Results of Rolling Pin Blank Drying (Long)
Barbara Gill, Remlik VA
>Back in March I asked for advice and experiences with drying large blanks to be used for rolling pins. Dave, possibly with tongue-in-cheek advice suggested boiling and soaking in alcohol with 1 change of solution. The pieces were too long for me to boil. :-) I did not change the alcohol.
The wood is walnut (Please don't tell me it is not a good wood for rolling pins. I know that. It is what the customer wants.)
Below is the chart with dates, lengths and weights. The last piece seems to still be loosing weight (no explanation, all came from same small tree).
Go to end of chart for common information.
24" 23" 22" 24" 23"
4-16-05 3.46 3.39 3.39 3.69 3.88
4-21-05 3.26 3.18 3.08 3.46 3.61
5-1-05 3.05 3.0 2.95 3.35 3.45
5-6-05 3.1 2.9 2.7 3.1 3.2
5-10-05 2.8 2.7 2.75 3.05 3.25
5-20-05 2.75 2.9 2.75 3.1 3.15
5-28-05 2.8 2.85 2.7 3.1 2.95
All were cut 3" square and rounded to 2 1/2".
All soaked in denatured alcohol for 2 weeks.
After drying the ends were coated with Anchorseal.
All shrank 1/16" after drying to stable weight.
All were dried standing on the ends on a rack. After each weighing they were rotated to stand on opposite end.
The 22" long piece is about 1/2 sapwood on one end.
All have dried straight and true.
