boiling questions

Re: boiling questions

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>I can't remember where you are, but you should be able to go to Walmart, etc and find a propane "Fish Cooker" or "Turkey Fryer" for somewhere around $40. They have big deep pots, about 13" in diameter. The propane will cost you less than about a dollar per hour.

I could be a little off on the cost depending on location. I work for the company that owns Char-Broil grills (80% of the propane grill market) and Zebco Fishing Rods and Reels. Both market Turkey and Fish cookers. Masterbuilt, that also makes Fish/Turkey cookers is also in town (the founder is a member of our club). However, I think the price is about right.

BTW, if you have never deep fried a turkey, you are missing a real taste treat, my friend.

Mark

Re: boiling questions *LINK*

John K Jordan

>There is some discusson about using a turkey frier on the WOW site, link below. These are cheap from Walmart, etc, burn propane as a gas grill, and come with a big pot. You can use it outside on a sidewalk or deck.

Since you will boil with water instead of oil, the fire danger is much less but like a gas grill, still needs plenty of ventilation. And one problem I see by not having a big open space outdoors is having to babysit it for hours - the flame is not enclosed like a gas grill and the boiling water could badly injure a child or pet.

JKJ in East TN


WOW thread

Re: boiling questions

Jim King

>We started in our bar-b-que pit with a 15 gallon aluminum kettle and then progressed to this homemade monster. Now the woods that need boiling we boil in the jungle in the monster kettle before coming to the shop. Only scrap wood is used for heating.

Re: boiling questions

DWFII

>John,

I'm not sure what's going on but I can't access that link. I end up at a log-in window for "MYFamily" or some such. ???

DW

In the High Desert of Central Oregon

Been there, done that, didn't like it

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>Hi DW,

Boiling was one of the stops I made along the way to alcohol soaking. It does work to some degree and it is considered essential for some wood types. There are a few draw backs such as time, space, and safety. The turkey fryer is the way to go for you since you are not doing large pieces and it can be used for other things such as boiling crabs. Boiling is a batch thing since it takes awhile to get the pot to boil. It is not some thing you would do for one or two bowls you turn in the evening during the week.

Give me a call sometime so we can discuss the problems you are having with drying bowls.

Dave Smith

More rain today to keep the moss alive in Longview, WA.

Re: boiling questions

Wally Dickerman in Arizona

>There really isn't much point in boiling most woods for turning. Unless it's a very unstable wood it'll give you very little help in drying, and is quite a chore. However, western Oregon has some good sources for Madrona. Unless you want misshapen and wrinkled pieces (Christian Burchard's work) madrona (madrone) must be boiled. If you want some tips on boiling Madrona, contact Dale Larson, who lives in Gresham, Or. woodbowl@europa.com...Dale does over 100 a year.

I plan to spend a week early in July at Black Butte Ranch, just west of Sisters, not far from where you live. Maybe we could get together.

Wally

Re: boiling questions

Bart Rhoads

>I have used the boiling method several times but only on wood that is problematic to cracking and warping. Expecially red oak. And it does work. I dont find that it helps that much on drying though. To give you an example, I turned 16 pieces of red oak, including trunk wood, limb wood, and crotch wood. I put them in my kiln and went through the 3 to 4 week of drying and the results was about 13 of the 16 pieces did crack and warp something feirce. I turn 16 more piece of the same kind, boiled them and went through the same drying process and only one piece had a crack but it was still usable. When I use the boiling method, I put several pieces in a big pot and boil for one hour per inch of thickness. This is after rough turning. The time starts after the water starts boiling again. This is the minimum amount of time. I dont hurt to boil a piece longer. The boiling sort of relaxes all the stress in the fibers which is the cause of cracking. Let them drain and cool and dry them how ever you like to. Works for me. Give it a try.

Re: boiling questions

John K Jordan

>>I'm not sure what's going on but I can't

>access that link.

You have to be a member and log into WOW. If you're not a member, I think the way that forum works is an existing member has to send you an invitation before you can join. I'm not sure about this since my brain cells are deteriorating as we speak. I'm sure someone has the facts straight.

The link went straight to the thread for me but maybe that's because I was already logged in.

Basically the thread discussed how long to boil, turkey frier as container and heat source, the danger of a large bowl swelling and causing an explosion and ruining your life, links to Steven Russell's articles, and some testimonials.

Alcohol soaking, boiling, air dry, paper bags, plastic bags, anchorseal, microwaving, who knows what is really going on and what is the best for any particular piece. I predict in the future someone will insist all roughed bowls should be boiled in alcohol then microwaved then air dried in packing peanuts then boiled in oil.

