"charlie b" wrote in message
...
Paper baggging, Liquid Dishwashing Detergent (LDD) soaking,
microwaving, cover in sawdust and wait a month or two, boiling
- so many methods of attempting to control drying problems.

I normally keep a couple of 2 liter cokes in the fridge. But this
evening I had to resort to ice cubes since I'd forgotten to restock
my cold coca cola supply. The ice cube tray was "full" - with
half cubes. Hmmmmm - the tray was filled with water a month
or two ago.

Freeze dried . . . Hmmmm.
Anyone pop a green piece in the freezer - for a couple of weeks
and check the weigth change?


I've turned wood frozen for five months at lower temperatures. No
difference, because it's not the freeze that counts, it's that frost-free
fan that takes the high relative humidity cold air out. It's evaporation,
same as all the other things you mention, that dries the wood. If the
surface looses faster than can be replaced from within, the wood checks.
Look at a piece of meat that's got "freezer burn" if you want to know what's
going to happen to the wood.

"Freeze-drying" in commercial parlance has more to do with vacuum than
temperature. http://home.howstuffworks.com/freeze-drying.htm Vacuum
drying is used with wood.