So I have been playing with a lathe off and on for several years. Mostly doing end grain hollowing and spindle turns. I mostly had used scrapers and then a heck of a lot of sanding. I had tried a bowl gouge some but it wasn't what I was in to, so I let it go. I never really felt like a wood turner, just a scraper. But recently I dusted off my lathe and started watching lots of your vids. You are fantastic at content creating. Things you teach soak into my brain. I had been sharpening on a regular grinder from HF. Two days ago I was in there and found a 7 buck oxide wheel and a wheel shaper. I had made an Irish grinding jig years ago but don't have a wolverine. After sharpening my tools, I picked up the bowl gouge and became a turner for the first time ever! I rode the bevel and pulled off the smoothest cuts ever in a third of the time. Amazing day I had. The side grain felt like glass. Thanks so much for taking time to teach. You have a gift for it. Thanks brother!
Corey, Thank you for writing and sharing! Wow, that is exciting! I bet that gouge felt a little different than those scrapers, right?! Ha! ;) Keep up the great work. Remember; persistent, patient practice will yield the bowls you imagine creating! All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent
@@TurnAWoodBowl oh man I used to be so jealous of the shavings everyone else was getting in videos. I made a set of four cherry bowls for my mother-in-law with scapers years ago. First one was cool then I wanted to hang myself for agreeing to make 4! So. Much. Sanding. Now with your teaching I'm on my way. I want to turn everything I see into a bowl. Just started using your sanding technique too. I'm about to build a dry box, then I'm going to start taking bowls spindles from green logs too. Watched a cool video on how Windsor chairs got started. Didn't know you could make green spindles work. Anyway thx again for your content!
Hey Kent 👋...love your tutorials...this one in particular about drying bowls or bowl blanks...i hope you don't mind but im going to take your plans for the drying box and tweak it a bit by adding my food dehydrator as the heat source and the fan...it is thermostat controlled already and the built in fan will be great for circulation...keep the great content coming...my 15 yr old son Jackson and I are both learning alot from your videos as we are both beginners...oh and btw i particularly love how many wall receptacles you have above your counter in your shop...thanks again...Jay
Jay, Thank you for writing and sharing! Sounds like a great plan. And I'm so glad you are able to share your process with your son! You two will be able to share these memories for years! All the best to you both and Happy Turning! (PS - I have outlets in the ceiling too. LOL Had a space before with far too few outlets, and I remedied that here.)
Years ago I made something very similar to this for controlled fermentation of a homebrewing conical fermenter. I took a large u-haul wardrobe box and cut foam to fit five sides and also made an insulated door very similar to what you made. I had a thermostat that regulated the temperature by turning on and off a lamp with a 25 watt bulb in it. It work amazingly well and allowed me to brew ales in my garage during Pacific Northwest winters. If I had lived in Minnesota, I may have needed to kick the bulb wattage up a "bit". If it works for beer, it has to work for wood!
Very simple idea. I've seen others do this, but I like your in depth explanation. Looks like I have a project to take care of, and clearing out some extra space in the garage.
Just what I was looking for, thank you! I built one tonight, tucked in under my shop shelving. The foam is a bit of a pain to work with, but not too bad. Looking forward to filling it up.
This sounds like a good idea. I usually rough turn my blanks, coat the end grain with old unused latex taint, and put them up in the rafters of my shop. I have problems with them warping some and cracking. The warping is not a big problem as that can be turned out (sorta), but the checking is another story. The humidity here where I live ( the gulf coast of Texas) is rather high most of the time, but this method sounds like a solution ( I hope!!!) Thanks. I always enjoy your videos, and learn a lot, or get my memory jogged and remember things I learned a long time ago. Thanks.
Kent. Your video on Making a Dry Box was very interesting and informative. I have a question though. I recently acquired some rather small pieces of wood. They are all recently cut and they are green fresh wood. Could I put them in a drying box and dry them in a few weeks. Also would a solar oven/box be a option for drying. Thanks
Dave, a drying box does work quickly. However, you want warm, not super hot heat. You're "inspiring" the moisture to leave the blanks, not forcing the process. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Thanks for some great information! Something besides a drying box like yours, I've added to my drying routine, is using a dishwashing liquid soap soak before the blanks go into the box. I found the original idea, for the soak, on Ron Kent's site but others have also shared his technique.
I'm working on the assembly of my upright freezer "drying box" this weekend. I'm copying a few different videos that I've seen on TH-cam. I'm trying to make it even more passive by auto draining the condensed moisture with the existing defrost drain. I plan to use it to dry raw blanks rather than twice turning. I'm hoping to be able to get several sizes and shapes going at once.
Sounds good Archie. I'm not sure you need a drain. The moisture will most likely evaporate, unless your stock is dripping wet. It sounds like you'll have a great set up. Enjoy and Happy Turning!
