Just use your best guess about how long would it take for this bowl blank to dry? It has been coated with Anchorseal. I am just trying to get an idea so I could decide if I wanted to buy blanks and dry them.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/BEAUTIFUL-SYCAMORE-BOWL-BLANK-LATHE-TURNING-CARVE-LUMBER-WOOD-10-X-10-X-3/382303997701?hash=item5903180f05:g:jfsAAMXQwMdREp33

Rule of thumb for air drying is 1" of thickness per Year.

Edited February 15, 20197 yr by lew

If the blank is turned to a rough shape of a wall thickness of 1/10 the diameter, it will dry faster. Drying after turning can be done in the microwave, in shavings and a paper bag or even in a bucket full of rice. I've been tempted to try the dishwashing liquid method but just haven't gotten around to it.

Like Lew said, one inch per year.  There are ways to enhance drying time.  I have a forced air gas furnace.  I store all my blanks on wire shelves I mounted next to the duct work trunk and in the winter while the furnace is running a lot they dry much quicker than that. 

 

I have used the denatured alcohol soak method and had great success with it.

 

Soaking Method:

Put rough turned bowl into DNA bath

Leave it for at least 24 hours, longer for more green pieces (no real quantitative guidelines here…)

Remove piece and pour excess back into tub

Let dry for 15 – 30 minutes

Wrap outside and rim of bowl only with brown paper

Store bowls upside down allowing air to reach inside of bowl (sticker similarly to drying dimensional lumber)

Piece can be finish turned as soon as two weeks after removal from Alcohol, but check moisture content if possible.

I use a digital kitchen scale and weigh it every couple days.  When it quits losing weight I mount it back on the lathe and finish turning and sanding it.

 

 

Everyone has given you good information but I would like to add, don't confuse dry with stable. A blank that thick, no matter long it sits or how long it dries is going to move as internal stresses are released. It's also very difficult to dry flat, or rift sawn, sycamore without it moving all over the place to begin with. Sycamore almost has to be quartersawn to be stable. That piece is also from very near the center of the log. If I were turning it I would do so immediately. I would either twice turn it, let it warp and then finish turn or turn to finish green and showcase the warp.

 

Steve

Guys, there is some great advice here. The only thing I knew before was the drying time of 1" per year. All the rest of it is way over the top of my head. I see right now I have a lot of learning ahead of me. I am 76 and I hope I have enough time to learn a little of what I need to know.    

They have a tool for that....