Holly - how about planking ?

[OldWood]

I know that holly is a pain to deal with. I predominantly do turning and did get some 'properly' dried holly for turning but have failed to achieve acceptable drying of this myself.

I recently got into scroll sawing and used some holly for that which was very successful. I found that there were some holly branches amongst a load of tree fellings I got the other day and wondered if planking would work better.

Anybody got any ideas ?

Rob

 

[andersonec]

Holly will almost certainly develop a greenish stain as it dries. It is generally thought that to get Holly to stay a bright white, it needs to be felled in the winter, planked and put into a kiln on the same day, if the sap is allowed to dry under it's own steam it will stain.

Andy

 

[OldWood]

Thanks Andy - then it will just remain in the firewood pile !!!

Rob

 

[Grahamshed]

Thanks Andy - then it will just remain in the firewood pile !!!

Rob

which would be a shame.
For turning might it be worth cutting up a few small bits and trying them in the microwave just to see how it turns out ?

 

[OldWood]

Thanks Andy - then it will just remain in the firewood pile !!!

Rob

which would be a shame.
For turning might it be worth cutting up a few small bits and trying them in the microwave just to see how it turns out ?

I'd forgotten about using the microwave - I did a whole lot of wych elm bowl blanks that way 15 months ago quite successfully. Yep, worth a try - thanks for the reminder.

Rob

 

[Grahamshed]

Glad to be a help. Doesn't happen very often

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I did hear some years ago that holly had to be seasoned standing on end so that the sap ran down - it makes sense, but I've not tried it.