A batch of Sissoo bowls from this weekend. All 8 of these were turned green to finish and then microwaved to speed the drying process. They all need a good sanding and a quick finish now that they're mostly dry.
I don't normally turn green to finish but I wanted these to go back to the Arboretum As soon as possible. I think they'll be pleased.
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Very cool! I like the color and contrast to the sap wood... Does this wood distort much? Does microwave help the wood from moving too much?
ReplyDeleteI'd prefer more heartwood. I like some contrast but I think the sapwood should be an accent, not the focus. The microwave speeds the drying process considerably, causing the cellular water to boil and rapture the cell walls, allowing it to escape easier. I did 3 cycles of 30-60 seconds each with at least a couple hours between cycles. Most were turned fairly thin (~1/8") which is needed for speed drying. Most did warp a fair amount, between 3/8" and 1/2" (meaning they started out 7 1/4" diameter and ended up 7" X 7 1/2"). Not bad but certainly noticeable.
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