Microwave Drying Wood Bowl Blank Woodturning Video
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- čas přidán 4. 09. 2020
- Microwave Drying Wood Bowl Blank Woodturning Video
Drying a green, or wet bowl blank is essential if you want a truly round finished bowl. There are many ways to dry a roughed wood bowl blank when woodturning, but few methods are as fast as microwave drying. Take your time and rough an even walled bowl blank on the lathe then head to the microwave and follow this guideline for making gradual, by relatively quiet steps to dry your blank before turning. Woodturning dry twice turned bowls is an advanced technique and requires understanding and patience working with the wide range of timber in various states of moisture content. Weighing the bowl blank and taking careful notes is the most important key to mastering this wood drying technique.
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VISIT MY RECOMMENDED WOOD BOWL TURNING EQUIPMENT PAGE
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You may also learn more in-depth information from these articles at www.TurnAWoodBowl.com
• Twice Turning
turnawoodbowl.com/twice-turni...
• Drying Green Wood Bowls
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In this video, I use a digital scale. Here is the link to this item:
• Digital Scale for Weighing Bowl
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#turnawoodbowl - Jak na to + styl
I tried drying a bowl in the microwave. I didn’t know anything, only the some people used the microwave to dry their bowls. I left it in for 10 minutes and before I could return, it burst into flames. The microwave door flew open and I dowsed it in the sink. The bowl of Monterey Pine was totally an even shiney black. So I gave a few coats of polyurethane and gave it to a friend who thought that was a cool story. Now I know better. Thanks.
Bet it was pretty dry tho
If you want to know about bowls this man has a lot of experience .you get a novice very quickly
thanks? ;)
Kent, you are hands down my favorite turner on CZcams. You are a “giver” in a world full of “takers”, and for that I Thank You! You are also dang good at what you do ; )
Thank you kindly, Mark. Your words make me smile!!! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Am from ethiopia yet i have a good effort using ancient tools like scrape tools, knife, hummer, saw, likewise i need mini wood lathe machine i need to buy the machine may be dubai is affordable to access so anyone who help me well come so far i respect this great and especial uniqe skilled professional in the unverse.
Thank you for so patiently explaining everything, I’m a very keen newbie to turning but have no local class to go to. Your videos are very informative and helpful. I like to understand why I’m to do something not just be told to do or not to do with no reason why.You sir, are a gem. Please keep up the great work. 👍🏻
You are so welcome! Thank you and Happy Turning!
Great! I have finally found out how to microwave my green bowls! Thanks!
Great info as always Kent. please keep the videos coming I'm getting better at turning Thanks to you
Thanks for what you offer to those that are starting out in this endeavor. Your videos are the most thorough and extremely insightful.
You're very welcome! Thanks and Happy Turning!
So, so, informative and articulate. No words wasted. My go-to learning bowler!
Thanks! Happy to be the go-to bowler. LOL ;) Happy Turning!
Kent, This video is pure GOLD, really answers all my questions re-microwave drying bowl blanks!
Wow, thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed this. Happy Turning!
Hi Kent, I've used this technique around a dozen tines since I watched this great video nearly a year ago (I most often turn dried blanks). Being the less-than-patient person that I am, the thought of building up a huge inventory of bowls in bags on a shelf is not satisfying!. The MW method you outline has worked very well for me, on species as different as freshly cut Redwood and year-old Elm, Walnut, Maple and Pear, for small bowls and large ones. So far none of them have failed. I've learned a couple of additional things. First, to make sure to leave the tenon big enough during the first turning so that my chuck will still grab it after truing it up. Second, to be sure to scrape off any residual wax or sealant from the base - it will melt and stick to the MW turntable (guess how I learned that one). BTW, I generally MW them for 60 to 90 seconds at the highest setting, depending on size, typically four tines a day. 30 cycles seems to be the standard for me, no matter what the bowl size.
David, sounds great. Thank you for writing and sharing! Good points about the tenon and excess wax on base. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I've been watching your videos and my wife goes, "is that the guy from Lost" ... Terry O'quinn lol
LOL! Wow, you're not the first to say that. ;) Happy Turning!
