Cutting and drying a big slice of tree

[El-Zilcho]

Hi guys

I have had the good fortune to aquire a slice of sycamore that was felled only yesterday. It is 8" thick and 3' diameter. I would like to dry it as well as possible, but have never done this before. I was thinking of cutting it in half, either side of the pith and then making some bowl blanks and..ermm..some longer chunks for something I haven't thought of yet! Then either gloss paint the end grain or dip in wax. Is candle wax OK? Does this sound reasonable? I was also going to green turn some of it, to get the experience!

Any advice greatly received

Jez

 

[Doug B]

Sounds fine to me, though you could use pva glue as end grain sealer, i find it easy to apply & it seems to work fine.
Doug.

 

[El-Zilcho]

Cheers Doug, I may have access to plenty of PVA glue from work!

Jez

 

[TEP]

Hi Jez. You need to get something done as soon as possible with your Sycamore. There is far too much end grain on the piece you have. At 8" thick if you get any end checking through drying there will hardly be anything left to use.

I know at 3' dia. that is one big tree, but if at all possible you are always better getting the timber about 6" to 12" longer than the width just to allow for checking.

This is where you really need to invest in a chainsaw. Or if it is coming from tree surgeons it is worth paying them a little to cut timber down the grain for you. At least you can then seal and store it with a chance of success.

 

[PowerTool]

Sycamore is normally left to stand with the grain vertical for a while - this lets a lot of the moisture drain out,and otherwise leads to grey-ish stains.
Personally,I think it might make a difference for furniture,but for turning,it doesn't matter (and judging by some of the spalted sycamore that's been on here recently,actually enhances it)
If,as it sounds,you have a slice of tree,bear in mind that bowls are normally turned side-grain,then you won't get any bowl blanks bigger than 8" diameter.
You can,of course,pick some nice pieces out with the bark still on,and have a got at natural-edge work.

Good luck with whatever you decide,and don't forget the pictures :wink:

Andrew

 

[El-Zilcho]

Oooh, that means I'll have to do it this afternoon! I have a chainsaw, so will cut and use gloss paint, that's all I have at the moment.

Cheers

Jez

Edit to add: Half term this week (I'm a teacher) so pictures of green turning may well appear

 

[cornucopia]

at this time of year there really isnt any rush to get it sealed - as long as it isnt in any direct sulight or has a force 9 gale blowing over it!!
when you do seal it- any oil based paints work well or pva.