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A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

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A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#1

A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

Barry Irby

I have some Australian Pine burl slices I would like to flatten. My son got them years ago and we had them cut about an inch thick, not knowing any better. I have five or six and they warped like potato chips. If I try to flatten them mechanically I will have nothing left. Would it be possible to soak them in water or steam them thoroughly and then clamp them flat and dry them again?

(That is some had tough wood. Think gnarly gristle compared to rib eye steak)

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#2

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening bur

jcousins

Just a guess but try a long bath in some veneer flattening liquid. Mostly glycerine i think - then blot with layers of newspaper with some weight to slowly press them flat.

jerry

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#3

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening bur

Michael van pelt

If you wet them. They will dry back out and warp again. Might be a life lesson learned! So sorry. I do not believe they will be salvageable in a large slab form. Good luck. Hope you can find a way to save them. .

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#4

In theory.....

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

To permanently move wood shape from this to that once it is dry will require plasticizing the cellulose/lignin structure. It can be done with steam or some chemicals.

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#5

Re: In theory.....

John K Jordan

I wonder if boiling to soften then pressing between two flat sirfaces would work.

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#6

In general yes

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

I don't know if the grain in a burl would yield a different result.

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#7

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening bur

Ralph Lipeles

If you are patient and not in any rush, try this. First soak them in really hot water then clamp them between wood faced cuals and let thrm sit for a long time. Some of the water/moisture that the quals squeeze out has to be absorbed into the qual wood facing and become dispersed and then evaporated.

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#8

Thanks.....

Barry Irby

I will have to give this some thought. They are about thirty inches across, so I will have to figure out a way to steam or wet them. I will have to find a large pan and some way to heat it. Wonder if it matters how long they are wet and hot? It occurs to me my friend has some pans meant to go under HVAC equipment or maybe I can find a pan meant to go under a water heater. Then find a way to flatten them as they cool and dry.

Re: A sort of wood working question Flattening burls

#9

Re: Thanks.....

John K Jordan

>>>how long

A recommendation for boiling wood for woodturning is bring to a boil then boil for 1 hour per inch of thickness.

Propane burner from a turkey frier is sometimes osed for heat. A 55gal drum or part of one can hold the water.

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