Yes start with 30 seconds. My first attempt made several mistakes 1) used our kitchen microwave 2) started with a longer time but did it while my wife was out of town. Two days after she got back she could still tell by the “aroma” that I did something in the house that I thought wouldn’t be noticed. Ha! Lesson: Buy a microwave from a garage sale and keep it in the garage.
Thanks for the tips! Much appreciated, probably helps the marriage too. ;)
Kent - your videos are excellent! I’ve learned a lot from every video, and each video has helped me be a better turner. Thanks for everything you do.
Thanks Joseph! I'm so glad this has helped you. Happy Turning!
Thank you again Ken! I've been practicing the techniques you taught me through your classes and am excited to try this on 14" x 9" post oak bowl I finally got roughed out. It's a beast with lots of cracking but I'm having fun and learning.
Thanks so much for the great information. Love your website.
You're welcome. Thank you!
Timing was spot on for me, Kent. I just turned a bowl from maple that is 20% wet and wanted to know how to dry in a microwave....you have answered my question in detail. Thank you, as always, for you invaluable lessons. Stay safe and take care over that side of the globe.
Glad this was timed well for you. All the best!!!
Great info, good to learn. Keep up the hard work. Thanks for posting
Thanks, will do!
Thank you so much kent. i actually seen someone else's video where they used a microwave, and it made me have questions that this video answered for me. you just got yourself a subscriber buddy.👍
Glad I could help! And thanks for the sub! Happy Turning!
I have been wanting to know this particular info for a while.
Thanks so much Kent
Love your informative and helpful channel
My pleasure J V! Enjoy and Happy Turning!
Thank you Kent! I have a lot of Pecan I got almost a year ago. I am fixing to start doing first turns.
You are welcome! Enjoy that pecan!!!
I love your easy to understand explainations.
Thank you, Tim. Happy Turning!
Excellent advise! Thank you so much. Keep making videos
My pleasure Mike! Thanks and Happy Turning!
Thanks for this great video. This information will help immensely in drying.
My pleasure. Happy Turning!
Excellent info to know. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure!
Love this video, I just turned a green mulberry live edge bowl. Sooo much help. Love your videos.
Thank you, Ron! Sounds like a nice bowl. Love mulberry! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Another great video!!! Thank you so much!
Thanks, Mike!
Jim Sprague just put together an instructive video on how to make a drying kiln out of a refrigerator. I think the wood he uses is the same species, cut at the same time, and out of one large piece of stock....thus the consistency of moisture. He dries about thirty bowls at a time and it seems to work for him. His bowls are usually large...10-12 inches with a one inch thickness in the wall. Between the two of you geniuses, I'm am getting a pretty good education! Many thanks and best wishes from Kauai....please stay healthy.
Thanks for sharing this info. Yes, a drying box is another option and will be a future video. Stay tuned!
Always learn something very useful from You. Thanks David
Glad to hear it! Thanks and Happy Turning!
Very useful thanks.
Thank you for this video. I haven't turned anything yet, but your video answered my questions on microwave drying.
Glad it was helpful! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Thank you Kent ..very helpful information
You are welcome!
Great video 👍
Thank you for a great explanation on how all that drying with a Microwave works. As a very new wood turner with some new wet logs and not wanting to wait 6 months or a year for them to dry so I can turn them this is going to be very helpful. Patience with the Microwave and don't push the drying.
You got it John! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Thank you very much !!!
You're welcome Matthew! Happy Turning!
Nice video, well explained and informative. Props
Thanks Miles!
Great information I've dried a few myself in microwave 🙂
Thanks for watching
Simple explanations and very helpful video
Glad it was helpful! Happy Turning!
Thanks Kent, I turned my first green wood bowl today from laurel. I'm going to try your technique.
Sounds great David! Enjoy and Happy Turning!
Nice clear explanation. Thank you
Thank you kindly! Happy Turning!
Wow that's amazing info on drying thank you very much for your help has a new comer to wood turning I need all the good information I can get and yours is top notch .
