Burl harvesting

[Joseph Bandeko]

So I just harvested a couple of Mulberry burls, and am wondering if I should leave the bark on or remove it and put some finish or paint on it.(I’m just worried if I leave the bark on bugs will get to it )
Also how long do you think I need to wait for it to dry before I can send it to get stabilized?
I can go take pics and measurements if that helps.

Any help is much appreciated!

Regards Joseph

 

[Stacy E. Apelt - Bladesmith]

Leave the bark on. Paint the cut ends and any other cuts with a couple coats latex house paint.
Set it in a cool dry place for several years.
Cut in half, paint the cut, let dry another year.
Cut into slabs or blocks and set on a shelf for 6 months.
Trim into handle size blocks and set on the shelf for 3 months.
Make a knife with it.

 

[FredyCro]

Pics, pics, pics!

 

[Joseph Bandeko]

OK here ya go. The wood looks a lot lighter in the photo then it actually is, also because of the finish and the rough surface you can’t see the beautiful figure and eyes, but it’s definitely there. (for size reference the anvil is 3 feet long)

 

[Randydb]

I'm with Stacy.
Paint the cut ends and exposed areas with latex. I toss mine under my porch and leave them for a few years...I live north of the pacific north west! It's good to have a moisture meter. In my area "dry" is around 10-12%.
But I tend to cut blocks around 14-16% and let the final few % happen in my garage or house.
The general rule of thumb for drying wood is 1 year per inch of thickness.

 

[A.McPherson]

! It's good to have a moisture meter. In my area "dry" is around 10-12%.

You can also use weight. Weigh the block occasionally, when it stops loosing weight, it's as dry as it's gonna get for your climate.

It's funny, I live down in the desert in W. Texas. When the wood is dry here pin type moisture meters won't even register moisture at all.