Drying wood

[phil sedwell]

When ever I try and dry a piece of wood that I've sawn into a seat or chopping board or stepping stone it always seems to crack when it dries how can I stop this is it drying to quick what causes it

 

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[Rune]

sealing the ends should help.

[phil sedwell]

So once Ive saw or split the wood what do I seal it with ?

 

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[Mike Dempsey]

If its for internal use it needs to be dry before you cut it up into the finished article. That could be as low as 8% moisture content. If its for outdoor use it still needs to be dried but only down to about 14% moisture content or so.Trees are living plants and are full of moisture when cut up and the planks can take years to air dry or a few weeks if it is kiln dried. Plenty of reading material available on the web.

[Woodworks]

When ever I try and dry a piece of wood that I've sawn into a seat or chopping board or stepping stone it always seems to crack when it dries how can I stop this is it drying to quick what causes it

 

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Try to dry the wood slowly. As said a sealant on the ends will help as end grain loses moisture faster than the face. I think the proper sealant is a wax but don't see why any non breathable paint would not suffice. Place the wood so air can circulate evenly around the whole piece so drying takes place evenly. I am sure the milling boys like Agg and Jonathan will be along shortly to give the whole picture.

[slackbladder]

Keep the wood in as long a plank as possible and seal the ends, pva is ok to use,only cut it to size when the moisture content is somewhere near what you want it to be. Take it indoors to acclimatise when you are ready to use it

Do not try to dry it too quickly

[phil sedwell]

Cool thanks for the advice would the moisture content be different in different parts of the wood where is it best to check or am I getting a bit technical

 

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[hedgesparrow]

melted bee wax i have heard is good for sealing wood. but as other posts needs to dry slow or it will dry to fast and as you are finding is cracking. believe its 18months or more for it to dry without using a kiln

[se7enthdevil]

rule of thumb is a year per inch but that's not always right.

 

some can dry out quicker and some much slower.

[phil sedwell]

Thanks for the tips is it a bit of a trial and error I'm guessing depending on the wood type climate moisture content when it was felled the size of the lump ect but sealing the ends lets it dry more controlled and even I guess

 

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