Did I over wax?

[Haynie]

When sealing boards with wax to keep them from checking do you just wax the ends of the wood, or do you wax the entire board? I waxed the entire board. Should I scrape all the wax off except the ends?

 

[Justturnin]

When I wax/Ancorseal straight grain woods I coat the End Grain and about 1/2" up the sides. I actually just dip it in the ancorseal and dont brush off the excess. I cover 100% of Burls. You can never over wax but complete coverage of straight grain is not necessary.....on most. There are some wood species so prone to cracking you would be wise to 100% coat to really slow the drying and prevent cracking, those come w/ Trial and Error

 

[bitshird]

A lot depends on the wood and how fresh cut it is, Usually I seal the whole thing if it's for bowls, since I don't know how long it will be before I can start rough turning, I want a little moisture, when I start turning, then let it dry a month or two with nothing on it just let it dry slow, then turn to finish.

 

[Haynie]

it is Apricot wood. I cut the tree down to the trunk about a month ago and painted the ends of the branches with latex paint. I did not cut the trunk yet because my Chainsaw freaked out. I noticed checking starting so trimmed what I could to boards on the band saw and Jointer. Melted some wax and painted the whole thing. If I scrape the wax off the sides will it dry faster?

 

[bitshird]

it is Apricot wood. I cut the tree down to the trunk about a month ago and painted the ends of the branches with latex paint. I did not cut the trunk yet because my Chainsaw freaked out. I noticed checking starting so trimmed what I could to boards on the band saw and Jointer. Melted some wax and painted the whole thing. If I scrape the wax off the sides will it dry faster?

Mark, it will dry faster if you just leave the ends and a bout a half inch of wax on the flats,, The problem is fruit woods, do like to crack, because they contain a large amount of free water and sap. If' you've already put wax on the flat surfaces, it's going to be difficult to scrape it all off. It sounds like you are going to make pen blanks?

 

[Haynie]

Small drawer fronts if all works out right, and maybe box tops. There will most likely be wood for pen blanks when I get done milling the wood.

I am plenty patient so I can wait for it to dry, I am just worried that it will not dry.

 

[widows son]

I cut a couple of peach tree down a several months ago and painted the end grain and the flats with Anchorseal and other logs with paraffin. Like most fruit wood, it cracked despite both treatments. I cut the pith out of several pieces and got better results. It will dry out and probably crack. I fill the cracks with epoxy when I turn it.

 

[nava1uni]

I have done apricot and pear and coated all parts of it and waited and got only minor checking. Fruitwood can really check, but it is so pretty that coating and waiting are worth it. I love apricot it is very beautiful wood.