@TurnAWoodBowl I am indeed starting with green wood with very high moisture content. I just want to turn dry wood. I don't want to fool with turning twice if i can help it. I don't get much tim in my shop, so start to finish projects are my best option at the moment. It's been a few weeks since I started the process. First of all, I found that I can indeed get the temperature up high enough to kill the beetles. Unfortunately, I didn't recall that if the wood dries too quickly, it cracks. Even if you have sealed the endgrain. That being said, I have some nice candidates for resin projects.
Hi Kent, Maybe you should use a 75 or 100W infrared lamp. They also sell this in keepers to keep small piglets or chicks warm. These lamps are really made for that. Keep it safe, it is not over yet. Willy from Belgium. 😷😷😷
HI Kent ,another great tip thanks for all the help you've given me over the years QUESTION :I nerd to know the temperature inside the drying box .thanks and happy TURNING
Thank you for sharing your wood drying approach. Excellent idea. When I started thinking about doing something similar I was concerned about leaving a light bulb unattended for an extended period of time. The solution that I came up with was to use a tubular heater of the kind used in outhouses, greenhouses etc. They are designed to be left on indefinitely, they are thermostatically controlled and have auto shut off if they overheat. The kind that I use come in at 40W for 1ft in length, 80W for 2ft in length etc. In the UK they cost about $30 (equivalent). I have installed these in a workshop cabinet which is based on a standard kitchen unit with additional ventilation. I use modified Eclipse wire shelving which is very strong and allows for excellent air movement.
Great idea. Space is my issue and your idea may be my solution. I watched Sprague woodturning's video on the freezer box with temp controls, but space precludes this option for me. Your idea has caused me to envision a tall, narrow box that I might have the space to build. As always, such useful info. Thanks.
I carve wood that are larger pieces I get and cut them down to 3.5" thick so I an cut them on the band saw but they are like 17" by 14-17 inches. I need to keep them and want to wax the ends. Do you have any suggestions. Are these pieces too large? Thanks Amanda
Amanda, no that size is pretty normal for bowls. I suggest checking out my Tree to Bowl Understanding Green Wood course. We go over everything you need to process raw wood and get it ready for use. Check it out www.TurnAWoodBowl.com/green All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent
Sounds good, James, but maybe don't use the kitchen microwave. Your wife might not be too happy with you. You know, bug guts and all. ;) All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Very cool set up, simplest one I’ve seen yet and relatively cheap to operate. Being a former fire chief I always worry about things over heating and burning down my little shop, but this one I’m not afraid to try
Thank you for writing and sharing! Bob! I can only imagine the things you must have seen as a fire chief. I guess as long as people are not overheating and trying to cook the wood, this should be no problem. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I read the article on drying wood on your website, which is an excellent resource. Among the many options for drying wood, I didn’t see any reference to what I think is called the water displacement method in which once-turned wood is completely submerged in oil (mineral oil). Does this method work?
Good question Matthew. I have not tried it myself. Seems too cumbersome, costly, and not suited for multiple bowls. I don't see why it wouldn't work. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I made something similar to this with a dead refrigerator I had. I use a 60W light bulb hooked to a pressure switch from a overhead projector to have it turn off when you open the door. I was able to drill holes in between the frig and freezer with the exhaust in the walls of the freezer and a few inlets down low in the frig part. I mainly use it to dry down firewood slabs for to have my HS students use for small projects and turnings. I usually use the freezer part to hold my 3D printer filament to keep it on the dryer side obviously when I don't have the bottom loaded with fresh wood.
Good question James. No, not percentage, just stability. When the weight stops changing, the blank is most likely equalized to the environment. Hope that helps. Happy Turning!
If my shop gets super hot in the summer… could I just put a fan on the bowls and get a similar result !? Or do I have to build a box inside my box(shop) 😊?? Trying to understand how a box inside a box drys them faster lol.
Hi Ken. I use an old Horizontal Freezer, a 100-watt heating element on an ink bird regualtor and a small Dehumidifier. I am drying twice-turned bowls in Walnut, Hickory, Maple and Cherry in 8-15 days with little to no cracking. My temperature is set to 100 degrees and the differential is 3 degrees. The humidity is hoovering @ 40%. It works perfectly and very quickly. Warping? Yes...some. I built your twice-turned bowl jam chuck and it works great for any warping. I have a video on the dryer on my channel if you're interested. I always enjoy your videos.
Hallo Kent. A little question from a guy from Denmark. lol What is a good moisture content for a ruff turned bowl blank, if you messure it with a moisturemeter, before you can final turn it? And another quick question. When you are talking about no cracking in the drying box, do you seal the end grains with anything, before you put the blanks in the box? I love your videos. They are very educating and informative. Thank you. //Pangleren - The gyu form Denmark
Hello Pangleren (Denmark Guy) ;) I usually don't measure the moisture, instead I'll weigh the bowls. I have a whole course on managing Green Wood www.TurnAWoodBowl.com/green Check it out. And yes, I seal the end-grain areas, inside and out before adding them to the dryer. I'm glad you like these videos. Thank you, and Happy Turning!
