older timber

[turnin60]

I have two or so trees that have been down for about three years when I cut them for blanks, do I need to treat the ends like you do for green wood .
and are they ok to turn. thanks

 

[Frank Kobilsek]

Yes, The rule of thumb is wood will dry one inch per year. So when you cut up an old log sould be considered green. That said when you rough it out it won't sling water like a fresh cut tree. One of my mentors says treat all wood as wet wood. He has less failures and warpage than I do.
Frank

 

[MichaelMouse]

If the bark was firm, you could still have a waterlogged tree. Inch per year means nothing. If you're going to cut 'em into short pieces, protect the ends from damage by coatings or coverings. Best thing to do is to rough and begin the drying process as a turning, second best would be to leave them in the log and lop off chunks as you're able for instant turning. If you cut them into short pieces, you've got the method least likely to produce a high percentage of good turnings - unless you keep them frozen or well-protected and turn a mess of roughs quickly.

Remember, it's winter rules drying. The cold outside air will be very dry when warmed to human comfort levels, so give extra protection to keep the descent slow.