Paper Bag Drying Green Stock Article.

[NCTurner]

I found this a very informative article so I thought I'd share it here.



http://www.woodturningvideosplus.com/paper-bag-drying.html

ccasion1

 

[McRabbet]

Matt -- I'm not a turner, but this one is worthy of being added to our Link Library. I suggest you add it to the Wood Turning and Carving category. Let me know if you get stumped... Once it is submitted, we'll look at it to validate the site.

 

[Sealeveler]

Excellent Info.Would the same principle work with long narrow woods as in cane blanks?Tony

 

[BobcatBob]

Interesting article. I liked the idea of using Tyvec as bags instead of paper bags. I have some extra Tyvek material when I built my workshop so I am going to give it a try.

Bob

 

[Dusty Sawyer]

I tried this technique about one year ago. I had a large Tulip Poplar stump that I had roughed into a 21" blank and had read an article about this process. I tend to disagree with the tyvek concept though as the idea is to slow the drying process, not hold the water in entirely. The paper bag allows for a non water-tight barrier for the moisture to travel though.

I didn't have any big hurry to get the blank finished, so I bypassed weighing it and all that mess to determine the water content and just kept it bagged with chips for 3 months, then again without chips for another 3 months. After that I tore a small hole in the bag and let it sit until I pulled it out 6 months later and turned it.

The blank had not cracked at all even though it showed the warping associated with significant drying. Although it took a while it was well worth the effort. Since that time I've taken care to turn circular blanks (what I call "Cheese Wheels") ahead of time and seal the ends. Then after turning my bowl blanks I use the bag method. It works really good.