Hi, Kent! Can you think of any alternative to regular light bulbs? They are forbidden in Germany for energy dissipation and not sold anymore for several years now.
Buen día maestro! Excelente una vez más. Cuanta sabiduría y que poco egoísmo de tu parte para enseñarnos todas estas cosas. Lo agradezco profundamente! Estaba pensando en que si hacemos esas cajas de secado montadas en la pared y elevadas del piso, la entrada de aire, por ejemplo podría hacerse del lado de abajo y por supuesto, la salida del lado de arriba. Así se pueden juntar varias cajas una al lado de la otra. Un fuerte abrazo y gracias nuevamente! Germán, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Hola German y gracias por verte. Sí, puede hacer gabinetes de secado montados en la pared si lo desea. Estoy pensando en esto yo mismo. Además, tener varias cajas / gabinetes más pequeños significa que puede mantener lotes individuales de madera separados durante todo el proceso de secado. ¡Todo lo mejor para ti y gracias por tu apoyo! ¡Feliz giro!
Kent, Thanks just what the doctor ordered a simple drying box. I have space constraints so this box just might be what I need. What do you use as a marking pen? I was thinking of using a sharpie but I’m afraid of bleeding deep into the wood or if it’s to wet a sharpie will not mark. Any advise from a pro is appreciated. Thanks
Another great tip! Thanks for all the help you've given me over the years! Question: I am making a pair of bowls for a friend's anniversary, the traditional gift this anniversary is wood, and he said, "... and we can eat cereal out of them" . The question is, what finish would you recommend so I don't poison my friend and his wife? Tried & True?
Hello Kent. I live in a very high humidity location (I live on an island of the Philippines). My question is, what does equalization mean when the humidity is 90% year round? Is a dry box really necessary or can I just stack the blanks in a covered outside area?
It means the wood is stable and does not distort or change shape significantly. Check out my Tree to Bowl course www.TurnAWoodBowl.com/green All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I live in Ontario, and the provincial government has banned incandescent bulbs in order to promote energy conservation. Any thoughts on what to use as an alternative heat source?
I'm wondering where you keep this box? It seems like it is outside. Can this be in a basement? How many lower and upper vents did you put in? I am venting 1/2 logs that are sealed on the end grain about 12" diameter. I've weighted them and moisture metered them. How long do you estimate with this system and keeping it inside will this take?I'm excited to speed up the drying time!! Made the box 3'x3'.
Good questions, Elly. It can be located anywhere. I have mine in the barn. I made two vents high and two low, but I only have one at the bottom and top open. It's super basic. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Check this out. turnawoodbowl.com/wood-lathe-review-compare-select-understand-2/ and this article as well turnawoodbowl.com/robust-sweet-16-wood-lathe-review/ Happy Turning!
Great idea Kent! I like your design with the foam board. One question, do you put anchor seal on the bowl blanks that you put in or have you found that no sealing is needed with this drying technique? Thank you for the great videos!
Ken, I’m wondering what part of the country you operate from. I can’t identify a tell-tale accent and I didn’t find anything after a cursory glance at your website. I ask because I have two sizable chunks of box elder that need a home. One had a sizable burl, which has been separated from the a rest of the segment (and I still have that too), and a significant bark inclusion remains on that segment. I’m not a woodworker, so I can’t take advantage myself. I’ve offered these pieces to the local woodturning club, but I think they prefer to use wood that has been kiln dried and otherwise prepared for turning. It wouldn’t be worth the cost to ship then, but perhaps if you aren’t too far away, you could recommend an appropriated destination? I live in Rochester, NY
Willa, Thank you for writing and sharing! Rats! I'm a long way away from you with the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico about an hour and a half drive each. I sure would love to house the box elder. Thanks for thinking of me. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Welders use the same technique to keep moisture out of welding rods. Welders just run the refridgerator light in a defunct refridgerator. Sprague Woodturning spends a lot of time and money converting refrigerators into very effective converted fridges.
Make an incandescent bulb last longer: Use a 100 W bulb (or even larger) and tone it down with a cheap light dimmer. That way the filament doesn't get as hot and one bulb will last forever. You're welcome.
Sue, the corners can be taped extra if needed, but the tape down the seams works pretty well. A dehydrator might work but it also might be too aggressive at removing the moisture. I'd recommended experimenting with a few pieces. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I’ve seen a few builds that were along the same line, but was never inspired by. I really liked a few things that you kind of put out there as ideas on how you can customize it. It got me thinking about converting a couple shelves (from a industrial type stamped metal, garage shelf that you could use as the framing) into a multi chamber/baffled drying box. Then when you dry them you can kind of just rotate them from the top down over time to start it in the most humid area. This would be where it will lose its moisture slower initially to avoid early cracking from free water loss and then rotate it to the drier area closer to the heat source/air flow when it’s ready to dry out the stubborn bonded water.
