Try the lowest power setting, only a couple of minutes. The idea is to
just warm the wood. If it is too hot to hold you are overdoing it. Let
it cool for about 15 minutes and do it again. After several cycles it
will not have any damp feel when you take it out.

Microwaves excite water molecules, turning them to vapor. It then dries
from the inside out, instead of the outside in which is why wood usually
checks.

--
Bill Berglin

http://home.comcast.net/~bberg100

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid
in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly
proclaiming, 'WOW! What A RIDE!!" ... Unknown