Shingles

ladylake · December 25, 2008, 05:38:31 AM

I have a customer that wants to cut some shingles out of basswood for inside use, so after building a teeter todder jig for my mill that should work whats the best way to dry them down after sawing. Were shooting for 5/8 on the big end taperd dowm to almost nothing and 6 to 12" wide.. Steve

bandmiller2 · December 25, 2008, 07:58:43 AM

Steve, what I always do is make a square pile with a hole in the middle but to tip but to tip.This gives a space between and weight to help keep them from buckling also the chiminey effect to help them dry.If you want to have tight joints ,dry then rebut on a tablesaw.If you start off square green the tips will dry more.Frank C.

Joel Eisner · December 25, 2008, 08:45:24 AM

The first shingles I did (poplar) were stacked with news paper between them for drying. It seemed to work okay and my wife enjoyed reading the paper as she stacked the shingles. :P

I was concerned about transfer of the print to the wood but it was not an issue. Since then we put most shingles up fairly green and dipped them before palcing them.

ladylake · December 26, 2008, 07:49:57 AM

Joel How many layers of newpaper between them and did you have any trouble with mold? Frank you kind of lost me, are you putting stickers between them to keep from molding? Steve

Joel Eisner · December 26, 2008, 08:25:11 AM

We did a single sheet and we did not have mold problems.

bandmiller2 · December 27, 2008, 07:21:01 AM

Steve,no I don't use stickers,except at the bottom to keep them off the floor/ground.What I'am talking about is lay one down overlap the next one about an inch thick end to thin end.Probibly easier to put them in a straight line like building a wall.Their will be a gap between due to their taper,they dry quickly,what i usally make are pine shingles.Cedar shingles they usally just cut and bundle tite.Frank C.