boiling instructions
 

OK, I went and did it. I picked up an after Christmas turkey fryer and
a propane bottle. It cost me more for the full bottle of propane than
the cooker.

Now for the ins and outs.

The general rule I've seen from reading is one hour of boiling for one
inch of thickness left in the roughed out turning.

However, after that opinions seem to differ.

One place said leave the wood in the water until it cools.
One said take it out and set it aside.
One said take it out and put it in a paper bag

Also does the size of the tenon matter or should I boil for the
thickness of the sides or the tenon?

There seem to be no guidlines for how long to leave the rough turning
before you can finish turning it. I was thinking of measuring the
weight of the piece every week.

boiling instructions
 

William,
I've only boiled Madrone, because it needs it. I've followed the crowd
that advocates leaving the walls 10% of diameter and then boiling for 3
to 4 hours depending on the size of the blank. I've also left the
blank in the water until it is room temperature. Then since the advent
of alcohol soaking to assist drying I've saoked 24 hours in Denatured
alcohol and wrapped the bottom and sealed in around the top lip. Then
store it out of the sun and where air can circulate into the interior
to dry it out. Madrone usually grows a beard of mold which can be
truned away after the blank is dry. I don't have a scale or a moisture
meter, just go by feel and it is usually two to three months before I
final turn and finish. Most of the Madrone I turn is over 12" and I've
had good success with this method. For wood prone to splitting and
cracking, like fruit wood and reactionary blanks boiling can't hurt.
Good luck
Roger Dunn