Bruce the Chef

By: Mitch Johnson

In the wood carving, the biggest problem perhaps is the wood. Good wood
is not always available depending the season or climate where the wood
grows. In this article we will learn about some season which can damage
the wood and how to prepare wood in these seasons.

In air and kiln seasoning, time depends on the density, thickness and
water content of the wood. It is not advisable to use green, freshly
cut timber for carving. The cells and the cell walls of this timber
contain water. It is the process of drying out the free water in the
cells, and the partial drying out of water in the cell walls, which is
known as ’seasoning’. It is obvious that when this water which is after
all a part of the tree’s composition is removed, shrinkage is bound to
take place. Therefore the process must be controlled if distortion,
cracks and splits are to be avoided. The two main methods of seasoning
are air seasoning and kiln drying. The former is a slow method. For
instance, with 2 inch planks it will take over six months of good
drying weather to reduce the moisture content of twenty per cent of
their weight. For timber used in heated buildings it is necessary to
reduce the moisture to about ten to twelve per cent. The process of
seasoning wood in a modern kiln can be achieved in a matter of weeks.
In the case of tropical woods, air seasoning is favored, for periods up
to two years. These can then be finally dried by the kiln method. There
are a few woods that cannot be kilned at all as the cell walls of the
wood collapse and render the wood useless.

The kiln
Very briefly, the kiln is a brick-built room with heating pipes
generally in the ceiling. Fans are installed to keep the air moving and
steam is introduced through a number of jets. The wood is stacked
horizontally in such a way that the air can circulate freely. The
planks themselves rest on sticks or wood bearers of 1 inch X 1 inch,
spaced approximately 4 ft. apart for planks that are 2 inch thick or
more. Regular tests of moisture content during kilning are made and the
drying process is controlled by varying the humidity and the heat.

Air seasoning
Timber deteriorates if left on the ground and exposed to the elements.
In air seasoning the timber is stacked, as in kiln drying, in such a
way that the air can circulate. The stack should not be more than 6 ft.
wide. A well-drained site is chosen and brick piers are built not less
than 9 in. in height and preferably more. These piers are approximately
9 inch square and are spaced 2 ft. apart. Timber cross members 4 inch X
4 inch are placed on the piers. Strength is given by laying further
heavy bearers along the whole length of the stack. The planks to be
seasoned are placed horizontally on the foundation, each plank
separated from the other by 1 in. X1 in. sticks. It is important that
the wood should be kept level and sagging prevented. Therefore, the
sticks are placed at intervals of 2 ft. to 4 ft., according to the
thickness of the planks. The stack is left open but covered by a
sloping roof with a good overhang. The ends of the planks should be
protected by bituminous paint. In reasonable weather, 2 inch planks of
softwood stacked in the spring would be seasoned by the autumn of the
same year. Hardwoods should be stacked three months earlier.

We need to treat the wood according to the season. As wrong treatments
of the wood can really damaging the wood, the carved will not come as
good as we expected.

About the Author:

Mitch Johnson is a regular writer for www.kitchen-plans-n-designs.com/ , www.collectablestips.info/ , www.goodbudgetholiday.info/

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