You are very welcome Brette! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I’m a new subscriber and Kent, I impressed with the info and your delivery.. very sincere snd grounded... I look for to the learning path.... starting with Sharpening...👍👍
Thanks and welcome. All the best to you! Happy Turning!
Thanks very useful information I'll use it all the time I live in the UK so the weather changes all the time as does the outside temperature so again thanks for the info be safe
You're welcome. Yes, this technique works well if you can't control your environment well.
Kent, very good info. I might add the wattage of the micro is important to time drying. I have had good success at lower wattage with more time up to 2 minutes, depending on wall thickness and diameter and wood type. I like putting the bowl in a double paper sack and letting it cool down and lose moisture slowly. Typically I spend 3 - 7 days until weight stabilizes. Tracing the outline is a great idea, I will start doing that. As always enjoy your teaching and sharing. Finally got educated about trying to fashion a swept back grind on a v flute shaped bowl gouge .....not gonna happen. Cheers and stay safe from the low humidity state of MT.
Thanks for sharing. Good information! All the best to you in your beautiful dry state of Montana. Happy Turning!
New subscriber and fellow Floridian here, also requested to join the Facebook group. Glad I found the channel, I'm a complete newbie to this, I turned a few wood projects on my metal lathe. My wife and I want to start turning wood, so we put down a deposit for our first wood lathe. We will be picking it up in Georgia next month. Looking forward to learn!
Welcome aboard! Awesome for you guys! Enjoy and Happy Turning!
Kent, Thanks for the idea!!! I picked up a used microwave at a barn sale, it sure cuts the drying time, Thanks again....
Bob
You're welcome. Brilliant idea on used microwave. Your wife must love you! ;) Happy Turning!
thank you so much, i can find all answers in your videos
Thanks!!!
Thanks for the info. I’m still a beginner. I turned a very small Myrtlewood bowl yesterday and I’m trying the microwave technique. Hoping for the best. Thanks again.
Sounds good Carl. Enjoy the process. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Thanks for the very informational video. I'm going to try doing this. You explained it very well. I Really enjoy watching your videos.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you so much. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I've been doing oak on defrost. 4min cycles one time daily for 3 or 4 days with great results. Nice video Kent..
Sounds good. Hopefully that oak wasn't frozen. Ha ;) Happy Turning!
Another good video, thanks.
Thank you, George!
Excelente video. Muy claro y metódico. Gracias!!.
Muchas gracias. Me alegro de que esto te haya ayudado y te haya quedado claro. ¡Feliz giro!
First of all i would like greatly thank you for sharing which most case where not sloved in my job area. Keep on it
Glad it helped
I’ve seen this procedure on other CZcams channels but not explained and demonstrated so well. I turned two cherry bowls this week (first turning) and applied Anchorseal 2. Now I’ll try this. Thanks, Kent. Love your videos.
Thanks, Paul! Best of luck to you and your drying!
@@TurnAWoodBowl - I have quite a few rough blanks which have anchorseal on the end grain. If I put them in the microwave would the sealer melt off or prevent the water from escaping? My wife will kill me if I screw up her microwave.
@@weathormantom7206 Anchorseal is a wax based sealer, so using it in microwave will melt the wax, and it may start dripping in or around the microwave. On another post he says that he is not sealing his blanks prior to microwaving them.
Got a great FOG candidate for this process. First bowl I turned from this log split in 3/4 places. Wide cracks, one was at least 3/8" at outer rim.
The wood looks like a light colored cedar. But no aroma, only a wet wood smell. I'll try to remember to let you know how it comes out, although I don't have a scale to keep track of progress, the difference should be noticeable.
Thanks for your vast knowledge and willingness to share
This information is exellent, and not only for bowls. I have two classical guitars. that I have to constantly watch for swelling or shrinking due to moisture in the air.
Ahh, I can imagine that would change their performance. Very interesting. Happy Turning!
As I am very new to Wood turning I now understand why my bowls are cracking. I have been turning them once and then waxed and put them on the shelf. Think I will now have to buy a microwave. Thank you for the great information which is easy to understand and very well explained.
