I had a bunch of thick white oak logs that I split and cut into bowl blank rounds, thinking I'd have a small neighborhood turning class, but those plans fell through. Now I want to keep these bowl blanks green for a month or two until I can use them for my own projects. Right now, they're in contractor bags inside large plastic totes, lifted off the bottom with cedar strips and a bit of water to maintain moisture. I'm worried this might lead to mold and rot. I've heard some people fully submerge wood in water, but I don't have the space outdoors for that. I know freezing is a good option, but these pieces are pretty large. Originally, I should have left the logs uncut, as I've learned that the bark helps keep wood green. Is what I'm doing okay, or is there a better method I should consider? I really don't want to toss these beautiful pieces in the burn pile before giving turning a shot!
1 Answer
I’ve found that keeping wood in a sealed space can promote mold growth. A good trick is to paint the end grain with Anchorseal; it helps slow down drying and cracking. I’ve also heard that latex paint can work pretty well too. Just be cautious about how you store them to avoid moisture buildup!
For bowl blanks, should I just paint the entire circumference? I can't think of another way to seal all that end grain.