How long to wait after trimming a turning blank

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Phil Ballard

PhilEB
I am in the process of making a turning blank from a Satin Wood stump in my yard and would like to use it for a full splice 4 point cue but am not sure how carefully I need to be in waiting between trimming down. The wood is very dry and is about 4 inches wide after a third trimming. How long should I wait to trim further? I don't know if it matters but I plan on filling voids/cracks with black Epoxy resin to give it a nice figured look. The trunk cracked well before I cut out the piece of wood I need to use, as it has been drying in the back yard for sometime. Are wait times less for the cue vs a shaft or are they roughly the same?

I tired finding related articles / forms but have had no luck. Maybe the terminology I used was incorrect. PS. I have done a good amount of work with wood so have a nice table saw but no band saw or lathe. I will send the blank to a cue builder once it is down to 1.5 inches in width.

Thanks in advance,

Phil
 
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Depends on the moisture content. The drier it is, the faster you can cut it. If you go too far, it might crack or warp past being usable. It's a balancing act. I like to get it as close to finish as I can in a short time without having it shrink or move past being turned to final size. If it's not moving much, you could cut it into 2" squares, that would leave you some room before you splice.
How long has it been drying? When was it cut?
 
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The moisture content is below 12% because that was the last measurement my two moisture meters read before baking in my smoker for half a day. It dried out nicely and seams bone dry. That was about two weeks ago and this past Saturday I cut down to roughly a 4" sq. I'd like to get down to 2", like you are saying but don't know how long to wait. My gut says cut again this upcoming Saturday but I didn't know if I should go straight to 2" or go to 3" first.

One other question: Should I pour the epoxy resin at 2" and then do a final cut to 1.5" or cut all the way down, then epoxy?
 
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Phil Ballard said:
The moisture content is below 12% because that was the last measurement my two moisture meters read before baking in my smoker for half a day. It dried out nicely and seams bone dry. That was about two weeks ago and this past Saturday I cut down to roughly a 4" sq. I'd like to get down to 2", like you are saying but don't know how long to wait. My gut says cut again this upcoming Saturday but I didn't know if I should go straight to 2" or go to 3" first.

One other question: Should I pour the epoxy resin at 2" and then do a final cut to 1.5" or cut all the way down, then epoxy?
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If it needs filling with resin or whatever leave it to the cuemaker to do. You won't be doing him any favors doing it yourself.
 
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