a neighbor just cut down a maple tree today (okay, i finished cutting
it down). there are a couple 3-4' logs about 30" in diameter, and a
few smaller ones. every time i try to dry green wood it starts
cracking. all i have is the outside, no kilns or heated shops to keep
logs in. so what should i do? i would eventually like to make four
round tabletops from one of the logs (you know, just lop off a disk of
wood from the end of the log), so i don't want the wood to crack on
the ends of the logs.
i've tried painting the ends of the logs as well as cutting them into
slabs. i don't mind a few very small cracks, but a big 1/2" split
halfway into the log is not what i want.
thanks for any tips.
andy b.
On Thu, 28 Aug 2003 03:47:06 GMT, [email protected] (hamrdog)
wrote:
>a neighbor just cut down a maple tree today (okay, i finished cutting
>it down). there are a couple 3-4' logs about 30" in diameter, and a
>few smaller ones. every time i try to dry green wood it starts
>cracking. all i have is the outside, no kilns or heated shops to keep
>logs in. so what should i do? i would eventually like to make four
>round tabletops from one of the logs (you know, just lop off a disk of
>wood from the end of the log), so i don't want the wood to crack on
>the ends of the logs.
>i've tried painting the ends of the logs as well as cutting them into
>slabs. i don't mind a few very small cracks, but a big 1/2" split
>halfway into the log is not what i want.
>
AFIK, the only way you will be able to use the end grain slice as a
table top is to cut it off immediately and immerse it in PEG 1000,
which will replace the moisture in th ewood without shrinking it.
If you want to use the rest of the log in a more normal fashion you
should saw it into planks so it can dry without the checking that
always occurs when a whole log dries.
The checking occurs because the tangential shrinkage is greater than
the radial.
HTH
Rodney Myrvaagnes NYC J36 Gjo/a
Was George B. Selden the true Inventor of the submarine patent?