I have obtained some interesting small wood pieces - the purple root ball of a yew bush, the neighbor's spalted red bud.

These are all pretty small pieces.

So far, I have cut them into 5" by 12" by 1" slabs for future segmented bowl pieces, "rounds" to stack for bowl blanks, and small plates.

They are stickered and compressed with weights, sealed on the ends with Anchorseal.  I sealed all sides of the root ball wood. I don't know why.

 

I have tried the microwave with success. There are just too many of these pieces, so I think I will just put them aside for awhile. "A year per inch" rings in my ears. 

 

I have two options to place them for drying:

.  In the air conditioned woodshop, running a pretty constant 74 degrees, 55-60 percent humidity

.  In the attic that varies between 80 and 110 in the summer, humidity from 50-90 percent.

 

 

 

Which option will dry the wood better/safer/faster?

How do I know which will be faster?  

I'll bet there is experience and wisdom from many who have gone before me.

Thanks,

Robert

 

 

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/air-drying-lumber

 

Way down in this article it warns about trying to dry too fast that might encourage checking.

 

Whole bunch of information here: https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+air+dry+wood&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1

Bob, your first option in an air conditioned shop would provide the safest results, any time you have an environment where the moisture escapes slower than another optional environment I would say is your safest option. The Anchor Seal or any paint on the end grain is a great way to go.

Slabs and boards, can be plastic bagged with vent holes to provide slower evaporation.

Please come back here and let us know the option you chose so we can follow along.

Thanks for the great topic!

How about a small kiln?

 

Sample....

 

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/A_Small_Solar_Kiln.html