Great idea. Thanks for the information. ..TO EVERYONE else…I’ll be the second person to mention that an INCANDESCENT 60W or 75W bulb in the shop light fixture. LED and CFL bulbs put out almost no heat. Also,remember that the idea is to slightly warm the air AND to slightly increase the convection process. “Slightly” is the key. Please don’t turn your hard work into firewood. Be Well and Good Journey Richie
With the proliferation of LED lamps (which use MUCH less energy) you might want to specify that you use a 100 Watt INCANDESCENT lamp. A LED lamp that produces illumination equivalent to a 100 Watt incandescent will consume far less energy (abour 15 Watts) and create correspondingly less heat as a waste byproduct. There are some 100 Watt panel heaters or space heaters, but they are hideously expensive compared to a 100 Watt incandescent lamp bulb.
Great idea for the heat box. You said weigh the blanks to see if they are dry, but how much weight should they lose? Should it be a percentage of weight or what else? Thanks. Jim
Kent, like the idea you have here. Here is an idea I had while watching your video. Like you, I live in Florida (a few miles up the road from you) and suffer the humidity. Due to the size and shape of my shop (I am completing the build soon) and that my shop has wood walls, I was thinking of the "cabinet" idea - but putting the cabinet(s) on the exterior wall(s) but pulling the incoming air from inside the shop, since my shop will be air conditioned and thus already have Florida humidity removed and letting the cabinet(s) vent to the outside. How does that idea sound? Also, you might like watching Jim Sprague's videos on his fridge kiln(s) th-cam.com/video/6C89KE0osf0/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/7fVLWCPgyNM/w-d-xo.html
I made two kilns one is a mini fridge and the other is a tall box insulated. Usually two weeks dry time! They work awesome key thing I do is change bulbs incandescent type only every 4-5 days starting with 40 watt up to 100 watt. 40/65/75/100. Happy turning! 👍🏼💫🪵
So I have been playing with a lathe off and on for several years. Mostly doing end grain hollowing and spindle turns. I mostly had used scrapers and then a heck of a lot of sanding. I had tried a bowl gouge some but it wasn't what I was in to, so I let it go. I never really felt like a wood turner, just a scraper. But recently I dusted off my lathe and started watching lots of your vids. You are fantastic at content creating. Things you teach soak into my brain. I had been sharpening on a regular grinder from HF. Two days ago I was in there and found a 7 buck oxide wheel and a wheel shaper. I had made an Irish grinding jig years ago but don't have a wolverine. After sharpening my tools, I picked up the bowl gouge and became a turner for the first time ever! I rode the bevel and pulled off the smoothest cuts ever in a third of the time. Amazing day I had. The side grain felt like glass. Thanks so much for taking time to teach. You have a gift for it. Thanks brother!
Corey, Thank you for writing and sharing! Wow, that is exciting! I bet that gouge felt a little different than those scrapers, right?! Ha! ;) Keep up the great work. Remember; persistent, patient practice will yield the bowls you imagine creating!
All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Kent
@@TurnAWoodBowl oh man I used to be so jealous of the shavings everyone else was getting in videos. I made a set of four cherry bowls for my mother-in-law with scapers years ago. First one was cool then I wanted to hang myself for agreeing to make 4! So. Much. Sanding. Now with your teaching I'm on my way. I want to turn everything I see into a bowl. Just started using your sanding technique too. I'm about to build a dry box, then I'm going to start taking bowls spindles from green logs too. Watched a cool video on how Windsor chairs got started. Didn't know you could make green spindles work. Anyway thx again for your content!
Hey Kent 👋...love your tutorials...this one in particular about drying bowls or bowl blanks...i hope you don't mind but im going to take your plans for the drying box and tweak it a bit by adding my food dehydrator as the heat source and the fan...it is thermostat controlled already and the built in fan will be great for circulation...keep the great content coming...my 15 yr old son Jackson and I are both learning alot from your videos as we are both beginners...oh and btw i particularly love how many wall receptacles you have above your counter in your shop...thanks again...Jay
Jay, Thank you for writing and sharing! Sounds like a great plan. And I'm so glad you are able to share your process with your son! You two will be able to share these memories for years! All the best to you both and Happy Turning! (PS - I have outlets in the ceiling too. LOL Had a space before with far too few outlets, and I remedied that here.)
One of us is a mind reader! I was talking with a friend about a drying box today. I like the insulation board idea and ill use it.
Thanks
Thanks I learn every time I watch.
Thank you, James! Happy Turning!
Years ago I made something very similar to this for controlled fermentation of a homebrewing conical fermenter. I took a large u-haul wardrobe box and cut foam to fit five sides and also made an insulated door very similar to what you made. I had a thermostat that regulated the temperature by turning on and off a lamp with a 25 watt bulb in it. It work amazingly well and allowed me to brew ales in my garage during Pacific Northwest winters. If I had lived in Minnesota, I may have needed to kick the bulb wattage up a "bit". If it works for beer, it has to work for wood!
Very cool, Stein. Thank you for writing and sharing! Happy Turning!
With this process, can you use small limbs with bark to dry for twig vases? 19:22
Awesome video! Thanks for the lesson!