Glad to help. Thanks for sharing! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Thank you Kent. Most of my green turnings are sought after, seems the more "wonky" the better lol. Even on my experimental burned wet wood project (I hated it in every way) someone made an offer lol. Weird how things "Turn" out
LOL, yes there's a market for weird! LOL
Good info man thank you. I'm subscribed.
Excellent, thank you!
Thank you, very interesting
Glad you enjoyed it. Happy Turning!
Great info! I've tried this on some of my "learning curve" bowl attempts with chunks from my firewood pile and had remarkable results...just turned once, then microwaved. I've had cracks emerge in white oak right off the lathe that closed up after microwaving. I will have to try twice turning once I get to where the bowls are more "keepers."
Yesterday I tried my first lidded bowl/box. The lid turned out a bit loose, but not bad for a first try. I then started microwaving. After the second run through the lid was stuck on the bowl. I had to use a chisel to pry it loose. When both are fully dry, I will try to sand it down to fit again. My guess is that it warped a bit around the pith.
Also, great books beside your microwave. Those are among my favorites.
Thanks! Yes, lidded projects really need to be dry first in order to fit and stay fit. Glad you like the books. ;) Happy Turning!
So when are you starting in-person workshops, you are best trainer so far online
Thanks John, possible in the future. Stay tuned. Happy Turning!
Hello Kent. I like your videos. You have it dialed in quite nicely. Voice over, great editing. The whole ball of wax. Keep up the good work. I have been drying lottsa different woods in a microwave for many years. Thru trial and error, I have developed a simple system that works to an ‘adequate’ level in most cases. Wrap the piece in three layers of fresh newespaper. Nuke for 20 seconds on, 20 minutes off. Leave it undisturbed in the oven. After 20 minutes, the moisture will migrate into the paper. Repeat the 20/20 until the newspaper emerges dry. Allow to rest and stabilize between cycles. Not as scientific as weighing but it works for me. IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid depression, don’t read the newspaper.
David, Thank you for writing and sharing! That sounds like a great technique. Well done. Happy Turning!
Thanks Kent. I’m going to “microwave-cook” my blanks from now on.
Have fun. Just warm them, not "cook". LOL ;) Happy Turning!
Thanks so much. I'm struggling with drying Kuksas naturally and preventing mold at the same time. I'm going to try this. Thank you again.
Enjoy! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
@@TurnAWoodBowl Thank you. By the way it worked. In 20 microwave stints at 1:15 each, one Kuksa went from 370 grams down to 200, and one 450 grams down to 240. No cracking. I'm happy as can be to have found your video.
Hey my friend. Thanks a lot ! Thats very interesting :) From Quebec.
Thank you in Quebec! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
If you put the green bowl in a pot of boiling water for and hour( I think it 30-60min for every 1/2" of thickness) it will dry twice as fast if you leave it to dry naturally after that or you can microwave it and it will dry faster than a raw bowl and with less warpage.
It works a great for me.
Very cool. Thanks for sharing! Happy Turning!
I was playing around with microwaving real thick sections at some point and discovered you can actually make charcoal in the microwave inside blocks of wood.
The water in the middle got super heated, well beyond ignition temperature of the wood but because that section was shielded from oxygen by the wood around it and the expanding vapors pushing everything outward, it was able to pyrolize without burning.
I suspected that may be happening when i noticed that there was a jet of gasses mostly coming out of a small hole and it looked like it got way hotter than waters boiling point. So i drilled out the pinhole and sure enough there was a black section of charcoal below it. Dug some out and burned it to confirm.
Havent thought of a use case for this but you could implant stuff like silicon carbide to try to localize heating in specific areas
I had a chunk of very wet honey locust...I rough turned it in January and then packed it in a bag of shavings. I got it out once every 4- 6 weeks and turned it a little. After about 6 sessions I was able to finish it and so far it hasn't cracked or moved; the walls are 1/8" or so. Good info looking forward to more...
That sounds like a good strategy. I love honey locust! Beautiful species. Happy Turning!
I like to use a cake cooling rack when resting the bowl. I have been able to dry some bowls in 2-3 days without much effort.
That's a great idea!
