On 12/13/2016 8:54 AM, Electric Comet wrote:
On Mon, 12 Dec 2016 22:40:44 -0600
Martin Eastburn wrote:

Pros turn wood wet. So wet that the apron drips.

you mean they rough shape it while wet
let it season for some time then turn the final form

depends on the wood too

We (semi-pro want to be) pre-form e.g. going to have a bowl with 1/8"
walls then make them 1/2" or 3/4" and get it down - pack it in a
paper bag and seal it up - slow dry. Or microwave slowly with low
power to drive out the water. Sometimes you plasticize the wood and
you can shape it into odd shapes. Best done once turned to thin
finished size. Then hand sand or slow machine to clean up any
staining..

from op description sounds like the wood had stress that no amount
of dryness would remove

I've looked at it since and there are a few very small cracks that I
think are due to stress.
My estimate of 15 years drying was probably low. It could be 20 years -
I didn't keep a record.
Graham