Not having much luck with Alcohol

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

John Trant (Baltimore/DC area)

>I would think newspaper is way too thin. I use a crumpled grocery bag (therefore typically not just a single layer on the outside). Also, I do not ever turn oak because of its tendency to crack (plus I am not a fan of its appearance).

But let's see what Gary and the others have to say.

John

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Wood Spinner

>You said that you floated the rgh. outs. I believe the pieces need to be weighted down to keep them under the alchol.

Good turning and be safe

Bill in Casa Grande, AZ.

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Ron in Drums PA

>I make sure the rough outs are totally submerged and I use about 6 layers of newspaper.

Also, just to see what happens I didn't wrap one maple bowl and let it dry right side up. It didn't crack but warped like crazy.

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>You did not say, how long had the log billets been cut, before you processed them into bowls? If it was a while, did you cut 4-6 inches off the ends before cutting the bowl blanks? If not, the cracks could be caused by checking/crack that were already there.

Just a thought.

Mark

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Pete in Holland

>Yup. Am aware to cut away from the checked ends of logs. A common thread about too thin of paper or few of layers is most likely my problem.

Will keep trying..........

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Pete in Holland

>Oh, and, my statement "floated in alcohol" should have been stated a little clearer. Yup, they were totaly submerged.

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Ruth in So. Cal

>Peter, did you anchor seal the outside before wrapping? I am just starting this method and it's not as simple as it seems!

Ruth

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Jim Ketron

>I always leave Mine in the soak for 24 hrs

but I havent tried it on oak yet!

Jim

Re: Not having much luck with Alcohol

Dougj Crawfordsville, IN

>I just follow the original instuctions except I let my bowls soak for a minimum of 24 hrs. and often longer. Never tried oak yet though.

Too WET ?

Doug

>My question is can the wood be too wet? I just roughed four bowls that afterwards I had water running down the wall behind the lathe.

Re: Too WET ?

Dave MacLuskie

>Been there, done that! It doesn't seem to have any effect on the bowl. I've alcohol soaked, anchor seal, and thin turned them (not on the same bowl!), and they all came out fine.

It does make something of a mess on the unpainted dry wall though, and the ceiling, and the table saw (oops!) and me (wet walnut == permanent shop clothes)