How do you know?

[Mookie]

How do you know when your wood is dry? I tried the DIY makig wood. and I choose Birch because I have birch trees in my from yard. I cut a kind've on the larger size branch and cleaned in then baked it for an hour and a half. How do I know if it's dried? It still bends without breaking.

 

[Sdo9396]

I think you're supposed to let it air-dry for a while to dry out any moisture that was missed during the baking process.

 

[mishalaa]

When the bark starts to wrinkle, it's dry. Also, it shouldn't bend, it should snap.

 

[SamiJami]

I hit mine on the counter. If it's a *thud* it's still wet. If it's a *thwack* it's dry-taught to me by Wood Goddess herself, Ronda!

I bake my wood for 3+ hours at 230 and then let it sit in the oven overnight.

 

[Mookie]

Thank you! Can it airdry? and get the moisture out for a while instead of back in the oven? and also to make the hanging ladders, what material do you use to hold the pieces together?

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

Yes, you can air dry to finish the drying process after the oven. When you say hanging ladders, do you mean the bridges? Those people use chain or wire.

 

[SamiJami]

I've been told to not let it air dry. Though if it's hot outside, you can put it in your car.

I use 16G wire for all of my hanging stuff for sturdiness. You can use 1.6mm or larger chain as well.

 

[Mookie]

Yes sorry i meant bridges and thank you everyone!

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

I've been told to not let it air dry. Though if it's hot outside, you can put it in your car.

I use 16G wire for all of my hanging stuff for sturdiness. You can use 1.6mm or larger chain as well.

Do you know why they recommend not air drying? I know I have to air dry the large pieces that won't fit into my oven for the birds. Just curious.

 

[mercynursie]

As far as air drying down here in southeast area, most of the time our humidity levels are high.I did try letting a few small pieces air dry on a piece of wire mesh(to keep air circulating all around the wood) in the aisleway of my barn. It molded within 3 days. Now I have processed some big pieces of pecan wood( still small enough to fit in and dry in oven mostly) then I put them loosely packed in my pickup truck cab during July and they dried completely out and no mold after about a week.

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

It gets pretty hot and dry here where we are. No humidity problems at all. Not even in the winter time with a oil furnace. Zaps the moisture right out of the air.