(29°C). The third week, I raise the The sensor for the greenhouse controller is mounted to the ceiling inside I generally start by the kiln. The four holes drilled through the upper back wall of the freezer temperature to 90°F (32°C) and setting the tem- can be seen. leave it there until the wood is dry. perature at 80°F During the first few weeks, the humid- ity is (27°C) for the first 70 to 80 week. At week two, I A 13" (33cm) cottonwood bowl, rough turned from green wood, weighed increase the tem- 5.09 lb (2.3kg) June 11 when it was placed in the kiln. It weighed 3.43 lb (1.6kg) July 15, and 3.42 lb (1.6kg) July 22. This bowl stopped losing perature to 85°F weight, is dry, and ready to be finish turned. percent, so the air exiting the kiln often To measure the wood’s dryness, condenses on the outside of the holes. As age-environment temperature, and When the blanks stop losing weight the drying process humidity. (moisture), they can be finish turned. progresses, the humidity continues I weigh the largest and thickest to drop. The time it for the blanks to finish drying depends upon: the time of year the tree was cut, wood species, diameter, rough-turned wall thickness, stor- blanks with a digital fishing scale and write the weight and date on each blank. At first, I check the blanks monthly, and then weekly as the weight loss begins to slow. Larry Zubke has been an avid woodworker all of his life, learning from his father and other family members. Since joining the Dakota Woodturners, his focus shifted to woodturning.
I generally start by setting the tem- perature at 80°F (27°C) for the first week. At week two, I increase the tem- perature to 85°F (29°C). The third week, I raise the temperature to 90°F (32°C) and leave it there until the wood is dry. During the first few weeks, the humid- ity is 70 to 80 The sensor for the greenhouse controller is mounted to the ceiling inside the kiln. The four holes drilled through the upper back wall of the freezer can be seen. A 13" (33cm) cottonwood bowl, rough turned from green wood, weighed 5.09 lb (2.3kg) June 11 when it was placed in the kiln. It weighed 3.43 lb (1.6kg) July 15, and 3.42 lb (1.6kg) July 22. This bowl stopped losing weight, is dry, and ready to be finish turned. percent, so the air exiting the kiln often condenses on the outside of the holes. As the drying process age-environment temperature, and humidity. To measure the wood’s dryness, When the blanks stop losing weight (moisture), they can be finish turned. progresses, the humidity continues I weigh the largest and thickest to drop. The time it for the blanks to finish drying depends upon: the time of year the tree was cut, wood species, diameter, rough-turned wall thickness, stor- blanks with a digital fishing scale and write the weight and date on each blank. At first, I check the blanks monthly, and then weekly as the weight loss begins to slow. Larry Zubke has been an avid woodworker all of his life, learning from his father and other family members. Since joining the Dakota Woodturners, his focus shifted to woodturning.