Seasoning times

[shroom]

Having started out again after a long break I have obtained my new supplies from the hedge here abouts. Have selected ash and hawthorn lengths approx two inch diameter to store internally in temp about 15c.
How long to season this wood?
in anticipation!!! Terry

 

[miles_hot]

That's going to be quite a jump in terms of temp however I guess the key thing is the difference in humidity from inside to outside - what's that like for you? I know that the jump from outside to inside a centrally heated house is massive (the house being at around 8-10% I seem to remember)....

Certainly you need to seal the end grain (specialist sealer, gloss paint, melted wax etc). You may also want to consider rough turning the items so that they have a chance to dry faster - I know this works for bowls but I don't know about spindle work - I'm sure someone will be along soon to say so.

You could also consider ignoring seasoning all together and using a microwave to dry the wood before or after turning. Similarly boiling can help speed up the drying process...

Or turn dead thin and let it move as it seasons...

Hope this helps

Miles

 

[shroom]

Oh lots of interesting stuff there though I am most intrigued by the "boiling" bit. How does that work?
I have sealed the ends but conversly if I rough turned would that not likely to crack the spindle if drying was sped up.
I am off today to a local auction house where I am assured there is often furniture beyond sale and could find some table/chair legs in their skip.

 

[CHJ]

shroom, have you looked in the help threads and notes in the sticky at the top of the forum :?: some basic notes on drying wood there.

 

[shroom]

Oh dear being a complete technophobe I fail to locate "the sticky". What is it? Is it possible you could give me the silly person proof version please

 

[CHJ]

Start here, it's best you find your way around. :lol:

https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/wood ... es-f6.html

 

[john bossley]

hi, leave the bark on or they will split lenthways, i know this from drying sloe branches ,try some as they are lovely purple and gold colour inside ,ideal for candle sticks,jb.

 

[shroom]

Chas...thank you for the link, will check that out and expand the declining grey matter to it's limit.... and John thank you for the mention of Sloe, it sounds awesome and there is an abundace of it here abouts, will garner tomorrow in prep for next year and look forward to it's pending colour...rgds Terry

 

[shroom]

JB..have now obtained a small supply of Sloe and found a dead tree with some useful branches in tact so may save drying out. Look forward later in the week to having a play thanks....T

 

[john bossley]

hi, good luck with the sloe, you will find it a very hard wood, its a member of the plum family , i did have a largeish victoria tree in our back alley way till holigan from dc morgan climbed the wall and cut it down [for security reasons], did'nt get much in the way of decent wood though, but the colours are superb purple orange gold streaks, what i miss most is, it just came into fruit in a big way, victoria has to be the best eating plum by a long way,jb.

 

[shroom]

Ok will enjoy. But by awesome contrast I escorted my good lady to the Dentist in Market Harborough yesterday and we walked past a house that is clearly empty but being renovated and there on the front lawn was a felled YEW and HOLLY...O.M.G...I gibbered on the spot and drooled with sheer frustration for the rest of the day. It bothers me still but heh ho...T

 

[frugal]

Ok will enjoy. But by awesome contrast I escorted my good lady to the Dentist in Market Harborough yesterday and we walked past a house that is clearly empty but being renovated and there on the front lawn was a felled YEW and HOLLY...O.M.G...I gibbered on the spot and drooled with sheer frustration for the rest of the day. It bothers me still but heh ho...T

And you didn't knock on the front door to see if they would let you take it away!!!

I have a 6' long 12" diameter yew log in the workshop that we rescued from a garden about 6 years ago. they were cutting it down as it had died (of course it died, they concreted all around the base!). They were more than willing for me to take as much as I wanted as it was less for them to take to the tip...

 

[shroom]

I would have danced a jig for them but the house was very clearly empty.
May have to canvass the neighbours....T

 

[gnu]

In the old days in the bobin mills they would always strip the bark off hence the sir name Barker and would of been a full time occupation. It is not really worth sealing the ends of hedgerow wood an niff-naffing about with paint and wax. You can almost use it straight away such as the old bodgers did and leave you objects to dry for a few days before fine finishing and shaping

 

[shroom]

oh err, will drag out the black thorn and "do some stuff". If I could manage to get photo's on the site I would show my style, need to get techno!!!!!!!!!!!!! T


Ps my oldest son has a mate of the aforementioned surname. Will give the griff!!!!!!!!!!