I want to make a clock, I have a walnut log that is about 12" diameter. It was cut in November 2025 after the leaves fell and I have it off the ground. Of course it's been frozen most of the time since then. My question is If I cut some cookies from it about 1 1/2" thick what would the best way to dry them and keep cracking to a minimum. Wax sealing isn't something I want to do because of finishing it later. I do have one laying on my basement concrete floor and I put a piece of wet wood on top of it and it hasn't cracked so far. I'm probably talking about 4 of these. Seems like keeping air off of it is part of the solution.
-
February 2026 Turning Challenge: Cookie Jar! (click here for details) -
Congratulations to Chad Eames for "Red Tines" being selected as Turning of the Week for February 23, 2026 (click here for details) -
AAW Symposium demonstrators announced - If the 2026 AAW International Woodturning Symposium is not on your calendar, now is the time to register. And there are discounts available if you sign up early, by Feb. 28. Early Bird pricing gives you the best rate for our 40th Anniversary Symposium in Raleigh, North Carolina, June 4–7, 2026. (There are discounts for AAW chapter members too) For more information vist the discussion thread here or the AAW registration page
-
Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.
Drying Walnut Cookies
- Thread starter Vincent Vogel
- Start date
Denatured alcohol, cardboard boxes, paper bags, wrap in dry towel and put it into a plastic bag and change the towel everyday, white glue on the end grain - both sides, surround with dry wood chips and put in a paper bag (change the chips out every couple of days, cat litter.......etc.
What works for drying wood in your environment?
What works for drying wood in your environment?
Jim McLain
Artist
Pentacryl is a great for seasoning cookies. I use it on most of my turnings but it was developed specifically for cookies.
Find someone with a vacuum kiln
Well, if the pith is still in the "cookie", then it will eventually crack, guaranteed. If you take the pith out, MUCH better chance of success!
robo hippy
robo hippy
What about boiling it before allowing it to dry?
I may end up trying that. I see the pentacryl is $80 per gallon and I don't want to buy a gallon to do a few cookies. There's a guy local that has a vacuum kiln but I've emailed, called, and Facebook messaged him and get no reply. For rough out bowls I use either the paper bags for leaves or a cardboard box and get pretty good results with that in my area. As far as removing the pith I don't think I can do that when I want to make a clock. I just have to find a pan big enough to hold them to boil them. Anyone here that does boiling have advice? I'm not going to cut the wood into cookies until I decide how to dry them.
An aluminum roasting pan that goes in the oven, of course spouse consenting. Cover with water, then foil and set it for 350. And you get to dispose of pan so no cleanup.
Basically it is impossible to dry without cracking. Walnut shrinks about 50% more tangentially than radially. The only sure solution is to substitute something else for the water. Pentacryl is one choice.