cost of $17.79. It had an initial MC of 16% taken with a moisture meter, and was roughed on Sept 14, 2012. It was immediately anchor sealed after roughing. The first weight was taken the next day, followed by monthly weighings thereafter. The weight stabilized after three months, but I decided to do a couple more weighings to make sure. Rule of thumb is thee consecutive unchanged monthly weights as a positive indication that stabilization has occurred, but depending on what you think about any individual bowl, you could do more, or less......you do have to make some judgment calls.
The only thing necessary to link the roughed bowl to the index card is the number written on the bowl.
I am a faceplate turner, so after the seasoning process is completed, all roughed bowls have a waste block attached. This Zebrawood bowl had the waste block attached on March 22, 2013.
Monthly weighings for all bowls being seasoned works out well for me to stay on an organized track. I keep a calendar in the shop and mark on it that weighings have been done for that month. Some turners weigh at different periodic intervals, and that will work, too. What's important is to keep the intervals spaced equally to give a more accurate mental concept of the progress.
After the bowl is prepared for final turning, the card goes to a second card file for "bowls ready to final turn". Once the bowl is finished, the bowl and the index card are brought into the house, where I have a third card file for finished bowls.
The index cards also work extremely well to add notes during final turning. Sometimes I leave the lathe, and come back later. If I'm in the process of sanding, it's a lifesaver to know what surface has what degree of sanding done already.
This index card/file card system works for me, and has been in place for the past dozen years, or so. I realize there are more ways to skin a cat.......so, I'm sure I'm not the only one who has devised a working system. The objective is to organize yourself, so that you have a better ability to make the turning process work for you. Any system that establishes that, is good........
ooc
