Sealing wood w/ wax question???

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les-smith

les-smith

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For the last four weekends I've been cutting wood at my dad's place from trees damaged in the ice storm. He has a lot of pecan and ash that looks like it might be good stuff.

I was going to make some bowl blanks from some of the stuff to use later and I was going to seal it with wax. I've noticed that you see a lot of bowl blanks completely coverd in wax (all sides covered).

Does covering all of the wood still allow it to dry? To me it seems like it would seal the wood completely and keep it from drying.
 
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Do you mean 'real' wax that you have melted or wood sealer? As I understand the wood sealer still allows the wood to breath. If you only cover the outside, wrap the outside only with brown paper otherwise you will get uneven drying and it will crack. sometimes I only paint the end grain, place in a bag of shavings and when I am ready to turn do the alcohol soak.
 
Yeah, I was going to use regular wax.

Is woodsealer a waxy substance? I always assumed it was sort of like glue.
 
The popular product, Anchorseal, sold by U.C. Coatings
https://www.uccoatings.com/
is a water soluble paraffin. That is wax. It does not breath. Not supposed to. I coat end grains only. It keeps well so don't be afraid to buy plenty. Check prices. Last time I bought, it was much cheaper in the 5 gal. bucket and that had free shipping.
 
Often, if you have the time I prefer to rough turn the bowl green, then pack in paper bags. Let that sit a month or 2 minimum, then turn the second time to final thickness and finish. That way the finished bowl will not warp. (Which is the reason you are drying it in the first place.
 
Hey Guys,

What about small limbs for turning pens. I have a bunch of apple and pear trees that I can cut limbs off of.

How would I store them? Do I cut them down to 6" or leave them longer. Do I seal them too.

Thanks....
 
I'm going to watch this thread as my wife wants me to cut down two Bradford pears that are about 20' plus high and about 6" or more diameter at the base. I plan on salvaging them as much as possible as I hear pear turns really well.
 
for smaller pieces like pen blanks cut oversize, would dipping them in parafin wax work?

Have read in the past that someone, instead of buying anchor seal, would put chunks of styrofoam into a pail, then pour gasoline over it. the gas would melt the styrofoam and he would then mix that up into a slurry and coat the ends of his fresh cut logs to slow the moisture loss.
 
Originally posted by rhahnfl

I'm going to watch this thread as my wife wants me to cut down two Bradford pears that are about 20' plus high and about 6" or more diameter at the base. I plan on salvaging them as much as possible as I hear pear turns really well.
Click to expand...

I just turned a piece of Bradford pear that was a branch about 5" in diameter and a little more than two feet long. It was cut about two years ago. I slabbed the sides and sealed the ends with Anchorseal. It was very-very hard. It would have turned better (I believe) a year ago. Nevertheless, my wife was happy with the results.


2008127151154_rolling%20pin.jpg
 
Originally posted by mwenman

for smaller pieces like pen blanks cut oversize, would dipping them in parafin wax work?

Have read in the past that someone, instead of buying anchor seal, would put chunks of styrofoam into a pail, then pour gasoline over it. the gas would melt the styrofoam and he would then mix that up into a slurry and coat the ends of his fresh cut logs to slow the moisture loss.
Click to expand...

Sounds messy stinky and dangerous to me. Anchorseal goes a long way. That would still be my preference.
 
For small blanks like pen blanks I keep an old crock pot with bits and pieces of used candles in it. I dip the grain ends in it and (once hardened) stack them on the shelves. I've had very few crack but they will twist and warp. Especially fruit wood (I have a peach tree) that came from too close to the center of the branch. I don't notice any appreciable smell (of course my day job is at a wastewater treatment plant)and it's free!
 
I have an old bucket of interior water base paint that has worked pretty well. Small stuff gets dunked and larger pieces I have an old paint brush that I put a coat on then let dry then put a 2nd coat on. Works for me.
Bob
 
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