newbie with some wet wood

I'd get some coating on the wood soon. You want a slow cure process.

There are professional wood drying operations - see if you can find one.

The boards might twist or cup or anything. Let it settle down and dry out and the internal forces might settle out.

Mart> ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be

I would turn the wood green, leaving it oversized, as it will warp when it dries. You probably won't get a full 6" out of it though.

If you need full width, I'd get some anchorseal (wax emulsion) and coat the critters then set them aside for a year or two. Cut them into two

You probably want the bases sooner than that, so I'd find a different wood vender and get new wood. The first vendor is either incompetent or dishonest...

...Kevin

vic - I live in southern CA, don't leave it alone, you will have firewood. turn it a bit oversized, turn the hole in the center a bit undersized, then put it in a paper bag so it dries slowly. If you were making a bowl or something, I'd say turn it to finish size right away and then let it warp and dry, but your project will have thick walls. Boiling for a few hours helps prevent cracking. If the wood has no pith, it will probably not crack.

there are plenty of wood turning clubs - one may be near you - you can find me though my web site, wbnoble.com should you want to follow up.

Vic, given that the wood has been at your place for a couple of days+, you are already running out of time to get the advice given acted on. Bill, Keven and Martin have all given great advice. You might also try to dry it in the microwave.

Deb

Vic Bar> ok - bought a 6x6x14 piece of figured maple online. Was supposed to be 12%

Thanx all.

Trying a hybrid approach. Rough turned, drilled undersized hole and am trying the mwave route.

Will be an interesting experience. Sure like how easily wet wood turns though!!

Vic

Yeah, its so nice to see those long streamers spinning up off the piece. Too bad it does not stay like you turned it. :-)

Good luck

Deb

On Sat, 23 Jun 2012 13:36:11 -0700, "Vic Baron" wrote: Did you use the side of the block, or turn it with the hole being end grain?

Hopefully you did it cross grain, end grain things, especially deep ones, crack and warp the most..

Of course I did it the wrong way, I'm a newbie! But so far so good, it's down to about 15% moisture inside the hole from 37% and is only a little out of shape. Still within the size that I'll be able to get my project out of it. The outer edges are about 2 - 5% so I'm letting the wood sit now until the weekend. Hoping it will stabilize. Fortunately, I live alone. If I were still married, I think putting huge chunks of wood in a brown paper bag and putting them in the mwave would have been cause to call the men in the white coats! LOL

Vic