Thread: Drying timber in the microwave

A few minutes will have only dried the outside, unless it is only 2mm thick that is. You will need a number of bursts to dry it properly. Put it in a plastic bag, if there is moisture still coming out, it will condensate inside the bag. Shorten the time too, you may fine that much can split it on the inside.

ps what are you drying, size wise?

Agree with Neil.

A lot will depend on the size of the pieces and the initial moisture content.

I dried lots of pen blanks in the microwave years ago. Started at low heat
and shorter time spans. As the wood dried I found I was able to increase
both heat and time BUT - only to a point.

I always cross sacked the blanks so I had good air circulation.

Some experimenting of your own will help you sort out what is right.

Agreed as well,

I dry for 1 minute to start with then rest to cool, repeat a few times and if it is still all straight and not cracked after 4 goes I give it 1:30 for a few more and then 2:00. I have a 1200W microwave on flat out, I suspect it would work better at a half power setting but Im impatient Works great with fence pailings from Bunnies (Cypress Pine) which is fast becoming a favourite timber. It also leaves a nice smell in the microwave afterwards....

I microwaved some small pieces of Queensland maple timber around 10mm thick. I put them on for 10 seconds and then let them cool between zapps
Did this for a while (About half an hour) and weighed with digital scales until the weight remained stable. Seemed to work in that the pieces I did are still stable and sound! I have also been led to believe that the microwave radiation process can make the timber more stable and less likely to surface check later. Ideal for pen blanks and instruments. I had to really hold myself back from wanting to speed up the process by zapping for longer because when the timber comes out boilingit cracks!

Note: My timber was 70% air seasoned already.

Anybody microwaved green wood with success?

Originally Posted by Miss Lu Lu

I microwaved some small pieces of Queensland maple timber around 10mm thick. I put them on for 10 seconds and then let them cool between zapps
Did this for a while (About half an hour) and weighed with digital scales until the weight remained stable. Seemed to work in that the pieces I did are still stable and sound! I have also been led to believe that the microwave radiation process can make the timber more stable and less likely to surface check later. Ideal for pen blanks and instruments. I had to really hold myself back from wanting to speed up the process by zapping for longer because when the timber comes out boilingit cracks!

Note: My timber was 70% air seasoned already.

Anybody microwaved green wood with success?

Welcome to the Forums Miss Lu Lu and a very informative entry it was too. Forum member Berlin was asking me about drying timber in a microwave just the other day and I had to confess I had more idea about the trauma of childbirth than microwave drying .

I will direct him to this thread. Thank you SAISAY for intoducing the topic. Incidentally I did mention to Berlin that I thought it was not a good idea to use the micowave in the kitchen, but I wasn't sure of the reason. I did think it might be to do with residual aromas. So you have at least confirmed that guess.

Regards
Paul

Righto, time to crank up the microwave

I'll report back.

A microwave will heat the heart of a piece of timber as much as the outside, so allowing for the fact that the moisture will still have to leave via the surface, it should dry through its thickness in theory.