crazywizdom 18th July 2006, 12:04 PM hi all i am just seeking some advice I am currently making a quantity of natural blocks for the local kinder. That is just rounds from collected branchestypical sizes are around 50mm to 70mm in length for branches 15mm to 30mm in diameter and 15mm lengths forbranches 50mm to 90mm in diameter.I am fine with most of the gums as i collect them dry I.e spotted gum, manna gum etc but I have access to loads of exotics i.e oaks, chestnuts etc these are green I have heard it is possible to cut them into blocks and dry them in the microwave oven does anyone know this process. I am also looking for the botanical name of a native wood the pioneers used to call dolly wood as they would carve pegs and wooden dollys out of it. If anyone can help I would appreciate it cheers crazy
Auzzie turner 18th July 2006, 02:27 PM welcome to the forum, I can't help with anything else though,
Regards..........AuzzieTurner
Ianab 18th July 2006, 02:40 PM I have used a microwave to dry wood samples (to work out moisture content).
Some hints
Dont use you nice kitchen mircowave.. it will smell of wood for ages afterward.
Use the lowest power settings, and watch / check the wood. If it gets to hot to touch, let it rest for a few minutes. Too much power will dry the wood out quickly but proabably set fire to it.
You will proabably have to experiment a bit to work out times for your oven / pieces of wood, but if you use low power and keep an eye on it you wont hurt anything.
Cheers
Ian
Cliff Rogers 18th July 2006, 02:45 PM For microwave drying timber, do a search here using 'microwave+drying'.
Here are a few samples.
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=30738&highlight=microwave+drying
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=32924&highlight=microwave+drying
http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=24396&highlight=microwave+drying
Basically.
1. weight it
2. zap it for a minute of 2, DON'T MAKE IT SIZZLE!
3. let it cool down
4. weight it again
5. if it has lost weight, goto step 2.
In Tassie, they made pegs & dolls out of sassafras.
Here are a few names for it.
Sassafras Atherosperma moschatum GFP
Sassafras Cinnamomum oliveri ARF
Sassafras Cinnamomum virens NPQ
Sassafras Daphnandra dielsii NAT
Sassafras Daphnandra micrantha NAT
Sassafras Daphnandra repandula NAT
Sassafras Doryphora aromatica NAT
Sassafras Doryphora sassafras WIA
The three digit code is reference code.
You can look up the reference here.
http://www.vwa.org.au/list_ta_ref.htm
Skew ChiDAMN!! 18th July 2006, 03:46 PM Dont use you nice kitchen mircowave.. it will smell of wood for ages afterward.
Put it in a plastic bag and twist it shut. This has several benefits:
it's a good warning indicator... if the bag balloons, time to cool the wood down easier to pick up than a hot piece of wood stops sap spattering the inside of the MW stops the MW from smelling like a wet rainforest properly done, SWMBO will never know you've been playing with her toys :rolleyes:
:)
crazywizdom 18th July 2006, 05:00 PM wow thanks guys you are an amazing source of knowledge i shall now go and sort through the other ten thousand questions i have
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