Drying Crosscut Slices of Wood in Microwave

[@jpopelish]

I have been doing similar experiments and have had the best results by immediately putting the heated pieces into a plastic bag, to keep the surface wet, while the heat drives water out of the internal volume. Then, after the wood cools nearly to room temperature, take the piece out of the bag to let the wet surface air dry. It takes a few cycles, like this, to lower the moisture without much cracking. I am drying pieces that have been roughly turned, to stabilize them before the finish turning.

[@bentonbain2916]

As a sawmill operator I try to cut out the pith section of the log to prevent the log from cracking and destroying a bunch of lumber.
So for those that make clocks maybe if you drilled out the pith the size of the shaft for the clock hands maybe it will not crack.

[@joel105200]

So you’re saying to drill a small hole in the Center of the disc?

[@dalehammond1749]

The cracks don't have to be bad. I prefer mine cracked. Fill them with tinted epoxy for artistic effect. It's amazing what can be done. Try back lighting sometime too. Cool video, thanks

[@skcanadianadventures1245]

what I've learned from my "drying" tests - instead of long (2 minutes )MC runs do a few in 10-15 seconds heating / 5-10 minutes cooling intervals. Turns out way better. Good luck! and thnx for sharing !

[@matt10cool]

Did you use the defrost setting?

[@skcanadianadventures1245]

@@matt10cool no, just regular high power heat option

[@matt10cool]

@@skcanadianadventures1245 nice, did you find that to be the best method in the end or did you find a new method?

[@skcanadianadventures1245]

@@matt10cool Haven't tried any other methods yet. This one worked for me perfectly for now on both wood "pancakes" and green kuksa I've carved.

[@matt10cool]

@@skcanadianadventures1245 Thanks :) how many 10 second blasts do you usally have to do on the largest wood pancakes? Im thinking of doing the same thing

[@johnphoenix1175]

The crack on the big one gives it character. Not sure what you're using it for but filling that crack with resin before finishing the rest with polyurethane should look great!

[@ahobimo732]

I think that the reason the first heat had a more drastic result is because microwaves primarily heat the water, not the wood fibres. Once the water has vaporized out of the wood, the microwaves don't have as much of an effect.

[@JMnyJohns]

with the big one it looked like you just hit the 2 button and it started. On my microwave that defaults to 'high.' If that happened for you might account for the split.

[@TheEstanton5]

Thanks a ton for this needing to dry my cuts for wood burning and was wanting to speed the process just a bit

[@buckbuchanan4902]

I'm ordering by prography kit tomorrow and am here because I wanted to dry wood for burning.

[@wojticz3754]

Brother you are the best. What a great idea. I was thinking all day about how can i speed up the drying process

[@hansdegroot8549]

Great information. Thanks for sharing.

[@baller4ad]

Wow! That's impressive! Thank you for making this video!

[@zolar1nonassumpsit219]

I wonder if that is the same thing as seasoning wood?

[@cutflower36]

Did you say you seal before you put in microwave? The big one is pretty

[@wornwizard]

No, that likely would cause a fire.

[@biologistangler7901]

The #2 with the dark heartwood is walnut.

[@popie89867]

i want to use some trunk slices of eukaluptus for a circle table ...but this after i cut it, makes some slots..do you know how can i avoid this...and also i want to ask you which tree from your opinion gives nice option with rose wood with little red inside similar to eukaluptus?????????

[@wornwizard]

I'm not sure what your trying to avoid? Drying the wood?

[@popie89867]

@@wornwizard i want to avoid the slots...and i want to do a similar constuction like the video you will watch...ruclips.net/video/J58kncTxjYk/видео.html

[@judywaddell6065]

I think the way to go would be lowest heat for longer. ie. go low -go slow!!!!.

[@neomehollow1391]

Curious, how long does the wood stay warm? In working on a project and I'm looking for an alternative for my magic bags

[@wornwizard]

I don't recall exactly, but minutes. Good luck!

[@neomehollow1391]

@@wornwizard thank you lol I think gravel may be the winner then

[@nitrousblast1]

Did the pieces cup or warp during the process?

[@wornwizard]

I don't believe they did. Been a long time ago now

[@carybrown3192]

For all non-Canadian viewers,22.4 mm =.088 inches in "real" math speak!

[@wornwizard]

Haha. I wish I hadn't grown up learning everything the wrong way.

[@TheEstanton5]

@@wornwizard you mean like the rest of the work haha love it

[@skcanadianadventures1245]

mm/cm/m are the real measurements ! :))) 22.3mm + 42.9mm = mm? convert to cm and convert to m. Now...... get this numbers into " , the sum it in inches, and convert from -"- to - ' - and tell me how long did it take you for each calculation. :)))