Drying crotch slabs.

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twoclones

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I'm milling this piece of silver maple with a crotch at one end. Maximum width is 36". How well do these crotch pieces dry? It is difficult to keep them flat? The log was already down to 20% moisture so I'm hoping there will not be much movement...


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How well do these crotch pieces dry?
Usually they end up splitting along the crotch line.

It is difficult to keep them flat? I
Yes - extra compression - helps see below.

The log was already down to 20% moisture so I'm hoping there will not be much movement...
That will help.

If you really want to keep then flat try something like this
3x2" hardwood held together with 3/8" all thread rod.
stacknsticker.jpg[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]
 
I'm milling this piece of silver maple with a crotch at one end. Maximum width is 36". How well do these crotch pieces dry? It is difficult to keep them flat? The log was already down to 20% moisture so I'm hoping there will not be much movement...


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I like using heavy ratchet straps to keep them compressed . I also put a little bit of anchorseal on crack trouble areas . Seems to help . Also, make sure the stickers go the full width for support. There's a few 60" wide crotches in this stack. They dried well with no cupping and minimal cracking. IMG_4101.PNG
 
This is minor point, but any sort of pressure like Ratchet straps or the press gizmo I use above, should apply the pressure across and not in between the stickers.
Good idea . I'll slide the straps next the main stickers
 
Looks like I'm on the right path. This is my current air dry rack (6x10 feet) and below is the setup in my solar kiln.

11 1/2 foot long silver maple. 20% moisture on the day milled.
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Western Red Cedar. 4 and 8 1/2 feet long.
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I like using heavy ratchet straps to keep them compressed . I also put a little bit of anchorseal on crack trouble areas . Seems to help . Also, make sure the stickers go the full width for support. There's a few 60" wide crotches in this stack. They dried well with no cupping and minimal cracking. View attachment 568232

60" :) That's the kind of width I had in mind when I built the air dry rack.
 
Looks like I'm on the right path. This is my current air dry rack (6x10 feet) and below is the setup in my solar kiln.

11 1/2 foot long silver maple. 20% moisture on the day milled.
Qru8LUEkBacSQkLFuBk6Zo0dOpBaHcHxzle6epaTZmZs9YaWEnDjhRlCPo45zKVHFyiZtOGNmIMC358e-8WpOoa3Fmh-8lOh-F5M3MV9fjqISjoUFyNodbNsJNIHRMenhzSct2a0vPYFXlxYaAqz-E2cOCaxagyKhUogIznj9tjS06J1dRsQeisGImaUIOrZxpPl4jjbXaF2ugrpLDo0LZmjPhm58GxD9upSVFSJeyaLZmE6EbkQombDS_isrkzTviL2nTflSYlqBalbigU3GiYqIBchyeVeBi0B3Xxz3Hx4xSunrcFp03ddAQnTaUeXP463tcm7Yna3xRd47ZU5TsndGccVtnqH5ekx2rGJhx1rMyocCo2SC5Dri4xzIgb8c5TVHjjIjLyxA2uy4RdTr-_Jqot3XWAkTosub1KRebC43dgxu4Pul2KcwLfP7oGUxqZljBoq-hNAi5yOwQDpPHlgIjt2vqzgsyYQre5FQ3U-aSOnGD50vNNOHAWYtDa4yF56tG3392um0eXuF4D2O8_r6dQ-qKMcx9Q55rMfZAzE8J4p3RG_fZvLjQKoSFsOD0PlflbaP3HgaNC8iBepw_WIoPNXTjLqFJC_qKawoc1B776YAh2rE1kKSqNPJupzhHnNRIurKU4vq3N7OeR-pPuDYX5BmraEqWcWdoqucQ=w1006-h358-no


Western Red Cedar. 4 and 8 1/2 feet long.
hGay-xvx8KnY4odeJu-_lzoZvbzX9j-DNOFObmPXzjaYaczqH_4dNGWzF5hsrA6rWnDV5dVvyMq9ApYytwT4y26nfKoJGsI-ZYeXsyq-Vgk_tSIYmvQk_eQBKpXN3sHy1Eb9N1jQSTdk2lsa-j9ut_LV-xyrXcO0i4966Aumy5nRmRDYc1hDaDni_HH47pwRP4kjrVdtjAje6Eb4EkPth6UKT2yXC13vqqf-7y7kTRw5IolX9MK4rsvnXfogzahohzyA49ar4hEZf-SDXeSN5jXdQcic_uxO9K-eKj16VUU9CKG9fCfq4sm83HcAdbEpEH0jy9oXi3TbMN51maDDaeHHXAjyWgA6AeN2Bw7HPzPuyGdBgF9zf3171WhbsTm3ev4m3fkncJQFm5_Bh6CaqQnX70YiqqmVTjC2GqCFBcnKzYv7pItp7sAlHOtR_HRLJ1_RjhXqG6t4HGzNrZYQLDD30bWiCpaHVCzpLNkQ9ICtVsdVFqCOlQCO9jeOdx_gdjimw67Mn29EuIG7GSHqkovTwTVbKiSIjuACsnN90WSRAielz7xmnLLs2qUBpeu0n--ezT351ZDM5p_0DK59UWMziN9hdcdwoJg2duyHvJSXTE-3fwwR9Yl0RCRJO4V2tfbMXLvJBmOWNDWX2zcCxqf_zMf6geLVvBCju7o_yQ=w934-h700-no






60" :) That's the kind of width I had in mind when I built the air dry rack.
They were fun ones to cut. Monkeypod. Have several 70+" ones to cut this month. IMG_3154.JPG
 
BobL I like your hardwood design for compression. I was going to build a steel cage with 1” threaded rods to tighten down over the stack but this idea is much simpler. I’ll end up just cutting 2” square tubing into lengths and either welding nuts on the metal to thread into or just drill holes and use threaded rod. Thanks for the idea!
 
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