Storing Green (wet) Wood

"How soon must freshly harvested green wood be turned, and what is the best way to preserve it if not used immediately?"

If the piece of green wood is as long as it is across, you better use it soon. Most wood will begin to check within a few days after being cut, so if you plan to turn that nice big 16 inch bowl, do it soon. You can store these short pieces in plastic in a damp place for about a week according to Norris White. Otherwise, prepare blanks by rip cutting the log in half, coat the end grain with wax, end-grain sealer or paint, and store in a damp place. When the blank is ripped in two, it decreases the perimeter stresses in the wood by 50%. Norris suggests that prepared blanks can be stored in plastic garbage cans. The blanks will mildew, but only on the outside surfaces.

Pieces three times their diameter in length and longer are ideal. Even though some checking may occur, most of the log should be usable even after an extended time in storage. Coat the end grain and store them out of the wind and sunlight. Cover them with wood shavings from previous bowls to give them shade. The shavings absorb moisture from rain thus slowing the drying process. When using, be sure to trim the ends to eliminate any checks and re-coat the unused remains.

Norris also advises to use prized pieces right away. Why take any chances? Also, wood harvested during the winter is best for natural edge bowls because the cambium layer of growth cells between the underside of the bark and the sapwood is inactive. The bark is more likely to stay on the edge especially if turned from freshly cut material.