Soaking bowl blanks in detergent

[Woodmonkey]

Has anyone tried this?

http://www.ronkent.com/techniques.php

Sounds interesting (scroll near the bottom of the page, there is a chap who has tried it on various different woods)

 

[CHJ]

Yes, and alcohol soaking, microwaving, boiling (in and out of pressure cooker) and oven drying.

After many 'latest crazes' I've come to the conclusion that there's nothing better than nature and time to do the job unless you are desperate to get a job finished to meet a deadline.

With the detergent some woods take on a dirty look unless regularly changed to clean water and like alcohol drying my experience has been that the wood dries out to be harder and less pleasurable to turn than pure air dried.

I still indulge in occasional microwave and final stage oven drying when needing to get below 8% but fortunately now have sufficient stock of local wood to let nature do the work and spend my time spinning rather than 'cooking'

 

[Bodrighy]

Must admit I am with Chas on this one. I am fortunate in having a good steady supply of wood drying away naturally, if it splits I have smaller pieces. If I get a rush order for something and don't have appropriate wood I will stoop to buying but never blanks, just planks and store what's left.

Pete

 

[paulm]

What the guys said....

Cheers, Paul

 

[JimB]

Butchers across here used to use chopping blocks made from solid tree trunks with not a split in sight. I asked our butcher how this was done and he said they were left in running water for a few months.

 

[Grahamshed]

At least you would have nice clean shavings on the floor.

 

[Woodmonkey]

Fair enough, sounds like more hassle than its worth then. I do have some monkey puzzle rounds which I might try it on as it's very similar to Norfolk island pine, and the bit I tried turning the other day was so dry and rippy it would be nice to make it softer.

 

[Tazmaniandevil]

I've seen this done on youtube. I prefer to rough turn the bowls then pack them away in the wet shavings. I'm not doing this for a living, so I can leave wood to dry as longs as I need.
I echo buying boards when you need dry timber in a hurry. Much cheaper in the long run, and you build up a good stock for later projects.