westhemann Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I have no clue how long it will take to dry,but my "storage room" in the back of my container is uninsulated,so I think by the end of this summer in that spot(at about 120 degrees or better) it will be close.I'll put a fan in there to blow the air around as well. I suspect elm is not used much for lumber because it is considered a pretty tree and it usually grows crooked.I agree that it seems every bit as hard as maple Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I've read that 1 year per inch of thickness is the recomended air drying time. I imagine YMMV. SR 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted January 7, 2013 Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 I've read that 1 year per inch of thickness is the recomended air drying time. I imagine YMMV. SR That's what people say. Have you guys even looked into building a solar kiln? It's been on my to-do list for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2013 Have you guys even looked into building a solar kiln? Actually that sounds like a brilliant idea.This wood is so wet that it might take forever on it's own,and a solar kiln in Texas would work well.I have three large pieces of glass and three huge mirrors I have been looking for a project with which to incorporate... I think I may have enough materials on hand to build a small one tomorrow.I'll post the results Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 8, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Upon cursory research,It seems like adjustable vents are the most important part of the kiln... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted January 8, 2013 Report Share Posted January 8, 2013 Upon cursory research,It seems like adjustable vents are the most important part of the kiln... You need some way to regulate temperature. Most people use fans. A thermostat helps too, and I think people generally use thermostats from hot water heaters, if I remember correctly. If you do it, I'll be anxious to see how it goes. I don't think I have the money to build mine yet. Also, if you need to ask some questions, here's a good place to go: http://www.woodweb.com/cgi-bin/forums/sawdry.pl?&session_id= Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Okay,so I am going to wait on the solar kiln because I really need to do other stuff with a higher priority on my "to do list" So I am putting the shower into my container house,but I am waiting for the glue to dry on a couple of pieces of it..so back to the tree My next section all cut and ready to "blank-inate" Interesting that this section seems to be two limbs that grew together into one large piece of trunk...two piths To my way of thinking if I cut the short sides flat and then start ripping the long direction I should get several flatsawn blanks with straight-ish grain...the heart with the two piths I don't know about...it may fall apart while drying or it may not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 There should be some nice crotch figure in there. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim37 Posted January 10, 2013 Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 i would think spending a summer in texas in a steel container would get any thing pretty dry if not put it in your old truck and let it sit in the cab and dry that should do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 You may be right,Tim.I did my "wood shuffle" today(I store fresh cut lumber in the big house until the sealer on the ends stops smelling) and the temp outside is 65 and sunny,but in the empty end of the container it was close to 100...and it has a vent to let the moisture out,so it's pretty dry in there too. My main concern would be wood waste from drying too fast and cracking..When the weather gets hot again I should put more vents in to keep the temp below 120.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 10, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2013 Well,I got two today.. both are 38" long and 2" thick... This one is 12" wide This one is 14" wide..bark inclusion goes all the way through and is more prominent on the other side Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpm99 Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 In case it's not been said, your skills with a chainsaw are impressive. I've never ripped a line that straight with a chainsaw. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
killemall8 Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 You really think they will dry to fast with the insanely high humidity there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 I've never ripped a line that straight with a chainsaw. I am getting better...It's not easy.You have to really keep an eye on your cut. You really think they will dry to fast with the insanely high humidity there? It's dry inside that container...really dry.30 feet of the container is insulated and the back 10 feet is not,but it's open to the backs of the wall and ceiling that has the insulation so the moisture in the air seems to suck into the insulation because the back 10 feet gets so hot. Once it gets about 120 or so I don't think the air can hold that moisture like on the outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 15" by 37" by 2" I like this one a lot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 This one is a bit smaller,but still good 13" by 36" by 2" That finishes off that log.I am glad I figured out how to use my chainsaw properly because I would have been lucky to get two really jagged blanks out of that log when I first started,and now I got five pretty good ones Next up is a really big section Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Next section Looks like this chunk will be full of character. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Ready for blankinating...I had to cut off the sides to get rid of a piece of wire the tree had swallowed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 Last piece of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottR Posted January 11, 2013 Report Share Posted January 11, 2013 You know, I starting carving because I wanted to see what the inside of various trees looked like. I think you've come up with a quicker way to get a peek. SR Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 I worked today,so I wasn't able to cut any more blanks.But I did start thinking about what to use certain planks for... I think this one would be a damn fine mini explorer...the knot is right in the bridge pup cavity and does not go through the plank.The back is entirely sapwood so is all the same color as the lighter parts of the top Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Two more this morning Each blank gets closer to the rotted core of the tree,so there are more fungal discolorations and stuff. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prostheta Posted January 13, 2013 Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 That last pic could have the two halves of a V cut from the top left corner if you resawed the board open. Nice haul Wes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 Thanks Last blank from that log,and that will be all for a few days because I have to go to Dripping Springs and make some money This is what my wood stash looks like now.All of the stuff on the rack in the center is stuff I bought,and all of the piles on the floor are what I have cut up in the last couple of weeks Chinaberry and pecan on the right,chinaberry,pecan,and elm under the rack,and all elm on the left Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westhemann Posted January 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2013 I may get out and butcher a limb from my biggest mesquite to test it for fretboard suitability in a bit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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