Nice.. I have turned green bowls for more than 50 years..after turning the green bowl I coat with paste wax..especially the end grain..the coat with cellathane or now shrink wrap and use a hair dryer or heat gun.. I weight the bowl and lay it aside and when the moisture loss weight is about 25% I put the bowl in my wood shop attic..temps there often go over 140 degrees,, some are up there 3-4 weeks if summer.. the key is to keep weighting them.. when the weight loss stops I then returned the bowl and finish them.. it’s easy, fun and I have 20-25 bowls up there many times..over the years..the bigger the bowl the thicker the walls have to be and often the longer it takes to dry out....
Awesome, thanks for sharing this technique.
I was waiting to see you pull out a moisture meter, but I guess you didn't need to with weighing the piece after nuking it. Nice expalnation. Thanks Kent.
Nope and they really don't tell you much. A moisture meter on a thick bowl like this is similar to licking your finger, holding it up in the air. You'll never really know the true wind direction or speed. Moisture meters give you a rough idea, but that's not what we're looking for here. We need to reach equilibrium. Happy Turning!
Hot stuff! I have done this before.
Fantastic!
You are an outstanding instructer! I was wondering if a dehydrator can be used and if so do you have any video's on using one. Thanks for helping everyone.
Thank you, Paul for your kind words. You can try a dehydrator, but I think it might dry the wood too quickly. Let me know how it goes. Happy Turning!
Thanks for this very informative video Kent! I watched a bunch and yours definitely gave the clearest explanation of how to do this method. I live in a very dry climate 16-24% RH this time of year and shelf drying is basically a recipe for end checks. This method will definitely help eliminate that issue, I hope!
Excellent! Glad it helped. Happy Turning!
I by XD
I recently microwaved a small cherry bowl. I slightly overdid the time and actually ended up "charring" the wood. The "charring" followed a void in the wood and said charring ended up on the inside surface of the finished bowl. Even though the results were attractive and interesting, in the future I think I will attempt to refrain from setting my bowl on fire. :>)
LOL, we learn from doing! Charred cherry can be cool too. ;) Happy Turning!
Thanks for another great video. I’m so happy I found your channel and website. It has really helped me. One question though: do you change the powers settings on your microwave and what is the wattage of the one you’re using?
Good question. No, I have the microwave set to full power. I adjust the time and start with a short interval first.
Good and informative as always! I found a big old Husqvarna microwave for like 5 bucks at the Salvation Army, a Swedish brand, made in the U.S. sold in Sweden must be perfect for drying Swedish wood with American instructions...
LOL, I love it! Yes, getting a dedicated wood bowl drying microwave makes your spouse happy too. ;)
@@TurnAWoodBowl Exactly, so right now there's no need for a two-story dog house...
@@dengudomlige8644 LOL!!! But if you do relocate to the dog house, be sure there's electricity for the microwave. Ha!
@@TurnAWoodBowl Actually the dog house shares a wall with my "shop", I have solar panels and an inverter on the roof... Ya gotta think ahead...
The inverter isn't on the roof... Just sayin'
I’ve watched a few videos on drying 1st turned bowls in a microwave. You have given the best explanation, by far. Curious about two things though. First, do you seal the end grain before starting the process. Second, how much cracking do you get compared to other methods.
Duane, good questions. No, I do not seal the end grain when microwaving. The cracking depends on many variables, mainly the tree species and if the pith is still in the bowl blank. Some species crack when you look at them wrong and others never seem to crack. I recommend practicing with the local species available to you and learn all about them through experience. All the best to you!
A green turned bowl looses moisture at the end grain areas faster than at the side grain areas. That is why some people use Anchor Seal on end grain; to slow down moisture loss. I have tried ADDING moisture to the end grain to minimize the cracking/splitting that eventually starts at the end grain. I get a green turned bowl comfortably warm in the microwave; rest it until cool; then give the end grain, inside and outside the bowl, a spritz of water from a Windex-type spray bottle before the next microwave period. Warm in microwave, rest, squirt water. Repeat a few times. When the smallest of cracks begin to appear at end grain I stop microwaving and rest the bowl several days or a couple of weeks. At the second turning I usually have a bowl that is close to equalized and only warps a bit when complete.
