I asked a logger buddy to keep an eye out for hardwoods for me and he recently brought me some slabs of Madrone. They are about 12x25x1 1/2”,chainsaw ripped,and very green.I have stickered them and have them outside under cover. this is a new experience for me and very much an experiment. I would appreciate any advice on drying and/or working this wood. I have searched the archives for Madrone and have found only a couple of vague refrences to it as a contrast1ng wood to cherry. I planed one side of one slab and think that it shows promise.Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
Please this amatureish post as it my first since the format change and I’m winging it.
Chris
Replies
Chris, madrone is one of the most difficult of our domestics hardwoods to air dry. It has an average volumetric shrinkage, green to ovendry, of 18.1%. Also, it sticker stains quickly. Make sure the stickers you use are thoroughly seasoned (preferably kiln dried.) Coat the ends of the slabs and be sure to weight down the pile. You want a lot of air flow for the first few days to get the surface dry, then reduce the air flow to slow down the rapid loss in moisture. This is definitely not a good choice of species for learning the basics of air drying...but then again, you probably will get some exposure to just about everything that could go wrong.
Edited 4/21/2002 6:15:19 PM ET by Jon Arno
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