Went to visit my Mom at my childhood home yesterday and found the tree surgeons at work on a maple tree on her front lawn. I snatched up a 24" long segment if a medium sized limb ( about 6" diameter). I’m thinking that it might be nice to have a whistle made from a tree planted by my Dad, under which I spent a goodly number of childhood hours.
I usually get my timbers already milled, so I’d like advice on how to dry this for instrument making. I’ve already put a nice heavy coat of latex paint on the cut ends.
Should I chainsaw this to whistle length now and let the shorter pieces cure? Take bark off or leave it on? Etc.
BTW-- the locale of the tree is a bit appropriate. Know the tune “Maids of Mt. Kisco”? This tree grows in Mt. Kisco, NY which is about 30 miles north of NYC.
Don’t cut it to length till it’s good and dry. Even with the ends painted it is likely to check some.
I’d suggest quarter sawing it in a few months. Then wait a year and cut it into whistle blanks (presumably 1" squares) and let it sit for another year, rough turn and drill, then wait some more. I’ve been doing this with a dogwood I cut down a few years ago and it’s worked well.
I use paraffin for checking too but pentacryl will let the wood dry faster, I also store green wood in paper grocery bags and I would debark it. If the pieces are longer than a grocery bag use two taped together. They work great for rippening tomatoes too, in fact…
Mike