Replies

1. 
   JeffHeath | Dec 17, 2007 05:34am | #1

   Apple is a beautiful wood, with similar working properties to cherry.  Flat sawn, 4/4 would be the way to go.  It will need to air dry to below 20% MC, and then, if your area is too humid, you should find someone with a kiln to dry it for you. 

   As far as the crotch wood goes, it can be very difficult to dry without splitting.  I have had little success, so I leave it in thicker sections, and cut my own veneer as needed.

   I can't comment on turning blanks, as I don't have a lathe.

   Jeff

2. 
   frenchy | Dec 17, 2007 09:17pm | #2

   KepItSuperSharp,

     Jeff gave you good advice except get it out of the moist air right away!

     apple to retain it's potential beauty need to quickly dry below 19% moisture.

     With all the sugar that's in apple it will rot easily!

     I'd make sure that you wax or seal the ends really well.  Otherwise the ends  will dry out and since the interior isn't dry yet a split will occur..  make sure that the stickers you use are clean dry wood.  Apple will sticker stain easily..

      I'd saw at 5/4 rather than 4/4 apple shrinks rather aggressively once dried and a 4/4 board might not clean up at 3/4

    The crotch section is a major crap shoot..  that's where the really beautiful wood tends to be but I've yet to see an apple crotch make it thru drying without splitting big time.    This is pure speculation but I'd set the crotch aside for years.  buy one of those ratcheting straps and tighten it periodically untill it stabilizes (once a month for several years) 

      

1. 
   Samsquanch | Dec 20, 2007 09:15am | #6

   Thanks to all of you for your replies, I find them very interesting and insightful! I will certainly let you know how it goes, it'll be a fun experiment even if it doesn't work out as planned. I'll be sure to let you know how it turns out, and thanks again! Happy Holidays to all!

1. 
   Scott_y | Dec 20, 2007 11:48pm | #7

   Keep many of the large and small branches too. Let them dry, then very carefully strip the bark. This can leave an unbelievably beautiful natural piece of wood. I'm saving a bunch of similar pieces and intend to use them for legs, etc. when building some "organic" style furniture.

   Scotty

3. 
   troys | Dec 18, 2007 06:03am | #3

   Love apple wood I got some from a neighbor that cut down one in her backyard. I dried it to fast and it twisted some but once dry it was really nice. Also use your scraps in the BBQ, great for smoking sausages and fish. Sounds like a good find. Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

   Troy

4. 
   Napie | Dec 18, 2007 06:15am | #4

   Apple is one of the finest turning woods I have ever used.  I have had some that spalted and it smells just like good whiskey when cut and the colors are unbelievable.  It makes beautiful bowls if you are a turner.

5. 
   booch | Dec 18, 2007 06:30am | #5

   Well, keep it sealed on the ends but slice it up real soon. It'll split like a watermellon dropped on the driveway.

   Trunk wood near root sections and crotches is highly figured but it is pretty stable compared to the straight sections. Thus the disconnect. The high figure stays the relative same size and the "clear" sections shrink like all get out.

   Cut it up and seal the ends like the others have suggested but figure you'll have a lot of short orphan boards that you can cut up and put into boxes etc. Fruit wood is a really wet wood and has to give up a lot of space when the water disappears from the cell structure. This is why you don't see much big stuff out of fruitwood. The drying is too volatile for the wood to stay in one plane. Likely you'll get one straight (planar) board from the lot. Everything else is going to be a corkscrew.

   It is worth the effort, as an amusement about mans efforts against nature. I have some trophy efforts that I cut by hand, just not many. You have to prepare yourself for the resemblence to kindling.

   Jack of all trades and master of none - you got a problem with that?
1. 
   danmart | Dec 25, 2007 12:09am | #8

   Fruit wood is a really wet wood and has to give up a lot of space when the water disappears from the cell structure. This is why you don't see much big stuff out of fruitwood

   That's been my experience with apple. It splits while you look at it. Don't know what it is but its a tough wood to harvest boards of any size and not have them crack and check.

   When I get an offer to remove it and keep it for my troubles, I call my friends who love to turn. The know the drill. They expect high losses and press on.

   Don't mean to sound discouraging but I have tried to get it to work for me and I just don't get the results I hope for. It does smell great when you work it-- not like the oak I split out for my windsor chairs this week. Sour is a nice word.

   later

1. 
   frenchy | Dec 26, 2007 10:47am | #9

   danmart,

     Apple can only be kept free of checking by slow gentle drying and sealiing up the ends and edges.. Paint aint gonna cut it.. you have to use that wax end coating they sell and put it on on monday and again on tuesday and again on wednesday and keep putting it on for at least 5 days..

     When you sticker the board the stickers must be stone dry and it helps if they are thin.. (and the boards over thick)   too much air movement will cause the wood to check too bad..

    don't put it anyplace hot or dry but it can't be damp or moist either..  Shed it completely from sun but don't trap air around it

   some air movement is needed too much will cause checking.

    I've had the best luck bringing it indoors and putting it under the bed..   you have to strap it or weight it so it doesn't curl like a hootchie cootchie dancer

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Dec 27, 2007 05:14pm | #10

   frenchy,

   I thought there was law against strapping or weighting a hootchie cootchie dancer, especially under ones bed!  It is however, OK the shellac her a good un though.

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

1. 
   frenchy | Dec 27, 2007 05:33pm | #11

   Bob,

    I bow to your interpitation of the rules regarding storage of apple planks.  I simply wasn't aware that the law would apply in such a manner. If I unstrap all my planks under the bed now with I still be prosecuted? Or should I leave them strapped and simply hope the law doesn't discover my secret? 

     With regard the shellacing I give wood,  none of my stored wood is planed, it's all stored rough.  So I refuse to give it the shellacing you suggest. Will that too land me in trouble with the wood police? 

     Are the wood police open to bribes?  What is a proper amount to bribe the wood police with?    

2. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Dec 27, 2007 06:06pm | #12

   frenchy,

   I would leave them strapped under the bed.  If you unstrap them those hootchie cootchies will make your life sleeping a nightmare!

   Please don't mention bribing the wood police.  They're a gluttenous bunch and there isn't enuf money in the world to satisfy their instiable desire for it.

   I promise not to tell anyone about your dastardly deed. :-)

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

3. 
   frenchy | Dec 27, 2007 08:35pm | #13

   OH Bob,

     Thanks for the advice, By the way I would never stoop so low as to offer money to the wood police.  Isn't their currancy  wood?  I have enough heavy beams that are surplus to my immediate needs that I would feel comfortable offering them as many as they can carry.  

    (then when greed wins out over common sense I simply strap them to the hootchie cootchie dancers and take their pictures in compromising positions!)     

4. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Dec 27, 2007 08:50pm | #14

   Ah ha, I got you!

   Now, as representative of the hootchie cootchie dancers and wood police unions I will forthwith hitch up the horses to the wagon and head in your general direction. 

   Now have those beams ready for pickup and I'll make sure you are free to shellac your hootchie cootchie dancers and strap up the wood police!

   It will take some time as it's snowing here and the horses have no snowshoes so I'll be there in the spring.

   :-)

   Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres

    

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

5. 
   frenchy | Dec 28, 2007 03:35am | #15

   Bob, No I have you!

    

        I been wanting to get rid of those beams but they want money to take them so Ha! Ha!   

      PS no black walnut beams left,  well I do have a couple but they look more like horseshoes than beams. and one looks sorta like a drunken snake on acid.. eating a hootchie cootchie dancer..