I want to dry slices of pine for crafts - anywhere from a couple inches across to 10-12 inches - but it keeps cracking. How do I keep it from getting cracks?

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), April 21, 2002

Answers

its drying out too fast,, needs to be slower, how are you drying it now? is this fresh/green wood?

-- Stan (sopal@net-pert.com), April 21, 2002.

Try wrapping in plastic (like food wrap), cut a couple of slits to let the moisture out slowly. Experiment to see how many slits before they crack. Also faster for use with dimensional lumber, that is to clamp securely in all directions.

-- Joe (CactusJoe001@AOL.com), April 21, 2002.

Yes, it's fresh wood & I'm sure I was drying it too fast. I'll try wrapping the pieces & this time I won't put them next to the wood stove!

Thanks, guys.

-- Bonnie (stichart@plix.com), April 21, 2002.

Paint the end grain or coat the end grain with caulking. Your wood is splitting because it gives up moisture faster through the end grain causing the wood cells near the ends to shrink faster. When they shrink, the wood will split along the fibers. When the end grain is sealed, the rapid loss of moisture through the end grain is stopped. Now, the wood can only give up its moisture through the face grain which will be at a slower and more even pace. No splitting.

-- Steve in So. WI (alpine1@tds.net), April 21, 2002.