Sealing ends before/after milling

[Swampster]

Hi, sure this has come up before but cannot find the thread or post.

 

What do you recommend or use yourselves to seal the ends of milled timber to reduce the risk of splitting while drying? Do you apply this 'stuff' before or after cutting?

 

I've looked up the recommended way to stack the cut boards and the use of battens/spacers but am open to any advice here too.

 

Milled my first tree yesterday, a birch, no particular reason other than it being the first thing to be available. Can't believe I haven't got into this before! Don't want to think about how many tonnes of timber I've wasted/misused.... Time now to redress this.

 

Cheers

[TheHungrySquirrel]

When I deal my logs for greenwood projects I use pva. I normally slap this on as soon after felling as possible.

 

Anything that will seal the pores will do, paint, wax and glue all work but I have a few bottles of cheap ova to use and it seems to be the best I have used.

[54gka]

I also use PVA

[Swampster]

Thanks, PVA it is.

[ucoulddoit]

I also use PVA applied either before or after milling. But now cut off the sealed end after seasoning and before further machining with a planer, bandsaw or table saw. This approach follows blunting/nicking a set of planer knives on planks with grit embedded in the PVA. The grit had 'contaminated' the boards after milling, while temporarily laid aside on the ground. I now pressure wash all timber after seasoning including removing the sealed end and it's pretty much standard practice to pressure wash logs before milling if possible, keep the planks clean and temporarily stack freshly milled planks off the ground!

 

Andrew

[agg221]

I used to meticulously paint the ends of everything, usually using paint because it's what I had to hand and it shows where you have been, making sure you haven't missed anything. The aim in coating is to block the pores so the wood doesn't dry faster from the end which is what causes it to crack, so pretty much anything will do. It is also easier to paint the ends of the butt before milling if you have the opportunity for the paint to dry before milling.

 

That said, I haven't bothered for years now. I ended up cutting the ends off anyway and it didn't seem to make much difference. There are two exceptions - I paint the ends of butts which may need to wait a bit before milling, particularly if felled in warm weather, so if oak has to come down in July I would rather wait until mid-September to mill it and I would paint it in the meantime to stop centre cracks developing. The other exception is where I have a piece which is right on the limit for length and I will need every inch - for example the plum I am gradually collecting up for my bedroom furniture all gets painted as it is not available in long lengths and I know I will need every last bit.

 

Alec

Edited March 12, 2016 by agg221

[Gary Prentice]

I used to meticulously paint the ends of everything, usually using paint because it's what I had to hand and it shows where you have been, making sure you haven't missed anything. The aim in coating is to block the pores so the wood doesn't dry faster from the end which is what causes it to crack, so pretty much anything will do. It is also easier to paint the ends of the butt before milling if you have the opportunity for the paint to dry before milling.

 

 

 

Alec

 

Maybe a stupid question, but wouldn't the natural defense mechanisms in coniferous species naturally seal the timber anyway?

[gobbypunk]

Hi Alec I have some small plum maybe useful for door handles etc if any use to you give me a shout

Cheers Mark