My pleasure, Madira! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Wonderful idea. Thanks for all the tips.
Thank you, Jean! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Very cool thanks the drying box is cool
Glad you like, Joel! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Very simple idea. I've seen others do this, but I like your in depth explanation. Looks like I have a project to take care of, and clearing out some extra space in the garage.
Great project indeed, Ryein! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Just what I was looking for, thank you! I built one tonight, tucked in under my shop shelving. The foam is a bit of a pain to work with, but not too bad. Looking forward to filling it up.
Fantastic, Andrew! Happy to help. Dry wood coming right up. Enjoy and Happy Turning!
This sounds like a good idea. I usually rough turn my blanks, coat the end grain with old unused latex taint, and put them up in the rafters of my shop. I have problems with them warping some and cracking. The warping is not a big problem as that can be turned out (sorta), but the checking is another story. The humidity here where I live ( the gulf coast of Texas) is rather high most of the time, but this method sounds like a solution ( I hope!!!) Thanks. I always enjoy your videos, and learn a lot, or get my memory jogged and remember things I learned a long time ago. Thanks.
Alan, Thank you for writing and sharing! I hope this method helps you. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Kent. Your video on Making a Dry Box was very interesting and informative. I have a question though. I recently acquired some rather small pieces of wood. They are all recently cut and they are green fresh wood. Could I put them in a drying box and dry them in a few weeks. Also would a solar oven/box be a option for drying. Thanks
Dave, a drying box does work quickly. However, you want warm, not super hot heat. You're "inspiring" the moisture to leave the blanks, not forcing the process. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
cheers mate! as always
My pleasure mate! Happy Turning!
Great info! Thank you, this has inspired me to make a drying box for my shop.
Fantastic April. Enjoy and Happy Turning!
would this help drying logs too ?
Grea video Kent. Appreciate you sharing your experience. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it Jon. Happy Turning!
Thanks for some great information! Something besides a drying box like yours, I've added to my drying routine, is using a dishwashing liquid soap soak before the blanks go into the box. I found the original idea, for the soak, on Ron Kent's site but others have also shared his technique.
Interesting Lewis. I'll have to check it out. Thanks and Happy Turning!
What is the dish soap suppose to do?
I'm working on the assembly of my upright freezer "drying box" this weekend. I'm copying a few different videos that I've seen on TH-cam. I'm trying to make it even more passive by auto draining the condensed moisture with the existing defrost drain. I plan to use it to dry raw blanks rather than twice turning. I'm hoping to be able to get several sizes and shapes going at once.
Sounds good Archie. I'm not sure you need a drain. The moisture will most likely evaporate, unless your stock is dripping wet. It sounds like you'll have a great set up. Enjoy and Happy Turning!
@TurnAWoodBowl I am indeed starting with green wood with very high moisture content. I just want to turn dry wood. I don't want to fool with turning twice if i can help it. I don't get much tim in my shop, so start to finish projects are my best option at the moment. It's been a few weeks since I started the process. First of all, I found that I can indeed get the temperature up high enough to kill the beetles. Unfortunately, I didn't recall that if the wood dries too quickly, it cracks. Even if you have sealed the endgrain. That being said, I have some nice candidates for resin projects.
Hi Kent,
Maybe you should use a 75 or 100W infrared lamp.
They also sell this in keepers to keep small piglets or chicks warm.
These lamps are really made for that.
Keep it safe, it is not over yet.
Willy from Belgium.
😷😷😷
That could work, indeed, Willy. Just watch that the temperatures stay relatively low (around 90° F / 32°C). All the best to you and Happy Turning!
@@TurnAWoodBowl Thanks, why don't you try it yourselve?
Greeting.
Willy from Belgium.=.
🐰🐰🐰
Would you use anchor seal on a blanks that go into a drying box?
HI Kent ,another great tip thanks for all the help you've given me over the years QUESTION :I nerd to know the temperature inside the drying box .thanks and happy TURNING
Glad to help around 90-100° F Happy Turning!
Hi Kent. I am also wondering if you add anchorseal when putting blanks in the box?
Yes, to the end-grain areas (inside and out) only. Happy Turning!
Can you use this to put regular blanks that have not been turned yet to assist with the drying process?
Allison, Yes indeed. Happy Turning!
I haven’t been able to find a refrigerator so I think I will try this. Do you seal the end grain before putting the blanks in the box?
I use and old refrigerator to dry my blanks and seal the ends with paraffin wax. Fairly good success.
Yes Doug, the end-grain areas (inside and out) only. Happy Turning!
Thank you for sharing your wood drying approach. Excellent idea.
When I started thinking about doing something similar I was concerned about leaving a light bulb unattended for an extended period of time. The solution that I came up with was to use a tubular heater of the kind used in outhouses, greenhouses etc. They are designed to be left on indefinitely, they are thermostatically controlled and have auto shut off if they overheat. The kind that I use come in at 40W for 1ft in length, 80W for 2ft in length etc. In the UK they cost about $30 (equivalent).
