Drying oak

[davecooper]

I have been given a slice from an Oak tree which is about 600mm dia by about 50mm thick. This is from a newly felled tree. How long can I expect it to take for this to dry out and how should it be stored to allow it to dry properly. Eventually, I intend to use this to make a plinth for a bronze statue.

 

[big-all]

air dry it under cover till next summer keep it out off the rain and sun and expect lots off radial cracks/splits

 

[merlin50]

.....woodworm deathwatch beetle

 

[foxhole]

That thin I would expect it to curl and split into several pieces.

 

[davecooper]

Thanks. It seems unanimous that I will have problems with this. I will let it dry and see what happens anyway. This was not my original plan for the plinth, I just thought it worth finding out if this was a goer or not.

 

[joinerjohn]

Even if it splits , you can always cut it up into staves. Once planed and thicknessed, these could be glued together to give you something usable for your plinth.

 

[ladylola]

It will most likely split when drying and it's difficult with a slice like this. In order to give yourself even a slim chance it will be best to try and season it as slowly as possible as suggested by big all . Painting the surface with a thin coat will slow down the drying too as timber loses moisture from end grain quicker , it's commonly done to end grain when air drying. May not work but best of luck any how.

 

[davecooper]

Chap has now offered to cut me off whatever I want. He has already cut some slices along the grain, around 1m long and approx 75mm thick. Would I have any problems drying these withouit splitting? I would cut them down to 500mm long, but would cutting into planks, maybe 75mm X 100mm or smaller help. I am happy to glue up strips to eventually make my plinth, is this the best way to go to prevent any problems later?

 

[big-all]

with oak you take your chances whatever you do
but the most stable is through and through cut with the best being either side off the heart wood on the centre line vertical and horizontal

http://www.geoffswoodwork.co.uk/conversion.htm

 

[davecooper]

Thanks for the replies. Cuts are likely to be Tangential or Radial. Just going to take a chance and see what happens. Nothing to lose as they are free.