Split kuksa... :(

[Harmony]

I boil the wood in brine until it sinks in the pan, then boil 10 minuets more. Remove wood from pan and dry at room temperature for two days.

I am not a carver, so have never tried carving wile it is damp.

The salt in the cells make the wood hygroscopic and it will always draw moister.

I have thin slices of walnut branch boiled in brine five years ago, still no splitting.

Google “hygroscopic”, you will find very good explanations of how this works.

Harmony

 

[Harmony]

Here is a video of Mauri Polio making Kuksas. He makes them for a living, so uses power tools. He dries his rough cut kuksas for six weeks after boiling them in brine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujEAJTEYw-0

Harmony

 

[susi]

Here is a video of Mauri Polio making Kuksas. He makes them for a living, so uses power tools. He dries his rough cut kuksas for six weeks after boiling them in brine.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujEAJTEYw-0

Minor detail, but they seem very short and narrow skiis for romping around in the forest.