"Darrell" wrote in message
...
Phil at small (vs at large) wrote:

Aint no quick way-- Unless you saw them up & make a kiln. Wood air
dries at about 1" a year. Remove the bark--Paint the ends immediately
after cutting-- there are commercial waxes available for this ( ck out
alt.woodturning) I've always used gloss oil based paint. I've had
pretty good luck air drying in the shop after I sawed the boards to
1.5"-- You did not mention what kind of wood nor what you are going to
use it for. Aeromatic Cedar won't need much drying time, but it will
split like crazy if you leave it in the sun
Good luck



I have a few acres and a quite a few young birch. I am making
coasters. I cut up a bunch from a just cut down tree and wound up with
a ton of end grain sanding. I was hoping to help myself out by drying
the timber.

Thank you for your input, if I cut them about 1/2 inch wide the seemed
to dry by the fire fairly fast.

Yep, wood loses moisture from the end at about ten times (10-15 according to
FPL) the rate of face grain. Phil heard an inch per year somewhere, and has
not, apparently done much drying or research. That "rule" applies to boards
in outdoor New England.

For biscuits, you're going to want to cut them green, because birch,
especially white birch, spalts so easily in the log. The bark is
waterproof, and so will hold the interior above 20% MC - the mold point -
for a _very_long time. Removing the bark is a guarantee of radial checks,
so you're doing the right thing - less the fire, which might increase the
rate of checking - right now.

We turners often sand at about 100 while the wood is wet, using open coat
stearated paper. Cuts faster then, one grit from reality after it dries,
and doesn't build up heat and produce end checks so readily.