Dave Black
Member
- Messages
- 638
- Location
- Central PA
I am getting started turning more things since I have a newly made big lathe to play with.
http://familywoodworking.org/forums/showthread.php?36232-Shop-built-large-lathe
I made a ball turning jig and made a few balls from some largish scraps I had around. They came out pretty and I wanted to make some more. I am wondering what the best way to dry the wood is. I have cut some sections of branches of various downed trees from the around the farm but now I'm wondering the best way to dry them. The finished ball sizes I want to make are anywhere from 3" to 10". I tried to rough out the shape and let them dry but they all crack within a few days, which I suspected they would. Is there a fast way to dry them. Some things I have at my disposal are, a microwave, a vacuum pump and (finishing up a vacuum chamber), DNA although only a gallon but I can buy more. What works best? I am not a terribly patient person when it comes to finishing a project I start so if there is a fast way to dry them that would appeal to me. If theres not a fast way then I would probably prep a bunch of blanks then try to forget about them for a while. Should I consider stabilizing these either because of the thickness or because of the type of wood. I have some pretty cool spalted walnut laying in the woods from limbs/upper trunk from a tree I took down 5 or 6 years ago. What do you guys do?
http://familywoodworking.org/forums/showthread.php?36232-Shop-built-large-lathe
I made a ball turning jig and made a few balls from some largish scraps I had around. They came out pretty and I wanted to make some more. I am wondering what the best way to dry the wood is. I have cut some sections of branches of various downed trees from the around the farm but now I'm wondering the best way to dry them. The finished ball sizes I want to make are anywhere from 3" to 10". I tried to rough out the shape and let them dry but they all crack within a few days, which I suspected they would. Is there a fast way to dry them. Some things I have at my disposal are, a microwave, a vacuum pump and (finishing up a vacuum chamber), DNA although only a gallon but I can buy more. What works best? I am not a terribly patient person when it comes to finishing a project I start so if there is a fast way to dry them that would appeal to me. If theres not a fast way then I would probably prep a bunch of blanks then try to forget about them for a while. Should I consider stabilizing these either because of the thickness or because of the type of wood. I have some pretty cool spalted walnut laying in the woods from limbs/upper trunk from a tree I took down 5 or 6 years ago. What do you guys do?