ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be 12%
moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38% moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the center for
the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing this
thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer. The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each piece
in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

Thanx,

Vic




--
There are 10 kinds of people - those who understand binary and those who
don't

I'd get some coating on the wood soon. You want a slow cure process.

There are professional wood drying operations - see if you can find one.

The boards might twist or cup or anything. Let it settle down and dry
out and the internal forces might settle out.

Martin

On 6/22/2012 7:42 PM, Vic Baron wrote:
ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be
12% moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38%
moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the center
for the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing
this thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer. The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each
piece in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

Thanx,

Vic

On 06/22/2012 04:42 PM, Vic Baron wrote:
ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be
12% moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38%
moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the center
for the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing
this thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer. The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each
piece in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

I would turn the wood green, leaving it oversized, as it will warp when
it dries. You probably won't get a full 6" out of it though.

If you need full width, I'd get some anchorseal (wax emulsion) and coat
the critters then set them aside for a year or two. Cut them into two
6x6x7 pieces - they'll dry faster.

You probably want the bases sooner than that, so I'd find a different
wood vender and get new wood. The first vendor is either incompetent or
dishonest...

....Kevin
--
Kevin Miller - http://www.alaska.net/~atftb
Juneau, Alaska
In a recent survey, 7 out of 10 hard drives preferred Linux
Registered Linux User No: 307357, http://linuxcounter.net

On 6/22/2012 5:42 PM, Vic Baron wrote:
ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be
12% moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38%
moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the center
for the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing
this thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer. The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each
piece in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

Thanx,

Vic






vic - I live in southern CA, don't leave it alone, you will have
firewood. turn it a bit oversized, turn the hole in the center a bit
undersized, then put it in a paper bag so it dries slowly. If you were
making a bowl or something, I'd say turn it to finish size right away
and then let it warp and dry, but your project will have thick walls.
Boiling for a few hours helps prevent cracking. If the wood has no
pith, it will probably not crack.

there are plenty of wood turning clubs - one may be near you - you can
find me though my web site, wbnoble.com should you want to follow up.

Vic, given that the wood has been at your place for a couple of days+, you
are already running out of time to get the advice given acted on. Bill,
Keven and Martin have all given great advice. You might also try to dry it
in the microwave.

http://www.woodworkweb.com/woodwork-...105-microwave-
wood-drying.html

Whatever you do, do quickly.

Deb


Vic Baron wrote:

ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be 12%
moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38% moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the center
for the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing this
thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer. The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each piece
in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

Thanx,

Vic

Thanx all.

Trying a hybrid approach. Rough turned, drilled undersized hole and am
trying the mwave route.

Will be an interesting experience. Sure like how easily wet wood turns
though!!

Vic



"Dr. Deb" wrote in message
...

Vic, given that the wood has been at your place for a couple of days+, you
are already running out of time to get the advice given acted on. Bill,
Keven and Martin have all given great advice. You might also try to dry
it
in the microwave.

http://www.woodworkweb.com/woodwork-...105-microwave-
wood-drying.html

Whatever you do, do quickly.

Deb


Vic Baron wrote:

ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be
12%
moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38% moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the center
for the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing this
thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer. The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each
piece
in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

Thanx,

Vic

Vic Baron wrote:




Thanx all.

Trying a hybrid approach. Rough turned, drilled undersized hole and am
trying the mwave route.

Will be an interesting experience. Sure like how easily wet wood turns
though!!

Vic



Yeah, its so nice to see those long streamers spinning up off the piece.
Too bad it does not stay like you turned it. :-)

Good luck

Deb

On Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:36:11 -0700, "Vic Baron"
wrote:
Did you use the side of the block, or turn it with the hole being end
grain?

Hopefully you did it cross grain, end grain things, especially deep
ones, crack and warp the most..




Thanx all.

Trying a hybrid approach. Rough turned, drilled undersized hole and am
trying the mwave route.

Will be an interesting experience. Sure like how easily wet wood turns
though!!

Vic



"Dr. Deb" wrote in message
t...

Vic, given that the wood has been at your place for a couple of days+, you
are already running out of time to get the advice given acted on. Bill,
Keven and Martin have all given great advice. You might also try to dry
it
in the microwave.

http://www.woodworkweb.com/woodwork-...105-microwave-
wood-drying.html

Whatever you do, do quickly.

Deb


Vic Baron wrote:

ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be
12%
moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38% moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the center
for the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing this
thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer. The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each
piece
in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

Thanx,

Vic

Of course I did it the wrong way, I'm a newbie! But so far so good, it's
down to about 15% moisture inside the hole from 37% and is only a little out
of shape. Still within the size that I'll be able to get my project out of
it. The outer edges are about 2 - 5% so I'm letting the wood sit now until
the weekend. Hoping it will stabilize. Fortunately, I live alone. If I were
still married, I think putting huge chunks of wood in a brown paper bag and
putting them in the mwave would have been cause to call the men in the white
coats! LOL

Vic

"Mac Davis" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:36:11 -0700, "Vic Baron"
wrote:
Did you use the side of the block, or turn it with the hole being end
grain?

Hopefully you did it cross grain, end grain things, especially deep
ones, crack and warp the most..




Thanx all.

Trying a hybrid approach. Rough turned, drilled undersized hole and am
trying the mwave route.

Will be an interesting experience. Sure like how easily wet wood turns
though!!

Vic



"Dr. Deb" wrote in message
et...

Vic, given that the wood has been at your place for a couple of days+,
you
are already running out of time to get the advice given acted on. Bill,
Keven and Martin have all given great advice. You might also try to dry
it
in the microwave.

http://www.woodworkweb.com/woodwork-...105-microwave-
wood-drying.html

Whatever you do, do quickly.

Deb


Vic Baron wrote:

ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be
12%
moisture content. Piece arrived - it is beautiful but it's 38%
moisture.

What I am turning is two bases roughly 6x6x6 that will be the base for
hurricane lamps. There will be a 3" diameter x 4" deep hole I the
center
for the lamp oil cannister.

I've read several similar threads relating to bowls, etc but nothing
this
thick.

What is the best way to proceed?

I live in So California so it gets quite warm and dry in the summer.
The
wood is unwrapped and is not waxed.

Should leave the piece whole and let it air dry?

Should I cut it into two 6x6x7 pieces and let them air dry? Put each
piece
in the mwave before turning?

Should I cut them and rough turn them including drilling the 3" hole?

Really confused. Hate to wind up with a big piece of firewood.

Any suggestions appreciated - am really puzzled.

Thanx,

Vic