Thread: Green/raw poplar (populus nigra) wood

You could find someone to kiln dry them, but most of the time it's just dry them in a shady spot for a year or so. Then use the bits that haven't warped.

Originally Posted by igrowns

You could find someone to kiln dry them, but most of the time it's just dry them in a shady spot for a year or so. Then use the bits that haven't warped.

It seems as the best path to follow. Thanks a lot for your answer

Originally Posted by aubuga

Hi all! i have some small stools made with a recently sawn populus nigra trunk. The are 1 piece directly from the trunk, but what should i do know? how can i let them dry without ruining them?
thanks a lot!

Put them in plastic garbage bags. Leave them in there for a couple days. Then take them out for a couple hours and then put them back for a couple days. And repeat. Drying woods to minimise cracking is all about moisture control and reducing the stress from an imbalance of moisture in the wood. You need to control how much moisture evaporates from the wood. Being that most of the stool is end grain, they will dry out fast, and ultimately crack.

If you have a large chest freezer that's another way to dry wood out. Essentially you're freezer burning the wood. I've dried out whole logs of very rare woods that way, with barely any cracking at all. Caveat to that is it takes years LOL.