Early on I scorched an alder bowl in my wife's kitchen microwave. Bowl bottom and tenon area turned black and made smoke. It made the microwave stink terribly for months. Go to a garage sale. Get a used microwave with turntable just for bowls.
Chris, Thank you for writing and sharing! I'll have to experiment with the mist of water. Thanks and Happy Turning!
Ive been having great success with this. Though on my small pieces I just nuke high for 2 minutes and that reduces the moisture to manageable levels.
Excellent. Happy Turning!
We just bought a cooking range that has a feature for dehydrating food. My first thought was how it might work to dry out wet turning wood. The dehydration feature in the oven is really just very low temperature warm air blowing around inside and wood is sort of in the vegetable category. Kinda.
If the low temp is around 90° or below. Very slow process, not like cooking, or even food dehydrating. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Great video. I'm curious as to whether burls are any more stable than regular grain?
Great video on playing with speed drying, Kent. Your graphics background really shows up in your excellent thumbnails. I bet you have a high CTR.
Yeah, I think so, but I'm not sure yet. Just making videos to help fellow turners. I love sharing info and the challenge of making it clear and as simple as possible. Thanks Mike!
You all probably dont care at all but does any of you know of a method to log back into an instagram account?
I was stupid forgot my login password. I appreciate any help you can give me.
@Vincent Reuben instablaster ;)
@Rory Kamryn Thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site on google and Im trying it out atm.
Seems to take quite some time so I will reply here later when my account password hopefully is recovered.
@Rory Kamryn it worked and I actually got access to my account again. I'm so happy!
Thanks so much you really help me out :D
Hi Kent
I heard several places that the % of moisture need to be around 12% to be dry.
With your explication , I understand that the moisture needs to be closed to the moisture around us .
Here (middle of Québec, Canada) , moisture is quite high , around 50% .
Sure that at 50%, my blanks are not dry at all
I used microwave, and follow the % and also weigh, every time I fall between 12 to 15% when it is stabilized
I'm not sure if I understood correctly your explication !
Sorry for my bad English, I'm from French area in Canada!!
Thanks for very good videos as usual!
Checking moisture is ok. But weighing the bowl will tell you when it is stabilized. When you can weigh the bowl over several days, or even a few weeks, and the weight does not change, it is then equalized.
Hi. Was wondering if you've ever tried a dehumidifier to dry bowls. I saw a video by the wood whirler and it seemed to work well. Thanks! I really enjoy your work.
Thanks for all your great content Kent, its really helping me learn and improve my turning. With the microwave is this on full power or defrost power?
Thanks, Ian. Yes, full power. Happy Turning!
I needed a piece of white oak to make the base and bottom of a keepsake box. The stack of white oak had been milled about 5 years ago and air dried under cover outside. I had it on a trailer , and rain had set in on it for several days. Anyway I cut off a piece a little bit bigger than what I needed. I then ran it in the microwave 8 minutes at a time for like 5 times. I let it cool down each time. It smelled awesome!!!!! But it was so brittle when trying to work it. White oak is naturally hard and easily to chip out on the jointer. But this piece wanted to shatter. A hand plane helped , but putting a supper course belt on the sander took all the tearout , out and then worked it down to a polish with a worn out belt. So even without any kinda polymer finish it will polish out to a mirror glaze if it is that dry.
Gave it to Nurse " Good Body"' she was a blind date that I was set up with. She is a wood grain lover like I am and was amazed at how it is polished like a shellac , or polymer finish is on it but its just that it's tiger striped oak , dry as a bone and polished with a worn out belt. As it acclimates to moisture it may break itself apart tho.
That's awesome. Glad it worked for you. And that sounds like a very cool piece. Well done!
Great instructional- i've enjoyed your videos. Based on several of them it seems like you may have an affinity for honey locust lol.
LOL, yes if I can get it. This was a tree I grew up with. Happy Turning!
Howdy Kent!
Fantastic video! I seem to always want to come back and watch it for a refresher sometimes when I want to nuke my rough pieces to dry faster.
