Seasoning Green-Wood Carvings with Polyethylene Glycol-1000

Twelve green, walnut wood carvings were soaked in a 30 percent (by weight) solution of polyethylene glycol-1000 for from 4 to 21 days at temperatures from 65?F to 140?F. Pick-up of the chemical in the outer 1/8 inch of wood ranged from 6.4 to 11-8 percent of the dry weight of the wood. Half of the samples were then dried at 80?F, 30 percent RH, and half at 65?F with no humidity control. Twelve untreated walnut carvings were dried with the treated samples. Treated samples were 100 percent free of defects with no difference between treatments. Untreated samples developed 70 percent rejects under the severe drying conditions and 25 percent rejects under moderate drying conditions. A few maple and cherry carvings were similarly treated. The cherry reacted the same as walnut but some cracks developed in the maple, indicating the need for heavier treatment. The rather light treatments used did not materially affect the dimensional stability in the finished product.

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