"Toller" wrote in message
news
I bought three half log cherry burls at an auction. The logs were cut in
half and the ends were somewhat coated but not very well. I expect they
have been stored like that for some time.

Today I cut them into turning blanks. The newly cut wood measures 14-16%
moisture, compared to 24+ for fresh wood and about 8% for kiln dried in my
basement. So, they are pretty dry, but not bone dry.
A large piece of roughcut 12/4 curly maple I bought at the auction also
measures 14-16%, so it was probably just humid where they were stored.

Do I:
1) rough turn them, dry them, and finish turn them.
2) just finish turn them now
3) let them dry, and then finish turn them
4) something else

Green would be 30% of course. That's the fiber saturation point, though
there may be additional unbound water beyond that. Your wood has finished
half it's movement if you're going to go to zero moisture, but since that's
not possible, you might as well consider it's done 2/3. Inside/outside may
also differ. Turn to about half again final thickness and let it relax.
Week or two tops at your 50% RH should do for it. Weigh after week one and
week two. Re-turn as desired.

Of course, burls are seldom bowls at my house. I like the edge out there
catching the eye, so I'd do them to my final thickness at the start