A friend wants me to make a custom fireplace shelf out of a two foot diameter log six feet long. The log has been out in the field and off the ground for 2-1/2 years, will I be able to take a chain saw and start shaping the material or is more drying required?
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Replies
Ellard,
It depends entirely upon the log. Some wood dries out faster than others. I suspect that yours is still wet, even after two years plus but I'd cut into it anyways and find out. You can do some rough shaping and then let the log dry out a bit more inside your shop. This way if it twists or checks more you can carve that out a bit later. But if you keep it in log form you should expect and use to your advantage, the inevitable checking that's going to occur. Have fun with it. Gary
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