30-11-2011, 07:36 PM
Hello David, yes, end rearing can quicken the air dry process, but in my experience it depends what the end use is, if the board is to be retained at its original width (after trimming) then excessive end rearing can lead to the top of the board drying out much quicker than the bottom part this can lead to some funny cupping, bending, uneven tension & shakes in certain sections of the timber as Sycamore drys out comparitavly fast due to its inherent low moisture content, I have heard of people that have used solid plastic round bar for conventional stickering as it is inert and presents a low contact area to the timber. I used to have a book on air drying it can be quite an art.
Ripple back was always the Holy Grail but I had no such luck! my sawmill friend struck lucky years ago when he happened upon an American Black Walnut tree, the squared up butt was approaching 18" + square
a cabinet maker from up country bought it as is for £900, and someone else paid reasonable money for the stump (very stable for gunstocks apparenty) I have never used PEG either but it is supposed to be quite effective, restraint clamps used to be hammered on to the ends of boards when drying I don't know if they still use them. I miss the sawmilling days but there you go.
You turn some nice stuff Dave.
Lawrence.
Ripple back was always the Holy Grail but I had no such luck! my sawmill friend struck lucky years ago when he happened upon an American Black Walnut tree, the squared up butt was approaching 18" + square
a cabinet maker from up country bought it as is for £900, and someone else paid reasonable money for the stump (very stable for gunstocks apparenty) I have never used PEG either but it is supposed to be quite effective, restraint clamps used to be hammered on to the ends of boards when drying I don't know if they still use them. I miss the sawmilling days but there you go.
You turn some nice stuff Dave.
Lawrence.
