QUESTION ON HOW CAN I CLEAN SOME SMALL CYPRESS KNEES??

THOSE ARE SOME VERY GOOD QUESTIONS , AND COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A BETTER TIME ,

 

USUALY WHAT I DO IS A FEW AT A TIME ,

 

I SELECT THE ONES I WANT TO WORK FIRST ( LETS SAY 5-10 SMALL KNEES),

THE ONES WITH THIN BARK SKIN SHOULD BE SEPERATED FROM THE THICKER ONES, THIS CREATES 2 DIFFERENT TYPES .

THE THIN SKIN ONES CAN GO STRAIGHT TO HOT WATER ,, AND BOIL THEM LIKE POTATOES,ABOUT 45 MINUTES ON HIGH BOIL, THE SKIN WILL ALMOST ALL COME OFF IN THE WATER ,A STIFF BRISTLE BRUSH SHOULD FINISH THEM OFF,

THE THICKER BARK ONES NEED TO PRESOAK A DAY OR TWO . TO SOFTEN UP THE BARK THEN REMOVE THE LOOSE BARK , BEFORE BOILINNG  . I USE A HEAVY SPOON . IT TAKES THE BARK OFF LIKE I'M PEELING A POTATOE .

PREASURE WASHERES WORK VERY GOOD ,ONE MEMBER USES A WEED WACKER, BUT THE SMALLER KNEES ARE HARD TO HOLD UNDER THE PRESSURE. TIEING THEM DOWN SEAMS TO HELP.

 

, DRYING CAN BE DONE SEVERAL WAYS ,, IN THE SUN, IN FRONT OF A SMALL HEATER,refrigerator,freezer ,, BUT WHAT WORKS GOOD FOR ME IS A SMALL FAN IN A DRY AREA(low humidity area) BLOWING ON THE KNEES ,, 6 - 12 HOURS LATER(usually over night)
THEY SHOULD BE DRY ENOUGH TO START CARVING ,,, THE WOOD IT SELF DOESN'T SOAK UP BUT VERY LITTLE WATER ,, SO IT DON'T TAKE LONG TO DRY ,, LIGHT SANDING PRIOR TO PAINTING OR COATING ,, ASSURES NO SKIN REMAINING.KEEP FINISHED KNEES IN A DRY AREA SEPERATED FROM EACH OTHER ,, UNTILL THEY ARE COSATED THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO BREATH DRY AIR ,UTHERWISE THEY MAY START TO WILT{ANOTHER SUBJECT}..

 I'M STARTING A WOODWORKING TIPS AND IDEAS NEWS LETTER THAT WILL MAIL OUT EVERY COUPLE OF WEEKS  ,,

, I'LL ADD YOU TO THE LIST ,, IF YOU DON'T MIND,

, THERES PLENTY WE ALL CAN LEARN FROM EACH OTHER ,, IF YOU HAVE TIPS OR IDEAS ,, PLEASE EMAIL THEM TO ME .EITHER.. WATCH FOR SWAMP THINGS WOODWORKING NEWS LETTERS FOR TIPS.

.I HOPE THIS CAN BE OF SOME HELP TO YOU.

NO TREATING IS NECESSARY.LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND BEST.

,HAVE A NICE DAY ,

DAVE