Storing Wet Wood

[maxwell_smart007]

I just came into a windfall of maple and birch. I cut them up into blanks (bowl, peppermill, etc.) yesterday with the chainsaw. I then dipped the ends in parrafin wax, and put them in the new shed I built. Some of the birch has some REALLY nice spalting!

Today, many of them are covered in white fuzzy mould, and some have green surface mould. I sprayed them down with isopropyl alcohol, to try and kill the mould...

What am I doing wrong? Do i store them outside for a while? I tried to turn one of them, and it literally flung water all over my shop - it was like having a shower! (not that I couldn't use one after the hard day I had)...

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[fiferb]

You need to have some sort of air circulation. The blanks need to be stickered and a fan blowing. This will help. You'll still get some mold growing which could be a good thing because it will result in spalting.

 

[Fred]

Andrew ...

Try reading up on the procedures put forth by a fellow IAP member, Steven Russell. The information is located here http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/. Look down the left side and find his article on BOILING WOOD. There are many additional articles of interest on his site as well.

I have followed his instructions and have yet to experience any type of problems with my fresh cut green woods. I quite often cut some pretty hefty bowl blanks and not a single one has failed me in any way.

The drying period is also greatly reduced after boiling which I really don't understand either. The wood relaxes and turns great and there is minimal warping which can always be turned out prior to finishing.

Steven's methods are something every user of green cut woods needs to know about. Just follow his direction and I am sure you will be greatly rewarded.

Good luck and happy turning ... :biggrin:

 

[Rifleman1776]

Many (most?) experienced bowl turners actually prefer wet wood as it turns very easily.
Getting water splattered just goes with the territory.
To get rid of the mold, spraying with bleach will probably be more effective than alcohol.
You need to decide if you want wet/spalted wood or dried.
Drying requires air circulation. Spalting and rotting happens best in a damp location.