log drying

[Bellringer75]

i have a pear log about 2 feet long 8 inch diameter i have had it about a year how is it best to find out if it it dry and how to dry it 

[Andy Coates]

Hello Bellringer,

an 8" log will never "dry" in one piece. It will certainly lose moisture, but it will be uneven loss and remain essentially green wood whilst still in the log.

If you cut it along the length on the central line, it will eventually dry, with the rule of thumb for air drying timber being 1 year for every inch of thickness (with the proviso of a maximun thickness of 4" or there abouts).

Leave it long so that any end checking can be cut off later when dry.

The alternative is to rough turn your vessels and then put to one side for about four to six months to season. Then you can finish turn them.

hope this helps

Andy

[Turners cabin]

As Andy says logs or branch wood will never dry in the round
pear is a pain to dry any way the best bet is to rough turn the items

[Bellringer75]

which way should i cut it

[Turners cabin]

on the end of the log draw a line from one side to the other crossing over the pith ( heart of the trunk )
then use a strait edge to draw that line down the length of the log both side and then make sure it cuts the pith out at both ends