Would it be a good practice to cut blanks from fresh cut logs and throw them in a large container with water until you can turn them? If so, should I add a small amount of clorox to prevent fungus or other growths? How long can they stay in water before turning?
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Water treatment
- Thread starter Dennis Derringer
- Start date
Hello Dennis,
I remember reading an article about the great chairmaker Brian Boggs, he used stock tanks to keep his wood from checking.
I googled a bit and found this link.
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ut...&resnum=2&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
If it works for Brians stock, it may work for you.
Best wishes,
Dave
I remember reading an article about the great chairmaker Brian Boggs, he used stock tanks to keep his wood from checking.
I googled a bit and found this link.
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ut...&resnum=2&ved=0CBgQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false
If it works for Brians stock, it may work for you.
Best wishes,
Dave
Dennis, My method is to coats the ends of fresh cut logs with Anchor Seal and leave them that way until I am ready to rough out bowls. I cut the blanks I'm going to need for the week and bring them into the shop. I cover them with plastic until I turn them and I have not had a problem with checking.
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Turn baby turn. Best thing to do. In the log large you can harvest at your leisure with little loss due to end checking if you keep the log with bark and out of the sun. In the small you have all kinds of new ends to protect and losses to absorb despite the protection method. For the time expended you might have turned three-four roughs.
Soaking in anerobic conditions will keep the wood. It'll also make a foul soup of edible scum for you to skim, even if you use a disinfectant. Keeping chair parts in water to keep them flexible enough to bend is one thing, logs yet another. Mills here feature huge decks of logs this time of year. They'll be sawing steadily for the next few months to reduce it to lumber. It's all in open air, all uncoated. Lots of water around to soak, just not worth the effort.
Soaking in anerobic conditions will keep the wood. It'll also make a foul soup of edible scum for you to skim, even if you use a disinfectant. Keeping chair parts in water to keep them flexible enough to bend is one thing, logs yet another. Mills here feature huge decks of logs this time of year. They'll be sawing steadily for the next few months to reduce it to lumber. It's all in open air, all uncoated. Lots of water around to soak, just not worth the effort.
Dennis
I know people that keep their green/wet blanks sunk in water. I've never talked to them about the details, so I don't know what they do to reduce scum and wigglers (Mosquitoe larva). But I know the process can work
I know people that keep their green/wet blanks sunk in water. I've never talked to them about the details, so I don't know what they do to reduce scum and wigglers (Mosquitoe larva). But I know the process can work
my 10cents
As to whether water is a good thing or not, largely depends on your location I suspect.
Down under the weather can be very hot and dry, as an example a while ago I decided to go through my stock of blanks sorting and repositioning. While doing this I piled a dozen or so at the door of the shop without thinking... in the sun. Within minutes audible cracking noises could be heard Arrrgh 😱
I now have several water tanks and routinely drop my green blanks in the water. They often stay there till I need them, as I use lids wrigglers are a not a worry, as for the evil smell that can develop I use a couple of table spoons of eucalyptus oil. I have the 4 x 50gal plastic drums about the size of a oil drum.
Water changing, I generally go through 3-4 water changes till the water remains clear. This in part helps with the smell, scum and any likely infestations as well. What do I do with the water? Put it on the garden, usually the lawn. I use the clear water as a marker that they are ready for use and wont turn any until it is clear.
I find the soaking helps with checking on our Aussie timbers. But its not the Holy Grail as each variety seem to have its own requirements. I take a 'win some, lose some' attitude whilst I learn.
As to whether water is a good thing or not, largely depends on your location I suspect.
Down under the weather can be very hot and dry, as an example a while ago I decided to go through my stock of blanks sorting and repositioning. While doing this I piled a dozen or so at the door of the shop without thinking... in the sun. Within minutes audible cracking noises could be heard Arrrgh 😱
I now have several water tanks and routinely drop my green blanks in the water. They often stay there till I need them, as I use lids wrigglers are a not a worry, as for the evil smell that can develop I use a couple of table spoons of eucalyptus oil. I have the 4 x 50gal plastic drums about the size of a oil drum.
Water changing, I generally go through 3-4 water changes till the water remains clear. This in part helps with the smell, scum and any likely infestations as well. What do I do with the water? Put it on the garden, usually the lawn. I use the clear water as a marker that they are ready for use and wont turn any until it is clear.
I find the soaking helps with checking on our Aussie timbers. But its not the Holy Grail as each variety seem to have its own requirements. I take a 'win some, lose some' attitude whilst I learn.
Thanks to all for the helpful tips... I think I should probably change the water this weekend. Better yet, I think I'll turn some bowls!
Some of the old timers around here used to keep Madrone in rain barrels, or sunk in a pond for a year or so. Theory was that it helped stabilize the wood. My guess it that it had some thing to do with the entrained (cellular level) water, in that cell walls would degrade with the wood still wet, so no shrinkage cracks. Later when pulled out, it would dry more evenly. Colors did change to darker colors, possible to mineral contamination and whatever happened to be in the water. For sure, less cracks.
robo hippy
robo hippy