What to do with green wood

[Puckle]

I have these big slices of lime tree to play with. I was going to get them sliced like bread so they are long rectangles with bark at each end.
So the big question is do I leave them for a few years and then get them cutup, or get them cutup now and leave them for a few years.
Do I need to leave them that long? Anything else I need to know?
Anyone worked with Lime?
Is there a better forum to ask these questions?

Peter

 

[finneyb]

Lime is good for carving its called basswood in the US
It's a shame to cut those pieces IMHO. Consider trying something different to scrolling - that bottom piece would make a v nice carved bowl. There are plenty of YouTube vids on bowl carving both power carving and hand.

if you are taking the carving route I'd carve wet ie now.

Brian

 

[Claymore]

Don't know about Lime Peter but I have been using some Ash that I have waited a couple of years to dry (had it up in the workshop roof storage area) and wish I hadn't bothered...... its horrible stuff to saw and what a sodding mess it made of the bandsaw dust everywhere and it was crap when sanded. Your Lime should dry quicker if its sliced BUT i might bend/crack if dried too quickly some of the others on here will probably know more about seasoning timber.
It looks like you could make some decent stuff out of it once its dried.
Cheers
Brian
ps try asking in the general section of the forum

 

[nadnerb]

Green wood is always easier to cut than seasoned wood. I would agree with Brian and go the carving route.
Regards
Brendan

 

[Puckle]

I think Ill get them sliced up and hope they dry in a straight line.
Cant see me doing carving any time soon. Haven't ever considered it.

 

[Spindle]

I think Ill get them sliced up and hope they dry in a straight line.

Hi Puckle

They won't - they will at best warp, at worse, split.

Best leave them to season in the whole

Regards Mick

 

[novocaine]

if you want 1" slabs get them cut to 2" and remove the bark.
they'll need a good few years to dry out.

the problem you have is that you'll end up with grain direction being wrong for most useful work and it will be weak. I'd be tempted to keep them as 2" slabs and dry them so they do crack and warp, then scroll what you want in as complete slabs.

or you can send one to me, I want to make a stool with a big fat seat top (and dare I say it, Metal legs)

 

[Wildman]

lime holds extremely fine detail when carved like the long curved beak of a curlew it would be a great shame to waste it on turning. Sell it to a carver for some vast amount and buy the timber you want for turning. Better still, give it to me, hee hee