JKJ in East TN

Since I am Queen

Barbara Gill, Remlik VA

>of my shop and the kitchen I boil bowls at home. There is nobody to fuss about it. Since my pot isn't hugh, I boil one large or several small bowls per above instructions. I can't see that it has caused any damage to the pot, kitchen or anything else.

WARNING: Be sure to use a pot that leaves ample room around the bowl. A large bowl can swell, seal the opening and then explode when the pressure build up. It creates the same conditions as a pressure cooker and can cook you.

Re: boiling questions

Wally Dickerman in Arizona

>Dale Larson's e-mail has been changed to woodbowl@earthlink.net

Wally

Hey DW, don't pass up this chance.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>

Re: boiling questions

DWFII

>Wally,

I'd enjoy meeting you. I am not a full time wood turner, though. I only have a Jet mini stuck in a small corner of my bootshop. I'm D.W. Frommer II and I'm in the phone book in Redmond or you can contact me at frommer@nospambootmaker.com.

So if the general opinion is that boiling is not going to accelerate drying ...but (if I have this right) it might prevent most cracking--which in itself would be a revelation to me...then how's a guy to get dry wood to work on while all these rough blanks and turning squares are drying?

Where can a feller buy dry bowl blanks say 10" by 6"? Heck, who knows what the days will bring, I might not be around a year from now to turn all these bowls...I'd like to bring some to completion now...just ot work on my finishing techniques if nothing else.

DW

In the High Desert of Central Oregon

Re: Hey DW, don't pass up this chance.

DWFII

>Dave,

I hope I didn't. I'm always a bit taken aback by the generosity of all you fellers. I don't have much to offer. I'm a raw newbie, I don't have much of a shop (although, to the right person, my bootmaking shop might be interesting) and all I've really got is questions. And problems.

Thanks for the heads-up though! Maybe I can take Wally out ofr lunch or something.

DW

In the High Desert of Central Oregon

Re: boiling questions

Hawaii Turner

>DW,

If you want to hurry the drying along, and don't have to worry about the wood cracking, use Dave Smiths Alcohol drying method. I have, and it works for me. I have no experience on your woods, but it works on Koa and Mango woods for me, so far.

Aloha, Doug

Re: boiling questions

Barry on SaltSpring

>I have just completed a series of alcohol drying of small bowls and hollow forms 4-6 inches and larger bowls and platters up to 15 inches using local Arbutus wood, green as can be. Id believe this is known as madrone in the US This is a most difficult wood to dry and in fact this is the only success I have had with this wood. So far the success rate is 100% soaking 24 hours, thickness varied from one half to one inch..Thanks Dave |Smith

Re: boiling questions

Wally Dickerman in Arizona

>DW, I suggest that you think about taking a trip across the mountains to visit a couple of wood dealers. One is in Brownsville, the other is in Sweet Home. They both sell maple burl, lots of it, and figured maple and myrtlewood. They are both apt to have some on hand that is dry or semi-dry. I can give you phone numbers if you're interested.

Have you visited firewood dealers in Redmond? They should have Aspen and Juniper, both good woods to turn.

Wally

Re: boiling questions

DWFII

>Wally,

I used to live in both Brownsville and Sweet Home. 'Course, I wasn't turning then... Yes, I'd like the phone numbers. I might even know the owners and not know I know them...:D

You seem so familiar with Oregon...do you live in Oregon or did you used to?

DW

In the High Desert of Central Oregon

Re: boiling questions

jeff jilg

>Good luck with the boiling DW. I've been there and I still have my boiling setup. It's too much hassle compare to my current method of turning roughouts, coating with Anchorseal, and stickering into piles on shelves in the garage.

Bart indicated he tried it on oak. I'm glad he had success. I also tried it on oak, and that wood is very unstable in Austin. It didn't seem to keep them from cracking anymore than the Anchorseal technique.

And for other woods like Ash, I figured why boil it if I can simply Anchorseal them and stack them. Now I'm trying the alcohol method suggested by Dave Smith. Mostly because I'm processing a load of mesquite and I can literally hear the little grubs chewing the wood...on the pieces that didn't have the alcohol bath. The roughouts which get the bath do not have those little noises in them :-)

If anyone in Austin wants my boiling kettle you can have it for free. It's a 50 gallon drum, with the top half cut off. I also have the lid. (I don't deliver.)

Thanks for the feed back Barry.

Dave Smith, Longview, WA

>

Re: You might

Mark Mandell - Gone Round In Jersey

>want to talk to Dave Propst on this one.

M

Re: boiling questions

Wally Dickerman in Arizona

>I live in Arizona, but I used to live in Puget Sound country in Washington. My daughter lives in Portland and yes, I know Oregon quite well. I'll e-mail the phone numbers.

Wally