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  1. #1
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    Default patterned liquidambar

    Hi All,
    I'm wondering what to do with this liquidambar wood. As you can see, it has a pattern that looks like a butterfly and a dragonfly. I'm looking for ideas for using the wood as well as some tips for drying it to prevent cracking.
    Cheers.
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  3. #2
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  4. #3
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    Default

    They are great patterns, I hope you can find a way to keep & use them. Oystering, as suggested by Thumbsucker is probably one good way. Another may be to use square or rectangular veneers containing the patterns as inlays.
    The big challenge will be to prevent the veneers splitting and curling as they dry. The method I've used successfully on smaller (~50mm dia.) oysters is to cut them about 1-2mm thick while still wet, place ~6 sheets of damp newspaper on either side of them and clamp them flat between two pieces of laminate. Leave them to dry for a couple of weeks. I'm not sure how this will work for larger oysters. You may need to make smaller pieces, just containing the patterns.
    The other thing you might try is putting band clamps around the wood to stop it splitting as it dries. You'll need to dry it slowly, and keep tightening the clamps as the wood dries & shrinks. Not sure if this will work or not, but I think anything is worth trying to keep those patterns.
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  5. #4
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    Nov 2007
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    Default

    Thanks for the suggestions gents

    Quote Originally Posted by AlexS View Post
    Another may be to use square or rectangular veneers containing the patterns as inlays.
    I think this is what I will do. I think I'll rip the logs into 100x100 sections then slice them and dry between wet newspaper as you suggest. I think they would make nice inlays in box lids.

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