Advice needed on green oak

[muttley9050]

Hey guys,

Im doing a show on saturday teaming up with jeremy(arbwork) and his lt40.

Were planning to do something similar to what rob did at the jonesies show recently. Making some picnic benches out of some oak that jeremy will be milling on the day.

Im going to make the legs/frames out of some mostly seasoned oak i have lying around so the green will be the bench and tabletops in 9" boards.

I will plane and oil the frames previous to the show, but my question is.

I would like to plane and oil up the tabletops and benches on the day with a portable thicknesser, accepting that the finish wont be the same as seasoned oak, is there any point in doing this?

What are peoples experinces/thoughts?

 

Thanks for the help

 

James

[Big J]

A useful tool for preparing a green surface for sanding is a hot air gun. Gently go over the surface (1 square meter every 3-4 min is enough) with the hot air. This dries the surface sufficiently to avoid gumming up the sanding belt/pad. Other than that - no useful tips! I just cut timber, and usually try to avoid making anything with it!

[J Rayner]

James,

 

I'm a furniture maker, specialising in 17th century reproductions.

 

I work almost exclusively in green oak, I plane it green and that's it it dries fine and smooth, you shouldn't have an issue with the finish.

 

I should mention that I use hand planes for this ( hand planing green oak is fun!)

If your using a thicknesser, don't take to big a bite. The machine will be hungry for the green wood but the chips will clog easily.

 

Hope this helps

 

James

 

Edit: I'd advise avoiding putting oil on green wood, let the surface dry a little first if you can.

Edited September 1, 2013 by J Rayner
Extra info.

[muttley9050]

Thanks for that the two J's,

I always take it easy with my thicknesser so hopefully will be ok.

will post some pics from the day.

James

[youcallthatbig]

I may be stating the obvious, but I would not want to put green oak over/through a steel bedded planer..... not unless you want the surface to turn black, no worries about aluminium beds tho.

[muttley9050]

Tables are stainless and well waxed so will be fine.