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Newbie turning wet wood

H

holistic

Joined
Mar 10, 2005
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This may seem like a silly question for those of you that have been turning for a while - but I need your expertise.
I am turning a newly cut (very wet) piece of cedar and do not have large chunks of time where I can turn. I must leave the piece mounted and do small bits of work. How long can I leave the piece on the lathe without it warping and having to return the outside? Will it warp rapidly or do I have a few days to work with it?
Thanks in advance for your help.
 
Wow - it turned sooooo easy

Never mind - my question has now changed. The wet wood turned so quickly and easily. It is finished its first turning. Now I need to let it dry - but I am so eager that I want to find the quickest way. I know I could put it in a paper bag with the wood chips for about 3 months, but is their a faster way to get it to dry. Cedar is fun. Hope it stays this fun when it is dry. I did not have any tear out and the few knots do not look very bad - I don't think they will be a problem.
 
There has been extensive discusionon Denatured Alcohol on another turning web site. If you do a search for this you will find that you should soak in de- natured alcohol, time varies, I do it based on how thick I have left the bowl, 24 hrs is general for me, then, wrap in thick brown paper, the grocery store type. But only wrap the OUTSIDE and scotch tape teh ends....weigh, then leave and keep weighing. After 2-3 weeks, depending on the thickness, the weight will remain constant, and it's dry and ready to finish.

Dave Smith is the expert. Include his name in your search criteria.

DNA can be purchased from the Home Deot, Lowes, etc.
 
Here's another way to dry wet turnings:

Place the turning inside a plastic bag and place outisde in the sun. Preferably on the sriveway, a deck or patio, not in the grass. Each morning open the bag and reach inside. If moisture has accumulated on the inner surface of the bag, turn bag inside out, place turning back inside and leave another day. Repeat until when you reach inside there is no noticeable moisture on the "inner" surface.

I have used this method, among others, for over 20 years. Once did 100 red oak bowls, 10" in diamteter, approx. 4 " tall, no walls greater than 3/16". I lost 2 ... one I dropped, the other I had overlooked an inclusion. So, 98% ... not all bad & the wood was free and they all sold.
 
LDD, Boiling, Soaking, Microwaving

LDD (liquid dish detergent), Boiling, Soaking in a flowing stream, and Microwaving are all techniques I've seen promoted in the forum. If you need help finding info on them, just repost and I'll see if I can dig up some references.

FWIW: Cedar seems to be one of the more obnoxious woods for people with sensitive skin, lungs, etc. Use precautions! There isn't much that bothers my skin, but I've learned to respect it. I just cut down two cedars and hauled the branches away today and one shower wasn't enough.
 
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