How to drying natural forks... | The Slingshot Community Forum

How to drying natural forks...

Discussion in 'How To' started by E.G., Sep 2, 2014.

By E.G. on Sep 2, 2014 at 3:09 PM
  1. E.G.

    E.G. Well-Known Member Vendor

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    Hey folks,

    I want to show you my process of microwave drying natural forks.
    First I'm going to forest cut some fresh dogwood forks...
    I cut two forks, because these forks is for my first test microwave drying.

    Dried procedure: 1 minute in the microwave 15, or 20 minutes of cooling.
    I weigh fresh fork, then after every minute of drying, and after cooling, it weighing.
    On average, must lose minimum 30 to 35% by weight (fresh)...

    Okay here is a table of drying:

    First fork---> Fresh weight~ 446 gr.

    1.after one minute of drying 442 gr.
    2.+1 minute 436 gr.
    3.+1 minute 429 gr.
    4.+1 minute 424 gr.
    5.+1 minute 418 gr.
    6.+1 minute 412 gr.
    7.+1 minute 405 gr.
    8.+1 minute 401 gr.
    9.+1 minute 393 gr.
    10.+1 minute 391 gr.
    11.+1 minute 383 gr.
    12.+1 minute 372 gr.
    13.+1 minute 351 gr.
    14.+1 minute 338 gr.
    15.+1 minute 325 gr.
    16.+1 minute 314 gr.
    17.+1 minute 299 gr.
    18.+1 minute 294 gr.
    19.+1 minute 283 gr.
    20.+1 minute 272 gr.
    21.+1 minute 262 gr.
    22.+1 minute 256 gr.

    This is it, anyway I did not have to go that far but everything is fine!
    It's lose about 42,5% of fresh weight!

    Second fork---> Fresh weight~ 260 gr.

    1.after one minute of drying 255 gr.
    2.+1 minute 249 gr.
    3.+1 minute 243 gr.
    4.+1 minute 238 gr.
    5.+1 minute 232 gr.
    6.+1 minute 227 gr.
    7.+1 minute 222 gr.
    8.+1 minute 219 gr.
    9.+1 minute 214 gr.
    10.+1 minute 211 gr.
    11.+1 minute 200 gr.
    12.+1 minute 192 gr.
    13.+1 minute 178 gr.
    14.+1 minute 162 gr.
    15.+1 minute 150 gr.
    16.+1 minute 149 gr.

    This is it, anyway I did not have to go that far but i want to try on smaller fork,
    and it's not a good idea I burned it !!! [​IMG]
    But he also lost about 42,5% of fresh weight... [​IMG]

    Here are the pictures:
    Fotografija0990 - paint.jpg Fotografija0993 - Copy (Large).jpg

    In few days the smaller will be finished, so stay tuned :)

    Cheers
    E.G.
     
    E.G., Sep 2, 2014
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Comments

Discussion in 'How To' started by E.G., Sep 2, 2014.

    1. Ted

      Ted Well-Known Member

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      That is a lot of water loss! I have simply put beeswax on the cut ends of fresh cut dogwood then let it sit indoors for 6 to 12 months before removing the bark. For other forks that I cut from deadfall branches that have been lying on the ground, I have microwaved several times, 45 seconds each time, cooling for 15-20 minutes in between.
       
      Ted, Sep 2, 2014
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    2. E.G.

      E.G. Well-Known Member Vendor

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      Hey Ted,
      I wanted to try quickly dried my forks, and I succeed :)
      These forks are fresh and that's why they lost so much water, water is literally pouring out of them...
       
      E.G., Sep 2, 2014
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    3. Ted

      Ted Well-Known Member

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      Yes you did. It looks like you were squeezing water out of them like a sponge. :) Dogwood is such a great wood for forks.
       
      Ted, Sep 2, 2014
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    4. E.G.

      E.G. Well-Known Member Vendor

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      Yes it is, pretty solid and easy to process.
       
      E.G., Sep 2, 2014
      #5
    5. parnell

      parnell Member

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      Did they crack badly with the minute at a time? I try to keep it around 30-45 second bursts.
       
      parnell, Sep 3, 2014
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    6. Clever Moniker

      Clever Moniker Administrator Staff Member Admin

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      Excellent thread!!! Thanks for sharing this process with us. :)

      I do as parnell does, about 30sec to 40sec bursts. Did you find much cracking?
       
      Clever Moniker, Sep 3, 2014
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    7. E.G.

      E.G. Well-Known Member Vendor

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      The bigger fork does not have a crack, the smaller have a few cracks... but the epoxy will help :)
      Smaller fork is already dried-out, my mistake.
       
      E.G., Sep 3, 2014
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    8. Metropolicity

      Metropolicity Veteran Member Vendor

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      I found that steam didn't start escaping till at least 30 seconds so I keep mine in for the full minute.
       
      Metropolicity, Sep 7, 2014
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    9. E.G.

      E.G. Well-Known Member Vendor

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      I also think it's 30 seconds little, so I immediately switched to 1 minute.
       
      E.G., Sep 7, 2014
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    10. maki

      maki New Member

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      Did you seal the ends at all?
      Thanks.
       
      maki, Oct 8, 2014
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    11. Metropolicity

      Metropolicity Veteran Member Vendor

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      Not really. I cut my forks long and then let them dry a bit. When I need them I chuck the whole thing into the microwave a bit and then cut off the ends.
       
      Metropolicity, Oct 9, 2014
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    12. E.G.

      E.G. Well-Known Member Vendor

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      I agree with Metropolicity!
       
      E.G., Oct 9, 2014
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    13. Toddy

      Toddy Veteran Member

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      What Wattage Micro do people use? This must be stated if we are to understand how this method works correctly?
      My technique is as follows on an average fork.
      1 minute full power 900 watt micro
      when steam stops coming out of the ends, 30 seconds full power
      repeat
      repeat
      If and when the fork gets to be so hot I can't hold it, then I let it cool completely for maybe 20-30 minutes.
      Start again and continue until no more Steam comes from the ends.
       
      Toddy, Oct 9, 2014
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    14. E.G.

      E.G. Well-Known Member Vendor

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      I think that my microwave power is 700 or 750 watts.
      On an average fork, I also use the full power of the my microwave.
      Toddy's quote: " If and when the fork gets to be so hot I can't hold it..."
      With this I disagree, because I have done this, and my fork is been burned (look at second picture)!

      Cheers
      E.G.
       
      E.G., Oct 11, 2014
      #15
    15. Prototype.x

      Prototype.x New Member

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      I stick mine in the oven for 4 hrs at 250 degrees and it works really good, thanks for sharing.
       
      Prototype.x, Jan 13, 2015
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