Green Wood Bowl Turning Tutorial:
Part 3, Drying Methods
There are several widely used
methods for drying rough turned bowl blanks. Some are
easier to perform than others, while others produce more consistent
results. We highly recommend that beginners start with the most
widely used method for drying wood - air drying. It is an easy
and reliable way to get started.
The following descriptions
explain how to prepare your wood for each of the given methods.
Once you have decided upon which method you will use, continue on to
the next portion of this tutorial...monitoring the drying process
Air Drying Method
The air drying method for drying roughed out blanks is by far the
easiest, and is recommended for beginning green wood turners.
You will need nothing more than some brown kraft paper (or a brown
paper bag from the grocery store), some tape, and a dry area to store
the piece in. Simply wrap the roughed out blank in two layers of
brown kraft paper, tape it shut, and set it aside to dry in a fairly
dry area (preferably indoors, where the temperature and humidity
remain somewhat constant).
Boiling Method
The boiling method is one of the best ways to dry blanks, with
consistent results second only to those of the alcohol drying
method. Begin by bringing a pot of water large enough to
submerge your blank in to a rolling boil. At this point, place
your roughed out blank into the water, and allow the piece to remain
in boiling water for one hour per inch of thickness of the
piece. For example, a one inch thick piece would need one hour,
and 2 inch thick piece would need two hours, etc. At this point,
carefully remove the piece, and wrap in two layers of brown kraft
paper.
Additional Web Resources:
Alcohol Soaking Method
The alcohol method is by far the best way to dry blanks, with the most
consistent results, and a quick turnaround time. This method is
best to use for highly figured pieces and ones with large knots or
pith. For this you will need to get enough denatured alcohol
(available at Lowe's, Home Depot, etc) to completely submerge your
blank in. Place your roughed out blank (completely submerged) in
the denatured alcohol, and allow to sit for 24 hours. Remove the
piece and wrap in 2-3 layers of brown kraft paper.
Additional Web Resources:
Non-Traditional (Experimental)
Drying Methods
The methods outlined below are
not traditionally used by most green wood turners. Each can be
used, however, with varying degrees of success. Included are
some links to web sites with additional information.
Microwave Drying Method
The microwave drying method is not widely used. It is a great
way to get instant results from a piece of green wood, but does not
produce consistent results. To microwave dry a piece of wood,
simply place it in a microwave, and heat it on a medium setting for
approximately 45 seconds to 1 minute. Remove the piece (careful,
it'll be hot!), weigh it, and write down the measurement. Once
it has cooled, place it in the microwave again and repeat the above
steps. Continue doing this until the weight of the blank
stabilizes. At this point, the blank has stopped losing moisture
into the atmosphere, and is ready to be finished!
Additional Web Resources:
Dishwashing Detergent Drying
Method
The dishwashing detergent drying method is also not widely used.
As with microwave drying, it is a great way to get fast results.
Results are fairly consistent with this method, though...the only
drawback being that the finished piece will sometimes contain an oily
residue which can be difficult to finish with anything other than an
oil and wax finish. For this method, you will need a large
container (large enough to hold your blank totally submerged in
dishwashing detergent) and a few gallons of non-perfumed, non-dyed
dishwashing detergent (the liquid type used for handwashing
dishes). Simply submerge your roughed out turning in the bucket
of detergent, making sure to totally submerge the piece. If necessary,
weigh it down so that it does not float. Let the piece soak for
24 hours, then remove and let dry for several hours. At this
point, the blank is ready, and if all has gone correctly, the oils in
the detergent should have forced the water out of the blank, replacing
that moisture with oil through osmosis.
Additional Web Resources:
Now that you've had a chance to
take a look at the numerous ways of drying your wood, and have
everything ready to start drying...let's take a look at how to monitor
the drying process.
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