I cut a few Walnut rounds on Saturday using my chain saw from a wet log that was given to me. I used Pentacryl, which is a non-toxic liquid compound of modified polymers designed to prevent cracking and splitting of green wood for the drying process. Basically a preservation solution. The idea is to stop the cracking and splitting, if I get lucky there won’t be any cracks! The Pentacryl is absorbed by the wood replacing the moisture in the wood.
Using a plastic bucket, I poured the Pentacryl over the walnut rounds with a small thin piece of 1/8 wood, 1″ x 1/2″ between each piece to keep them separated. About every 12 hours I rotated the Walnut rounds, letting them soak for a total of 72 hours.
The picture above I took after removing the Walnut from the Pentacryl, you can tell they are wet, the colors seem to bleed together. All that will change when they are completed try!
I removed them from the Pentacryl, stand them on their ends and let them drain for about an hour. Next I cut cardboard rounds the size of the Walnut for both ends and covered them. The cardboard will help slow down the drying process.
I will rotated these daily for the next 3-4 weeks. Once I think they are close to dry I will check the moisture content, can’t start the final finish until they are dry. I will follow up with another post when they are dry and show you the final finishing process!
Over the last year I have made a lot of new friends blogging and have so much enjoyed all the comments, conversations, emails and getting to know you! 🙂 Enjoy your Christmas with family and friends!
Charcuterie platter
Very nice post, I love to learn a bit about woodworking from you…. always in awe of your talent, skill, great taste!
HAPPY NEW YEAR! (My daughter in law left before the board arrived, it will be there waiting for her…. 😉
Hi Sally!! Great, in a few weeks I am hoping they will be dry! ok, no problem, I hope they will be ok while she is gone! would love to see pictures of the board in her kitchen! Happy New Year to you and your husband!!
I hope the wood dries perfectly for your artistic creation. 🙂
Me too! 🙂
Wow, can’t wait for the next post. That wood is beautiful and I know it will be another incredible piece of art once you are finished. Merry Christmas Michael to you and your entire family. I hope you have a great day!!
Thanks Suzanne, big hugs to you, enjoy your Christmas! 🙂
I love reading about your wood exploits. Beautiful platter. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Can’t wait for my daughter and SIL to open their gifts tonight. 🙂
Tank you Judy, me either, they turned out beautiful so I hope the love them!! Keep me posted, would love to post a testimonial on my page with picture! Enjoy 🙂
Love your process and the piece shown, is a beauty. Hope the coming year proves wonderful for you in every way. Merry Christmas.
Hello Farseems!! thank you and I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and a great New Year!!
Michael—you know you’ll have to cut me a few of those rounds as plate chargers since the ones I got cut from our trees did exactly as you said—they cracked and warped and are now discarded in the woods—-
I’ll let you know how everyone likes their Michael creation gifts—especially Abby’s family and the birdhouse—I wish you and your entire family much happiness, peace and joy this Christmas!!
love to you—Julie
Good evening Julie! We can work on that, let’s see if they crack or not and then we can figure it out!! Thank you Julie, I wish you and your family peace, joy, love and happiness this Christmas and for the new 2015 year!! 🙂 Big hugs with love,
I’ve never heard of Pentacryl but I can’t wait to see what you do with those walnut slices. Have a Merry Christmas!
I can’t wait to see either, hope they don’t crack! Merry Christmas! 🙂
Can’t says what you do with this wood!
Gorgeous grain that came up in the finished product!
Lindy
thank you Lindy! Happy New Year to you!! 🙂
All the best to you and your family – Happy New Year!
🙂