Green wood

[Garno]

I know that green wood when turned is very liable to alter it's look, it distorts is probably the best phrase I can think of.
With a bowl I believe it can alter it's state as fast as the first night.

If a pen was turned green and assembled would it still be able to distort?

I have seen somewhere on this 'ere interweb thingy that some people microwave green wood to dry it out, would drying it out fast like this alter the structure of the wood and make it weaker and more vulnerable to stresses?
If not how long should a green wood pen blank be in the microwave for?

 

[Bill Mooney]

I’ve microwaved timber quite a few times. I microwave on low for 1 minute then leave it to cool for a minute before nicrowaving until dry. I put the timber in a plastic bag to microwave. When the timber no longer creates moisture in the bag it is dry. Keep drying the bag between microwaves.

 

[alan morrison]

Gary, if microwaving green timber, first reduce the blank size and weigh it.
Microwave in 10 second bursts leaving the door open for 3 or 4 minutes between bursts.
Continue until there is no weight loss.

Hope that this helps.

 

[Garno]

Gary, if microwaving green timber, first reduce the blank size and weigh it.
Microwave in 10 second bursts leaving the door open for 3 or 4 minutes between bursts.
Continue until there is no weight loss.

Hope that this helps.

It helps a lot Alan thank you.
[MENTION=603]Bill Mooney[/MENTION] Thank you, Great tip regards the plastic bag I will use both suggestions yours and Alans.
I wasn't sure if it was a myth or not but glad to hear it works.

 

[Dalboy]

If it is just for pen blanks the cut the wood to 1" square X 6" long and leave to dry in small sticks to allow for air to circulate in less than 6 months they will be good to use as pen blanks. By all means try the microwave method if you are in a real hurry

 

[Curly]

You can also use the kitchen oven. Put the blanks in on the warm or lowest setting. When the oven is warm turn it off and turn on the light. The one in the oven, not the kitchen. That is of course an oven with an older incandescent style bulb. Leave the blanks in there a day or two until the weight doesn't drop anymore. You can speed up the process a touch by drilling a 4mm or so hole through the wet blank. As the wood dries it may twist and bend as the stresses are relieved but they would have to be really bad not to be able to get a pen out of them. Take the blanks out of the oven if SWMBO is going to bake bread or something. They can go back in when it is down to warm again.

Pete

 

[howsitwork?]

rather you than me Pete

SWMBO would Lynch me for such an offence

 

[Curly]

Why? There is no odour, smoke or drippings so the oven stays exactly the way it began. You could run the self clean cycle afterwards to make her happy if you felt the need.
I guess I'm lucky and not whipped like some people.

Pete

 

[wm460]

Just get a microwave and stove for you shed like me.

 

[Dalboy]

Just get a microwave and stove for you shed like me.

With the weather as it is and your location your whole shed is an oven

 

[wm460]

With the weather as it is and your location your whole shed is an oven

It is and when I switch on the fans its a fan forced oven.
Have to get the A/C fixed be fore summer gets here.

 

[Dalboy]

It is and when I switch on the fans its a fan forced oven.
Have to get the A/C fixed be fore summer gets here.

What yet another job for the TUIT list Mark