Drying Logs

[Johnny65]

Hi Guys,
I'm new to turning and I have very little seasoned logs. An idea I had is to build an outdoor drying rack.
The design would have a roof on and slatted sides, open enough to let air through it but not to let the rain in, or direct sunlight, I would site it in a sunny part at the bottom of my garden.
What does anyone think or any better ideas.
Having said that I've had good results drying part turned items by microwaving and with dessicant beads.

 

[heronviewer]

Sounds a good location and method. Presumably you are sealing the ends and cutting them lengthwise ?
I like your "location" method.

 

[Argus]

If you have freshly-cut, i.e. 'green' logs and you know what you are going to do with them, say making bowls, you could rough out to an approximate shape first on the lathe, then cover with a sealant before stacking in sticks to dry. Or, stacking can be one inside another separated by lots of straw or wood shavings. Rotate your stock every month or two, top to bottom and aerate the shavings/straw.

Thick paint will do, but it is possible to obtain paraffin wax which you melt to liquid and cover generously all the cut ends.

There is an attrition rate in all drying, where some splitting occurs, but you'll need to dry this stuff very slowly, it may take a year or two, away from direct sun and rapid fluctuations of temperature or humidity.

Some of the older books on bowl-turning cover drying wood in some detail. Most of us build up a stock of usable logs over time that would often go on the fire this way.

Good luck

 

[stuckinthemud]

My cousin was a professional turner, he rough turned his timber while very green then put it somewhere cool and dry to season for a few months (like the eaves of his shop) the timber now being thin enough to move without splitting and also thin enough to need little time to dry out. When it was ready, he had relatively little left to do by way of trueing out any warps and refining/finishing. Also green timber is MUCH nicer to work with than dry wood. I seem to remember he often used small diameter stuff of 2 or 3 inches for vases for dried grasses

 

[Robbo3]

FYI: There is a lathes & woodturning section.
Ideally your storage should be out of the sun if possible.
Cracks start from the pith so any logs for bowls should be split down the pith line or the pith removed completely.
Seal the ends of the logs as soon as possible.
+1 for the previous posts.