I have installed these in a workshop cabinet which is based on a standard kitchen unit with additional ventilation. I use modified Eclipse wire shelving which is very strong and allows for excellent air movement.
That sounds like a great set up and I am planning something similar with another dryer I'm making. Stay tuned. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Great idea. Space is my issue and your idea may be my solution. I watched Sprague woodturning's video on the freezer box with temp controls, but space precludes this option for me. Your idea has caused me to envision a tall, narrow box that I might have the space to build. As always, such useful info. Thanks.
Great Barry! Yes, you could make a cabinet like structure with shelfs just wide enough for your largest bowls. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Where did you get the net behind you?
Check out this video th-cam.com/video/svt-Rrf550s/w-d-xo.html Happy Turning!
I carve wood that are larger pieces I get and cut them down to 3.5" thick so I an cut them on the band saw but they are like 17" by 14-17 inches. I need to keep them and want to wax the ends. Do you have any suggestions. Are these pieces too large? Thanks Amanda
Amanda, no that size is pretty normal for bowls. I suggest checking out my Tree to Bowl Understanding Green Wood course. We go over everything you need to process raw wood and get it ready for use. Check it out www.TurnAWoodBowl.com/green All the best to you and Happy Turning! Kent
Thank you!
Would a ceramic light work since they are designed to be on all the time?
Yup, that could work. Please subscribe, and Happy Turning!
Great ideas. What is the best way to secure the side corners of the box? What is your opinion of using a dehydrator for drying small pieces?
Thanks, Sue. The corners are simply taped. A dehydrator might dry the wood too quickly. Happy Turning!
Hi again, I thought of putting the blanks in the microwave to kill bugs b4 the dry box. What do u think? Jim
Sounds good, James, but maybe don't use the kitchen microwave. Your wife might not be too happy with you. You know, bug guts and all. ;) All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Great info Kent
Glad you like Barry! Happy Turning!
Very cool set up, simplest one I’ve seen yet and relatively cheap to operate. Being a former fire chief I always worry about things over heating and burning down my little shop, but this one I’m not afraid to try
Thank you for writing and sharing! Bob! I can only imagine the things you must have seen as a fire chief. I guess as long as people are not overheating and trying to cook the wood, this should be no problem. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I read the article on drying wood on your website, which is an excellent resource. Among the many options for drying wood, I didn’t see any reference to what I think is called the water displacement method in which once-turned wood is completely submerged in oil (mineral oil). Does this method work?
Good question Matthew. I have not tried it myself. Seems too cumbersome, costly, and not suited for multiple bowls. I don't see why it wouldn't work. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
We are lucky up here in Montana. 6-12 weeks in a paper bag and we are ready to go.
Sounds excellent! Enjoy that dry air. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
the intro is so funny I laughed every time i watched it
Thanks Paul. I'm glad you appreciate my dry sense of humor! 😄
Hello Ken! Noticed the light bulb facing the bowls, is that will not dry them too fast? About hanging the lamp facing down?
Kent - thanks so much for sharing these ideas. Were you originally from the Chicago area? Which part - we are in Lombard.
Thanks again! B
My pleasure, Mark. Grew up in Bonfield. 300 people. Very rural and very corn. Ha! ;) All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I made something similar to this with a dead refrigerator I had. I use a 60W light bulb hooked to a pressure switch from a overhead projector to have it turn off when you open the door. I was able to drill holes in between the frig and freezer with the exhaust in the walls of the freezer and a few inlets down low in the frig part. I mainly use it to dry down firewood slabs for to have my HS students use for small projects and turnings. I usually use the freezer part to hold my 3D printer filament to keep it on the dryer side obviously when I don't have the bottom loaded with fresh wood.
Thank you for writing and sharing Nicholas! Sounds like a great set-up for drying. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
You said weigh the blanks. Do I go by a percentage of weight or what? Always learning, thanks, Jim.
Good question James. No, not percentage, just stability. When the weight stops changing, the blank is most likely equalized to the environment. Hope that helps. Happy Turning!
If my shop gets super hot in the summer… could I just put a fan on the bowls and get a similar result !? Or do I have to build a box inside my box(shop) 😊?? Trying to understand how a box inside a box drys them faster lol.
Hi Ken. I use an old Horizontal Freezer, a 100-watt heating element on an ink bird regualtor and a small Dehumidifier. I am drying twice-turned bowls in Walnut, Hickory, Maple and Cherry in 8-15 days with little to no cracking. My temperature is set to 100 degrees and the differential is 3 degrees. The humidity is hoovering @ 40%. It works perfectly and very quickly. Warping? Yes...some. I built your twice-turned bowl jam chuck and it works great for any warping. I have a video on the dryer on my channel if you're interested. I always enjoy your videos.
Sounds great! Thanks for sharing and Happy Turning!
Hallo Kent. A little question from a guy from Denmark. lol
What is a good moisture content for a ruff turned bowl blank, if you messure it with a moisturemeter, before you can final turn it?
