Went to a saw mill yesterday. Alright I told my wife it was local so the hour plus drive would seem less. It was Fathers days weekend after all. Looking for 5/4 walnut and cherry for a project and ended up with that and more.
The pile of cutoffs and scrap wood that every saw mill generates caught my eye. I scrounged through it and found several end cutoffs that had large knots or rotten area. We call it spault. Brought it home and rough cut over a hundred blanks on my band saw. Placed them into a dryer box. Simple wood cabinet with a light bulb, heat plate in the bottom and fan to elevate temp. and keep the air moving. Start out with water on the heat plate to create high humidity for the first two or three days and the drying goes well with out much warping or checking. Control the vent size and control the speed of drying. I let them dry for two weeks and then add them to my stash. All domestic woods, but the price was perfect. Free after the other purchase.
The pile of cutoffs and scrap wood that every saw mill generates caught my eye. I scrounged through it and found several end cutoffs that had large knots or rotten area. We call it spault. Brought it home and rough cut over a hundred blanks on my band saw. Placed them into a dryer box. Simple wood cabinet with a light bulb, heat plate in the bottom and fan to elevate temp. and keep the air moving. Start out with water on the heat plate to create high humidity for the first two or three days and the drying goes well with out much warping or checking. Control the vent size and control the speed of drying. I let them dry for two weeks and then add them to my stash. All domestic woods, but the price was perfect. Free after the other purchase.
