Knowledge You Can Build On — Est. 1998
sealed wood
DWFII
>Let's say that, in desperation, you buy a bowl blank off ebay and it is ealed completely--all six sides...
Is that blank ever going to dry out? Or do you need to remove the wax (or bark, for that matter) on the non-endgrain surfaces to get the drying process going?
DW
In the High Desert of Central Oregon
Re: sealed wood
Ron in Drums PA
>Yes it will dry, just very slowly.
Re: sealed wood
Brad Vietje
>Sure, DW, it will dry, but most people would choose to rough turn it while green (or part-dried), leaving it thicker than the final dimensions, wax it, bag it, box it, or otherwise protect it to dry slowly, then re-mount and finish turn when its completely air dry. You do NOT want to accelerate the drying process if air drying -- the key to avoiding cracks is to dry the wood very slowly, so the surface of the wood and the core of the wood can maintain a slowly changing equilibrium, and not differ too much in moisture content. Cracks will almost certainly happen when the ouitside of the wood is dryer than the inside, and the sealant is used to "dam up" the water loss at the surface somewhat.
Another factor to consider is that the wood may not even be green -- many vendors shipping wood all over the country will seal wood that is air-dried in their climate, beacuse it may crack when it reaches your climate -- wood considered dry here in Vermont will certainly nove when shipped to you in the high desert.
Best of luck -- please do show us what you make.
Safe Spinning,
Brad Vietje
Thetford, VT