And another quick question. When you are talking about no cracking in the drying box, do you seal the end grains with anything, before you put the blanks in the box?
I love your videos. They are very educating and informative.
Thank you.
//Pangleren - The gyu form Denmark
Hello Pangleren (Denmark Guy) ;) I usually don't measure the moisture, instead I'll weigh the bowls. I have a whole course on managing Green Wood www.TurnAWoodBowl.com/green Check it out. And yes, I seal the end-grain areas, inside and out before adding them to the dryer. I'm glad you like these videos. Thank you, and Happy Turning!
Hi, Kent! Can you think of any alternative to regular light bulbs? They are forbidden in Germany for energy dissipation and not sold anymore for several years now.
I use a stand up heater that was made for chicken coops.
There are reptile and chicken heating elements that use a bulb socket, but give off just heat, no light. That should work as well. Happy Turning!
An old freezer or fridge with a gentle heat source makes a great glue/finish cabinet for the shop if your space is subject to cold winters!
Sounds great Ben! Happy Turning!
Have to get my husband to look at this video.
A.K.A. "make this for me, please." ;) Sounds like a great request. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Buen día maestro! Excelente una vez más. Cuanta sabiduría y que poco egoísmo de tu parte para enseñarnos todas estas cosas. Lo agradezco profundamente!
Estaba pensando en que si hacemos esas cajas de secado montadas en la pared y elevadas del piso, la entrada de aire, por ejemplo podría hacerse del lado de abajo y por supuesto, la salida del lado de arriba. Así se pueden juntar varias cajas una al lado de la otra.
Un fuerte abrazo y gracias nuevamente!
Germán, Montevideo, Uruguay.
Hola German y gracias por verte. Sí, puede hacer gabinetes de secado montados en la pared si lo desea. Estoy pensando en esto yo mismo. Además, tener varias cajas / gabinetes más pequeños significa que puede mantener lotes individuales de madera separados durante todo el proceso de secado. ¡Todo lo mejor para ti y gracias por tu apoyo! ¡Feliz giro!
Kent,
Thanks just what the doctor ordered a simple drying box. I have space constraints so this box just might be what I need. What do you use as a marking pen? I was thinking of using a sharpie but I’m afraid of bleeding deep into the wood or if it’s to wet a sharpie will not mark. Any advise from a pro is appreciated. Thanks
A Sharpie is fine and doesn't bleed that far. You'll turn away all the markings long before you are finished. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Another great tip! Thanks for all the help you've given me over the years!
Question: I am making a pair of bowls for a friend's anniversary, the traditional gift this anniversary is wood, and he said, "... and we can eat cereal out of them" . The question is, what finish would you recommend so I don't poison my friend and his wife? Tried & True?
A poison wedding anniversary gift. LOL I would use Tried and True Original. See this th-cam.com/video/yQazOEwCPEg/w-d-xo.html Happy Turning!
Hello Kent. I live in a very high humidity location (I live on an island of the Philippines). My question is, what does equalization mean when the humidity is 90% year round? Is a dry box really necessary or can I just stack the blanks in a covered outside area?
It means the wood is stable and does not distort or change shape significantly. Check out my Tree to Bowl course www.TurnAWoodBowl.com/green All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I am toying with an idea of buying the Oneway Coring system. Do you thing that 1.5hp Laguna Revo 18/36 will be strong enough to do the job?
Mark, yes 1.5hp should be fine. The speed of the cut and the sharpness of the cutter is important as well. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I live in Ontario, and the provincial government has banned incandescent bulbs in order to promote energy conservation. Any thoughts on what to use as an alternative heat source?
Jim,
Good question. Yes, see if you can get a reptile aquarium heater. It should do the same thing. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I'm wondering where you keep this box? It seems like it is outside. Can this be in a basement? How many lower and upper vents did you put in? I am venting 1/2 logs that are sealed on the end grain about 12" diameter. I've weighted them and moisture metered them. How long do you estimate with this system and keeping it inside will this take?I'm excited to speed up the drying time!! Made the box 3'x3'.
Good questions, Elly. It can be located anywhere. I have mine in the barn. I made two vents high and two low, but I only have one at the bottom and top open. It's super basic. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Hello 👋! What type of brand lathe(s) do you use including model number(s)? Please let me know, I'm interested in doing the research and buy it!
Check this out. turnawoodbowl.com/wood-lathe-review-compare-select-understand-2/ and this article as well turnawoodbowl.com/robust-sweet-16-wood-lathe-review/ Happy Turning!
Build it around a bakers cart. With wheels
Great idea Kent! I like your design with the foam board. One question, do you put anchor seal on the bowl blanks that you put in or have you found that no sealing is needed with this drying technique? Thank you for the great videos!
Thank you, George! Yes, I seal the end-grain areas, inside and out before adding them to the dryer. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Kent, you have made maximum use of the KISS principle (keep it simple stupid). Great idea.
Thank you, Jack! It's the way to go. ;) Happy Turning!
