Air drying logs

[jmc]

Hello,

I think I read that you should put some kind of sealer on the ends of green logs so the ends don't dry out too much faster than the inside of the log. Anybody know what kind of household product would work for this? (It's just an experiment on a fallen beech tree so failure is an option)

Thanks,

John

 

[newbury]

Slap some latex paint on the ends.

 

[3Ts]

I agree with newbury - latex paint. However, the best stuff is anchor seal. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Anchorseal-2-Green-Wood-Sealer-Quart/150402890?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=897&adid=22222222227052621697&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=151668630874&wl4=pla-264776253025&wl5=9027128&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=112354565&wl11=online&wl12=150402890&wl13=&veh=sem It's a soluble wax, and for pieces I can dip into a liquid I use parafin in a double boiler and dip the wood in that. It helps seal against moisture changes and bugs.

 

[newbury]

If I had valuable logs I might try anchorseal or paraffin, but it seems I've always left over cans of latex paint, and sometimes it gets downright colorful

Had a bunch of pink from painting my daughters room.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I use Anchorseal, melted paraffin does the same thing, just harder to use.

Paint isn't even close to working as well, "yes I've tried it", for me it was pretty much a waste of time for a "feel good" coating...

Keep in mind, NOTHING last forever, you are suppose to mill your logs ASAP!

SR

 

[Oldoak]

Never heard of air drying logs. New to me. The saw mills have sprinkler systems to shower their stock piles of logs to keep them from drying out until they can be sawn. Then the boards are either air dried or kiln dried depending upon their intended use.

Now you got me wondering how logs are dealt with that are used for building real log homes.

 

[Oldpath05]

Sometimes sawmills keep their logs wet so bugs don't get in the wood.

 

[CalG]

Best get the skin off them logs if they are going to be setting around "drying".

Wood only rots with the bark on, and the critters love that space between ....

A wood pile can teach a man a lot if they pay attention. ;-)

Hmm Fallen beech! It's already got one foot in the grave.

If you want anything from it, saw it up now.

 

[jmc]

OP here. Thanks, All, for all the ideas and suggestions.

A friend wants to make a temporary die to form a few sheet metal parts. His plan is to turn it in a lathe to make a shallow spherical concavity, then hammer the brass sheet into the concavity. (The grain will be parallel with the lathe axis.) Can't believe how dense this beech is.

Next question:

I know the trunk is the best wood but it's about 5 times the diameter he needs and hard to acces the way it fell. Some of the limbs are plenty big and easily accessible. Care to speculate how stable the limb wood is after finishing it out?