Storing Some Buckeye Burl

[Rumple]

So I won IMHO some lovely bookmatched Buckeye Burl laminate on Ebay this week, it's coming from California and has been air dried for a few months, as I doubt I will be using it straight away, how should I store it? does it really matter?


Any help would be much appreciated.


R.

[Big_Stu]

[url="http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/storage.htm"]http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/storage.htm[/url]

[Rumple]

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1344699213' post='1768139']
[url="http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/storage.htm"]http://www.joewoodwo...ing/storage.htm[/url]
[/quote]

Thanks for the link.

[Roland Rock]

How thick is it? If it's veneer, from my experience, you're actually better storing veneers in a slightly damper environment, as it can dry up and crack if kept in a particularly dry room. With a bit of moisture, it is more flexible and less likely to break. If it gets a bit of mould on it, this is easily sanded off, but veneering warped and cracked veneer is a nightmare. A burr veneer by its very nature has some areas more dense than others, so can go wavy or buckle. Keeping it pressed between two flat MDF panels is advised like the above article says.

However, you describe it as laminate. Is it glued to another timber? With solid wood, my advice would be to store it in the same environment it will be living in when the project is finished. That way, it will be pre-acclimatised and will be less likely to move.

Also, is it significantly thicker than it will be when finished? If so, I'd advise machining it now so that it's only a few mm thicker than it needs to be, and then store it. There is a higher moisture content in the middle of a board, and sometimes if you take a large amount off the thickness (especially resawing) then you end up with a board with one dry face and one not so dry. The result is unwanted cupping. It's not always the case, and depends on how well seasoned the timber is, but worth bearing in mind.

Hope this helps.

[Rumple]

More useful info thanks Roland Rock.

It's actually 5/16th inch thick so a bit more then a thin vaneer, I used the word vaneer as a loose term so as not to confuse it with a huge lump of wood, I should have been more descriptive. Should I still put it between some MDF?


Cheers

[Roland Rock]

I'd say you should be fine. At worst it will cup a bit, but by the time you laminate (glue) it to the main body it will straighten out no worries.

Hope the project goes well

[Rumple]

Great, last thing I want to do is ruin it now I've found some I like.

I'll post a build diary once it's under way, still deciding on spec etc. so it will not be for a while yet.

Thanks Again.

R.

[lettsguitars]

Being dried for a few months is not really sufficient. The norm is 12 months for each 1" thickness. I realise they are only thin boards but the natural oils as opposed to moisture, take a long time to dry out. This doesn't affect movement etc but does affect the tonal properties. When storing/drying 'green wood' you should always 'sticker'. Best to strap it down over the stickers to keep it flat, and store in a draughty environment where the moisture will be carried away. Outside is best (kept dry, under tarp, off the floor etc) with a few months extra conditioning in your house/workshop.

[Rumple]

Cheers lettsguitars, much appreciated.

I'm not familier with the term 'sticker' what does that mean exactly?

[nugget]

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1344843450' post='1769838']
Cheers lettsguitars, much appreciated.

I'm not familier with the term 'sticker' what does that mean exactly?
[/quote]



Sticker is just little bits of wood between pieces of timber to be dried, allows air to pass round as much of the timber's surface to get equal drying and less cupping

[IMG]http://i1216.photobucket.com/albums/dd380/firecreekCustom/07-pic7.jpg[/IMG]

[Rumple]

Thanks Dave, they say you learn something every day

[scojack]

I think some pics are in order 'ere !

[Rumple]

Here you go, I know fancy wood isn't for everyone but I loved the looked and couldn't resist

This is the only pic as it's on it's way from Californ i a.


[attachment=115618:Buckeye.jpg]

[scojack]

Oooh now yes please ! that's nice

[Rumple]

Thanks

[Big_Stu]

[quote name='Rumple' timestamp='1344942466' post='1771347']
it's on it's way from Californ i a.

[attachment=115618:Buckeye.jpg]
[/quote]

Sure it's not coming via Turin?

[nugget]

hoochie coochie mamma, i thought porn was banned on here....

But it looks more like bob marley than jesus in my eyes

[Rumple]

[quote name='Big_Stu' timestamp='1344973356' post='1771942']
Sure it's not coming via Turin?


[/quote]

That actually made me laugh out loud.

[Rumple]

[quote name='nugget' timestamp='1344974087' post='1771959']

But it looks more like bob marley than jesus in my eyes
[/quote]

I'd rather Bob then Jesus

I've also had family say it looks like a lion or witch!

[charic]

Looks like a monkey to me

[Rumple]

This is turning in to a Rorschach ink block test

Any more for any more?

[Rumple]

Wood has arrived, only 6 days from it being posted in the US and no import duty or tax, on the down side I seem to have made a dtupid school boy error on measurements as it's not big enough for a bass

[scojack]

Aww man !! Not even a wee bass ?

[Rumple]

The idea was to suse it to make a dinky lightweight 5 string but it would need to have a tiny top horn or it could be Les Paul shaped but I'm not a fan of that look, my only other thought is as it's such a busy pattern could it take having a join on the top horn using some of the left overs without showing?

[nugget]

NO - just give it to me.....