😀👍
Ken,
I’m wondering what part of the country you operate from. I can’t identify a tell-tale accent and I didn’t find anything after a cursory glance at your website.
I ask because I have two sizable chunks of box elder that need a home. One had a sizable burl, which has been separated from the a rest of the segment (and I still have that too), and a significant bark inclusion remains on that segment. I’m not a woodworker, so I can’t take advantage myself. I’ve offered these pieces to the local woodturning club, but I think they prefer to use wood that has been kiln dried and otherwise prepared for turning.
It wouldn’t be worth the cost to ship then, but perhaps if you aren’t too far away, you could recommend an appropriated destination? I live in Rochester, NY
Willa, Thank you for writing and sharing! Rats! I'm a long way away from you with the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico about an hour and a half drive each. I sure would love to house the box elder. Thanks for thinking of me. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Welders use the same technique to keep moisture out of welding rods. Welders just run the refridgerator light in a defunct refridgerator. Sprague Woodturning spends a lot of time and money converting refrigerators into very effective converted fridges.
Thank you for writing and sharing Charlie! Makes perfect sense. Happy Turning!
Make an incandescent bulb last longer: Use a 100 W bulb (or even larger) and tone it down with a cheap light dimmer. That way the filament doesn't get as hot and one bulb will last forever. You're welcome.
Good tip Clarence. Thank you, and Happy Turning!
👍👍🔥🔥
Great explanation. Do you use anchorseal on the long grain before putting bowls in the drying box?
Great question, I was wondering the same thing.
Just the end-grain (inside and out). Typically moisture doesn't escape the side-grain nearly as fast as the end-grain. Good question. Happy Turning!
so what i just heard was find a old deepfreez that dont work cut 2 holes in it and turn a light on
That can work too.
the words you was looking for is drafting same way a fire place works with the smoke
Sue, the corners can be taped extra if needed, but the tape down the seams works pretty well. A dehydrator might work but it also might be too aggressive at removing the moisture. I'd recommended experimenting with a few pieces. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
I’ve seen a few builds that were along the same line, but was never inspired by. I really liked a few things that you kind of put out there as ideas on how you can customize it.
It got me thinking about converting a couple shelves (from a industrial type stamped metal, garage shelf that you could use as the framing) into a multi chamber/baffled drying box. Then when you dry them you can kind of just rotate them from the top down over time to start it in the most humid area. This would be where it will lose its moisture slower initially to avoid early cracking from free water loss and then rotate it to the drier area closer to the heat source/air flow when it’s ready to dry out the stubborn bonded water.
Sounds great Miles! Inspiration is the goal and it looks like you got some! All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Great idea. Thanks for the information. ..TO EVERYONE else…I’ll be the second person to mention that an INCANDESCENT 60W or 75W bulb in the shop light fixture. LED and CFL bulbs put out almost no heat. Also,remember that the idea is to slightly warm the air AND to slightly increase the convection process. “Slightly” is the key. Please don’t turn your hard work into firewood. Be Well and Good Journey Richie
Richie, yes good points. LED won't work here and we're not "cooking" LOL ;) All the best to you and Happy Turning!
With the proliferation of LED lamps (which use MUCH less energy) you might want to specify that you use a 100 Watt INCANDESCENT lamp. A LED lamp that produces illumination equivalent to a 100 Watt incandescent will consume far less energy (abour 15 Watts) and create correspondingly less heat as a waste byproduct. There are some 100 Watt panel heaters or space heaters, but they are hideously expensive compared to a 100 Watt incandescent lamp bulb.
Great point Graeme! Yes, this won't work with LEDs. LOL All the best to you and Happy Turning!
Great idea for the heat box. You said weigh the blanks to see if they are dry, but how much weight should they lose? Should it be a percentage of weight or what else? Thanks. Jim
Kent, like the idea you have here.
Here is an idea I had while watching your video. Like you, I live in Florida (a few miles up the road from you) and suffer the humidity. Due to the size and shape of my shop (I am completing the build soon) and that my shop has wood walls, I was thinking of the "cabinet" idea - but putting the cabinet(s) on the exterior wall(s) but pulling the incoming air from inside the shop, since my shop will be air conditioned and thus already have Florida humidity removed and letting the cabinet(s) vent to the outside. How does that idea sound?
Also, you might like watching Jim Sprague's videos on his fridge kiln(s) th-cam.com/video/6C89KE0osf0/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/7fVLWCPgyNM/w-d-xo.html
Sounds pretty interesting. I bet that will work well. All the best to you and Happy Turning!
My car work better.
You put the wood in your car and leave it in the sun ?
LOL!
Um???…OK! ;)
I made two kilns one is a mini fridge and the other is a tall box insulated. Usually two weeks dry time! They work awesome key thing I do is change bulbs incandescent type only every 4-5 days starting with 40 watt up to 100 watt. 40/65/75/100. Happy turning! 👍🏼💫🪵
Great tip Douglas! Thank you for writing and sharing! All the best to you and Happy Turning!