Wood Drying

[NM-Stone-Supply]

Hello,

I am very new to turning and need help. While cutting firewood (Alligator Juniper) I notice how pretty this wood is.Seems like perfect wood for turning. I cut most of the wood green.
What is the process to dry the wood?
Do I need to wax the ends?
How long is the dry time?
Thanks

Jason

 

[hunter-27]

yes wax the end grain, dry time is "basically" 1 year per inch. Cut boards will be quicker than whole logs. Keep out of the sunlight (cracks less). Search the forum Library for more detailed info.

 

[NM-Stone-Supply]

Great thanks
I think next time I go I will cut one of the old dead gray trees and see what the inside looks like. I don't cut them for wood much because the dry trees wear out the chainsaw chain.

Thank you
Jason

 

[bitshird]

Jason, Juniper and Cedar are very oily woods, they will require quite a while to dry, mostly depends on the diameter of the pieces, waxing the ends or using Anchorseal is a good idea to stop end checking, in a pinch you could paint the ends with latex paint, but you have to coat the ends several times over a couple of weeks, I've had better luck drying fresh cut wood by removing the bark.