storing wood to be used for carving

[Baggy]

Hi all

I have a huge load of cherry and I could use some advice on the best way to store it and keep it good for carving as long as I can.
I have an old shed with no door that I could put it in or I could build some kind of store behind the shed, any suggestions gratefully received.

the wood
http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=92280

[Perrari]

Will be interested to see replies for this, I have spotted some oak burr I want to get but not sure about seasoning. Wood in my normal wood store (firewood) cracks as it does get the sun for part of the day. So I am guessing a slow season with plenty of air but no direct heat ?

[nic.]

Hi Mark,

Main problem is that it will split at the ends as they will dry out most here, and you have lots of ends and not much middle! If you paint the ends it will seal them and reduce this. gloss paint will do; doesn't look pretty but it works. Probably better to split them first at least you can decide where the split will go. They should be OK outside but I would keep them off the ground ( too wet) and out of the sun (too dry). My Dad has tonnes of wood that he processes like this; normally though it is longer and bigger so he splits it and doesn't paint the ends. He stores his wood under conifers. Dryish and out of the sun. All the dens I played in as a Kid are jammed with slowly drying wood.

[Mesquite]

Save some of the choice bit of wood that you want to carve in your freezer.

How you explain what you're doing with the wood to your wife/partner is an entirely different matter and let us know if you succeed

[woodspirits]

you have a huge stockpile re your previous post, realistically you probably wont get to use a lot of it before it splits and warps.

you dont say what you intend to carve, that will have a bearing on what becomes useable or not over time. so with your projects in mind, i would pick out the choice pieces and if you have a shed or something that with keep it dry but aired, use it. better crack on Mark!

steve

[Baggy]

Hi fella

Fathers day tomorrow

Main problem is that it will split at the ends as they will dry out most here, and you have lots of ends and not much middle! If you paint the ends it will seal them and reduce this. gloss paint will do; doesn't look pretty but it works. Probably better to split them first at least you can decide where the split will go. They should be OK outside but I would keep them off the ground ( too wet) and out of the sun (too dry). My Dad has tonnes of wood that he processes like this; normally though it is longer and bigger so he splits it and doesn't paint the ends. He stores his wood under conifers. Dryish and out of the sun. All the dens I played in as a Kid are jammed with slowly drying wood.

All good stuff TVM, I should have thought of paint.............. I have no paint but I do have some brown stuff that I used on a fence. Split it... I must get some wedges.

I have cleared a space at the end of the garden under an oak tree, I will put pallets down and stack the cherry under a frame there then put a light tarp over the lot.

ATB
Mark

[Baggy]

Save some of the choice bit of wood that you want to carve in your freezer.

How you explain what you're doing with the wood to your wife/partner is an entirely different matter and let us know if you succeed

Good idea but..... You have not met my wife!

[Dean]

I season and store the wood I use for carving in my basement, it's dry and maintains a steady temperature year round.

[jorn]

Wouldn't it make sense to store it in, or rather, under water? It won't rot quickly under water because of lack of oxygen and the wood will be more easy to carve as opposed to dry wood.

[Stew]

I believe Robin has said hat removing the very centre will reduce splitting. If you have to split them down anyway, might be worth knocking the corner off. I've done it a couple of times and it worked.