One question:
I have an old, yet dependable toaster oven, would you ever suggest someone using one of these, and if so, how would I go about drying my rough turned pieces? Time/temperature/durations?
Thanks! You're one of the most informative CZcamsr woodworker I've come across!
Cheers from Georgia!
Thank you for writing and sharing your kind words! Yes, a toaster oven could work if you can set it super low, like 100°-120°. I don't have a link but I know there is a temperture based controlled that you can plug the toaster into and place a probe in the toaster. When the temp reaches your setting (100°) it will kick off the power to the toaster. Also, keep the door cracked a bit to allow the moisture to escape.
All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I'm not a patient person, so microwaving is my mo. Actually like spalting; aged wood is my preference and can do bowl isin a few hours. Anyway, I've heard some guys put first turning in boiling water, supposed to burst wood cell structure, there by significantly reducing warpage. So my take on that is to do microwaving at 5 min. intervals. Had pretty good experience of green to finish in an afternoon
Thanks for sharing. If that works for you and the wood you're turning great. I've found longer than a minute or two gets too hot.
Ever tried to cook the wood in salt water? It works quite well and releases tensions in the wood.
Sounds interesting. I'll have to give it a try. Happy Turning!
Great video my microwave beeps every 15 seconds on defrost to turn it over and I do it for 30 seconds and works great but I like to finish turn them
Sounds like a good strategy. Happy Turning!
Another great video Kent, I learned a lot of good information! However I do have some questions my wife brought up when I wanted to use HER microwave to dry some blanks! She was concerned about the oils in some of the pine and fir wood tainting the microwave and making it unusable for food. Are there concerns along this line of thinking? Are there any woods that should not be dried this way? Thanks for your input!
Great question. While I can't give medical advice, I would avoid any woods that's have been known to cause you to have allergic reactions. I doubt that pine and fir would cause any issues other than maybe get some resin in the microwave, but don't take my word for it. I recommend getting a dedicated microwave to make it all good at the home. ;)
I keep mine in a home built kiln, 2 months at 120deg. I have no idea if it's too long but they come out bone dry and then sit until I can get to finish turning them. is there an optimal temp and time to dry?
Love your videos and web page. I have trouble with large green bowls (12 )-16"). I've been turning them about 10% wall thickness and the same on the bottom. But I still have the bottom crack on me. What am I doing wrong.
You may be leaving too much sap wood, the lighter, wetter wood just under the bark. Some species of tree will develop cracks quickly in the sap wood. Try turning farther into the wood, past the sap wood and see if that helps.
Not a single wasted word. What a thoughtful presentation. Please keep up the good work! Two questions…are there ANY differences in how a bowl performs w finishing treatments or resin and CA filling, mw dried vs slower? And, whats the upper limit of how hot/fast you can mw dry a wet bowl?
Thanks, Brad. If the bowl is dry, all finishes should be fine regardless of how the bowl was dried. As for limits, I don't go long enough to make the wood hot to the touch. Remember, we're not cooking, just coaxing moisture to evaporate slowly. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Love your thoroughness in explaining!! Do you ever use a moisture meter and what moisture are we looking out for?
Sometimes I use a moisture meter just to get a ballpark idea. The main technique I use is to weigh the piece. I'm looking for a stable weight. Then it is equalized. Thanks for the question.
@@TurnAWoodBowl You need to look for approx. 8% to 12% moisture levels with a moisture meter!
is there a good moisture reading for turning a piece of wood, to prevent cracking after a item is made?
Kent, couldn't agree more with all the great comments! I do have a question about a really big burl (it's big to me anyway )from a tree I had to cut down on my property. I've had it in my shop for about 2 years, partially because I'm not sure how to cut it correctly. The burl completely surrounds the trunk approximately 2ft from the ground. I thought is was solid but it has a hole all the way through the center. It's big enough that I have to use a dolly to move it around. If there's a way that I could send you some pictures for any advice you're willing to give, it would be greatly appreciated!
Sounds fun Patrick. Yes, email me a kw (at) www.TurnAWoodBowl.com All the best to you and Happy Turning!