Expert: Jamie Yocono - 9/25/2010

Question
Hi guys,
Walking in the woods came across this perfect birch branch for making a cane. I cut it down brought it home and took the bark off it. The next day I began sanding with a dremel and worked it over this way for the next day. Everything was coming along good and I was ready to hand sand. Started out with #100 >#200>400 well I run into alittle green look in places so I have been trying to get rid of this green tint sanding but dont feel like I'm getting anywhere. I was thinking is it coming from my hands maybe sweat or what? Is this what they mean by green wood and its simply because its not dry yet? Its taken on a beautiful smooth finish and the grain looks fantastic but this green tint here and there is driving me crazy. Its been a week since I cut it and I work it in the garage here so it doesnt dry to quick, no sun either. I was also curious canes are pretty small items, how long will this probaly take to dry? I havent applied anything to the stick yet except after begining of sanding she started to crack on the ends only slight which I feel I can easily repair, so I put hose clamps around both ends which seem to have held it in place there. This is my first attempt at anything like this any feedback would be appreciated

Answer
Hi Duane,

You packed a lot of questions into that paragraph, so I hope I can remember to answer all of them!

First off, when a branch first comes off of a tree, it has a very high moisture content. If the moisture leaves the wood too quickly, it will cause the wood to split. That usually occurs on the ends first, and then down the sides later. The best way to slow down the cracking is to coat the wood in something that will seal it - like a varnish.

So - if you had a big log and you wanted to keep the ends from cracking, you would brush thick coats of varnish on the ends. For your little twig, you could dry dipping it into varnish, or even sealing the ends with wax. Either way - the idea is to stop the moisture loss.

As far as the wood being an actual green color - there are some woods that have a greenish cast to them, especially when they have a high moisture content. Poplar is one, so is birch, ash and some oaks. So it's just a coincidence that your wood is green, it doesn't have anything to do with the fact that your twig is green.

Calling wood "green" means that is isn't dry yet. Green wood is fresh cut, meaning it still has a high moisture content. After the moisture has left the wood (through kiln drying it, or air drying, which takes longer) the wood is then called "kiln dried" or "seasoned" lumber.

Hose clamps on the ends will help to keep the integrity of your twig. You could also use these, they might look better:  http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19564&source=googleps&utm_source=GoogleB...

or these:  http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19564&source=googleps&utm_source=GoogleB...

or these:  http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=63218&cat=1,250,43243

or these: http://www.robertbrooke.com/chairglides/plasticrd_chairtips.html

or these:  http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=988022771

Enough? :)

It's hard to say how long it will take that stick to completely dry, but the key is to slow it down, so that it doesn't crack from the sudden moisture loss. Coat the whole stick in varnish, a couple of coats should be fine. You can still use it for hiking.

In something like three-six months or so, sand the varnish off and then reapply some boiled linseed oil. I'm guessing the moisture will mostly be gone, and it will have stopped checking.

OK, hope this helps. Write back if you have any more questions and I'll try to help.

Jamie in Vegas
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Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV
www.wooditis.com