Hey to all you LJs,
I thought that I would start a series on drying green domestic burl wood. With burl wood the end grain is going every direction and is under more internal pressure thus making it want to self destruct.
Green burls or straight grain have two places where water finds its home. Inside the cells and outside the cells, this is called bound water (inside the cells) and free water (outside the cell walls). Free water is easier to escape than the bound water.
To move the bound water to free water you just slow the drying process way down with cool temperatures and wood sealer. Note this does not work on some woods. There needs to be and extra step for the more destructive woods or for the more self-destructive woods, such as madrone. Steaming, pressure cooking or boiling helps to move bound water to free water. After this processes you can seal and dry.
Stay tuned for Consideration # 2
Greg Dahl at www.oregonburls.com
-- Greg, Southern Oregon, www.oregonburls.com What can I say but God Is Good!