« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Kiln Dried?  (Read 516 times)

Offline Stiks-n-Strings

  • Moderator
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • ***
  • Posts: 3226
Kiln Dried?
« on: December 18, 2009, 05:22:00 AM »
I been thinking about building a small solar kiln outside of my garage for drying Osage, Hickory, and other staves.
 Good Idea or bad Idea?
Logged
Striker stinger 58" 55# @ 28
any wood bow I pick off the rack.
 2 Cor. 10:4
 TGMM Family of The Bow
 MK, LLC Shareholder
Proud Member of the Twister Twelve

Offline George Tsoukalas

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 2922
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2009, 08:59:00 AM »
Sure why not. But I know that BL and osage can really check wen dried to quickly. Actually, I've never forced dried either one of those. Jawge
Logged

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2009, 09:53:00 AM »
I agree with George. Later in the drying process it will probably work quite well but early on you don't want it to get too hot or dry. It would probably work best on almost bow sized staves.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline Stiks-n-Strings

  • Moderator
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • ***
  • Posts: 3226
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2009, 11:58:00 AM »
I was thinking along the lines of what you are guysare thinking just wanted to get some expert advice.
 I was thinking, Cut- Split Staves and seal ends and backs- let sit for a week or so then put them in to finish drying and keep an eye on them with moisture meter.
 Would that be to soon for BL or Osage?
Logged
Striker stinger 58" 55# @ 28
any wood bow I pick off the rack.
 2 Cor. 10:4
 TGMM Family of The Bow
 MK, LLC Shareholder
Proud Member of the Twister Twelve

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #4 on: December 18, 2009, 12:59:00 PM »
As long as it doesn't get too hot or too dry too soon it will be fine. Under normal storage conditions your staves will be close to work by next spring. If you reduce them to floor tiller stage, much quicker.
  Indiana gets pretty dry in the winter so humidity won't be a problem.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline Stiks-n-Strings

  • Moderator
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • ***
  • Posts: 3226
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #5 on: December 18, 2009, 01:10:00 PM »
Pat,
 I really don't need to go all out on a kiln of any type. I just need to get some dry as soon as I can after cutting so I can start wotking on them. I got the bug real bad LOL
 What would be the safest and most methodical way of drying them quickly as possible.
 Do you think I would better off to just floor tiller when they are a little green and let them air dry. What kind of time frame are we tallking about?
Logged
Striker stinger 58" 55# @ 28
any wood bow I pick off the rack.
 2 Cor. 10:4
 TGMM Family of The Bow
 MK, LLC Shareholder
Proud Member of the Twister Twelve

Offline Roy Steele

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 1087
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #6 on: December 18, 2009, 01:22:00 PM »
I've dryed hickory and o'sage in and a hot box by leaveing the lid proped up and turning the staves.Lowering the light bulb wattage.I cut the time on osage to 3 months and hickory to a few weeks on one the rest took a month or so.I slowly built the hickory as I went.So I'm sure a solor klin would work.GREAT IDEA don't know of anyone doing that for bows.
Logged
DEAD IS DEAD NO MATTER HOW FAST YOUR ARROW GETS THERE
 20 YEARS LEARNING 20 YEARS DOING  20 YEARS TEACHING
  CROOKETARROW

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #7 on: December 18, 2009, 02:15:00 PM »
Taking them down to floor tiller stage will help them dry quicker. Depending on how wet and the type of wood you may need to clamp to a form to prevent twisting as it dries. I would start with one or two, floor tiller green(no problem of over stressing)and set them aside for a month. Once you start working on tillering you will be able to tell how dry it is by the sound and feel of the wood and whether it is crisp or sluggish when recovering from bending. If it feels sluggish give it a few more weeks.
  If all this works out, do a few more. Be sure it will work well before you commit all the staves. By next winter all your staves will be ready to work. If you rush any part of bow building you are setting yourself up for trouble.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline razorsharptokill

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 3255
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #8 on: December 18, 2009, 06:53:00 PM »
When you work a stave down to floor tiller early on, do you seal the belly also to prevent checking there?
Logged
Jim Richards
Veteran

USMC 84-88
Oklahoma Army National Guard 88-89
USMCR 89-96 Desert Storm
Oklahoma Air National Guard 2002- present. Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005(Qatar) and 2007(Iraq),
Operation New Dawn Iraq 2011,
Operation Enduring Freedom 2018 Afghanistan.
NRA Life Member.

Online Pat B

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 15009
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #9 on: December 18, 2009, 08:45:00 PM »
Generally the belly doesn't check like the back will but if it does it is not as critical as the back checking. Leave the belly unsealed so the moisture has a place to escape from.
Logged
Make the most of all that comes and the least of all that goes!
TGMM Family of the Bow

Offline Stiks-n-Strings

  • Moderator
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • ***
  • Posts: 3226
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #10 on: December 19, 2009, 12:53:00 AM »
This has turned into a pretty good discussion.
 What does a fellar need to seal the backs with?
 
What really got me thinking about this is Turkey call making. I make custom turkey calls and read an article in a turkey magizine once about air drying lumber and speeding up the drying time a little with some sort of solar kiln so to speak.
 I'm sure I have it somewhere. It was talking about 8/4 lumber though. I'm very ignorant on bow making (I'm learning though) but know enough about wood working to know there is a significant difference in staves and boards.
 It was really just a thought.
 Pat the one thing I have learned the most about making bows is what you said about taking it slow, I just find myself with this overcoming urge to make some shavings. LOL
 I just need to split them and let them sit and go get some dry ones for now. Thing is, I keep seeing osage trees just begging to be turned into bows.
 Man I got it bad don't I? LOL
Logged
Striker stinger 58" 55# @ 28
any wood bow I pick off the rack.
 2 Cor. 10:4
 TGMM Family of The Bow
 MK, LLC Shareholder
Proud Member of the Twister Twelve

Offline Tom Leemans

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 2339
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #11 on: December 19, 2009, 08:46:00 AM »
You can seal it with shellac. You can buy cut shellac flakes and thin it with denatured alcohol or get it in a spray can. If your cut shellac dries out in the can, just add more thinner.
Logged
Got wood? - Tom

Offline George Tsoukalas

  • TG HALL OF FAME
  • Trad Bowhunter
  • *****
  • Posts: 2922
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #12 on: December 19, 2009, 09:01:00 AM »
No on the belly but you absolutely must seal the backs of BL and osage. Jawge
Logged

Offline Tom Leemans

  • Trad Bowhunter
  • **
  • Posts: 2339
Re: Kiln Dried?
« Reply #13 on: December 19, 2009, 09:21:00 AM »
Sorry, I should have mentioned to leave the belly "open".
Logged
Got wood? - Tom
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »

Users currently browsing this topic:

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
 

Contact Us | Trad Gang.com © | User Agreement

Copyright 2003 thru 2024 ~ Trad Gang.com ©