Yew log seasoning.

[conny]

Managed to pick up a small yew log, (roughly 24" long x about 5"-6" diameter. Freshly cut this morning so I know I need to 'dry' it out/season it.
Anyone know the best way to do it with least possibility of it splitting/cracking as it dries out?
I know it will take some time so not expecting to be able to use it for a year or so. Some videos on YT say to split them down the centre and remove the pith but that seems to defeat my idea of having a 'dark' centre and lighter outer to work on. Others say cut it down to the 'blank' sizes I want and then wax the ends to reduce evaporation and others say some oil based paint is just as good.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

If you intend to use it for turning you could treat it with PEG. I reckon that wax is possibly a bit more effective than modern water-based gloss, but there's probably not much in it for oil based paints

 

[conny]

If you intend to use it for turning you could treat it with PEG. I reckon that wax is possibly a bit more effective than modern water-based gloss, but there's probably not much in it for oil based paints

Showing my ignorance. What is PEG?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Polyethylene glycol. If you submerge timber in a solution of PEG it displaces the water in the wood over time. Amongst other things it has been used on is the Mary Rose preservation. Obtainable from turners' suppliers (turners have used it to season turning timbers since at least the 1970s). Read the CoSHH sheets, though, as some people are allergic to it

 

[Mottie]

Polyethylene glycol-1000

I thought everybody knew that.

 

[conny]

Polyethylene glycol-1000

I thought everybody knew that.

Obviously not!

 

[Deleted member 174758]

I thought everybody knew that.

Even Mottie!

 

[conny]

Makes me wonder what he uses it for to be honest.