I turned a bowl two days ago out of Silver Maple. I immediately soaked the
bowl
in denatured alcohol for a couple of hours and then let air dry for a couple
of hours.
Then into the microwave for a few 2 minute blasts over a half hour period.
Then I went out and
put on 50% thinned deft. I slathered it on and boy did the warm wood
soak up the deft. Especially the end grain. That dried over night.
Finished sanded it,
sanded the inside smooth, wood burned some lighthouses on the outside and
buffed it.
Then another slathered coat of deft.

There has been no cracks develop yet. It has begun to warp slightly.

We will see.

I went ot a speaker who discussed the alcohol treatment. He said taping
brown paper bags
on the outside of a bowl would force the bowl to dry from the inside out
would
cause the stresses to hold the cracks together. I thought that sealing just
the outside with
lacquer would do the same thing.

We'll see.

I love to turn wet wood but hate to wait the six months for a thick bowl
blank to dry.
I have tried the detergent. Now I have a gallon of soap to use over the
next 50 years.
I have tried the microwave but am too impatient and zap it too much and get
cracks.
I have thick bowls under my lathe drying but want to finish them now.
Now I am doing the alcohol and deft thing.
We'll see.
"Dick" wrote in message
oups.com...
When I wet turn fresh cut wood I usually set it aside until it is dry
and then finish it. But can I do something to totally finish the
outside of a thin-walled wet-turned piece on the day I turn it and
while it is still on the lathe? If so, I would appreciate your exact
recipes please?

Dick