How do I keep discs from cracking?? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

JimSawyer · 11-28-2011, 03:02 PM

Yesterday I had to cut down a couple of birch trees that were damaged in the hurricane we had this past summer, and while I was at it, I sliced of a few 6" disks, mainly for wood burning. They're fresh green wood.
How do I keep them from splitting or warping??
They're about 1/4" to 1/2" thick....

oily · 11-28-2011, 03:38 PM

Jim, Soak them for several hours in denatured alcohol or methanol. Let them drip dry and wrap them in brown paper or newsprint for a couple weeks.
If you use methanol wear glove and don't breath the fumes. That's the antifreeze in blue windshield washer fluid. You should be able to find at Auto quick Lubes. You can also find them both online .

Rolf · 11-28-2011, 04:38 PM

Let us know how that works for you Jim.
I always thought that if you leave the pith in the center it will always crack.
When I prep wood for turning I seal both ends with a wax solution it slows the drying time down and hopefuly eliminates or slows the cracking. But I don't normaly do the entire log cross section.

ChuckD · 11-28-2011, 07:21 PM

I had some cedar slabs that I tried to prevent from cracking using both methods above. It didn't work. I then tried to microwave them and that didn't work. So I did get some good smelling firewood.

scrolling_grandma · 11-28-2011, 10:36 PM

The biggest tip I can offer is don't let them dry to quickly. Quick drying tends to cause splits. Turn them often also to allow for even drying.

11-28-2011, 03:02 PM	#1
JimSawyer Laying into Inlay Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Lincoln, RI Posts: 3,853 Thanks: 5 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	How do I keep discs from cracking?? Yesterday I had to cut down a couple of birch trees that were damaged in the hurricane we had this past summer, and while I was at it, I sliced of a few 6" disks, mainly for wood burning. They're fresh green wood. How do I keep them from splitting or warping?? They're about 1/4" to 1/2" thick.... __________________ Jim The limits of the imagination are imaginary. No task is too tedious for Art. Rock and Scroll My Gallery My Website Featherwood Woodcrafts

11-28-2011, 03:38 PM	#2
oily IM BACK SORTA Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 4,467 Thanks: 4 Thanked 24 Times in 17 Posts	Jim, Soak them for several hours in denatured alcohol or methanol. Let them drip dry and wrap them in brown paper or newsprint for a couple weeks. If you use methanol wear glove and don't breath the fumes. That's the antifreeze in blue windshield washer fluid. You should be able to find at Auto quick Lubes. You can also find them both online . __________________ May the wind at you back ..... Not be from Lunch. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive. Beauty is in the eye of the BEERHOLDER Visit My Gallery Oily's Gallery http://www.picturetrail.com/oily11

11-28-2011, 04:38 PM	#3
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 5,883 Thanks: 7 Thanked 105 Times in 96 Posts	Let us know how that works for you Jim. I always thought that if you leave the pith in the center it will always crack. When I prep wood for turning I seal both ends with a wax solution it slows the drying time down and hopefuly eliminates or slows the cracking. But I don't normaly do the entire log cross section. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can" Proud Member of the Long Island Woodworkers Club And the Long Island Scrollsaw Association

11-28-2011, 07:21 PM	#4
ChuckD Senior give me a Discount Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Beautiful Southern Oregon Posts: 2,524 Thanks: 1 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	I had some cedar slabs that I tried to prevent from cracking using both methods above. It didn't work. I then tried to microwave them and that didn't work. So I did get some good smelling firewood. __________________ Chuck D When a work lifts your spirits and inspires bold and noble thoughts in you, do not look for any other standard to judge by: the work is good, the product of a master craftsman. Jean De La Bruyere... l Hegner 18, Delta p-20, Griz 14 inch Band saw

11-28-2011, 10:36 PM	#5
scrolling_grandma Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Northeast Ohio Posts: 1,247 Thanks: 1 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	The biggest tip I can offer is don't let them dry to quickly. Quick drying tends to cause splits. Turn them often also to allow for even drying. __________________ Tammy Pressure makes diamonds

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