Peach wood

[woodmadman]

Does anyone work with peach wood? I work for a farmer/dried fruit processor and we are in the process of trying to utilize peach prunings to make wood products. I have never milled lumber before and need info on the best way to dry it.

 

[oldnamvet]

A lot is going to depend on how large these prunings are. If you can slice it into boards, you would have to either kiln dry it or sticker it and air dry it, about 1 year per inch of thickness for air drying. Kiln drying is much faster. If these are just branches that you are drying, leave the bark on and hang them up in a covered area. Periodically check them for moisture using a test gauge - probably one with prongs that will go through the bark. I would bet it will take 6 months to a year to get it down to 15 to 20% moisture. If it drys too fast, the wood will split. Not knowing peach wood, it may do that anyway. I you were going to make lawn furniture out the the prunings, bending them, then you would want to do that while they are green and then let everything dry.

 

[woodmadman]

Thanks,
I am sliceing it into 3/8" and smaller boards and experimenting with making small fruit packing trays out of it. A little defect is ok but I don't want warpage. The wood I am using now is about a year old and is still not cured. The logs are only about 3 to 5 inches in diameter. Peach wood is mostly used for firewood. We are trying to utilize it instead of burning it. I have thought of stickering it but the dimentions are do small that it seems like excess work. So I think drying the logs longer may be the answer. At this time I am using a 17" Grizzly bandsaw with a 2tpi 1" blade that works well after making some jigs to handle the cylindrical and uneven logs.
I appreciate your response and any additional info or ideas would be appreciated.

 

[heretoday]

Is peach wood also "plaited" in it's twig form? They make beautiful baskets, I think.

 

[oldnamvet]

Some fruit wood (i.e. apple) works great for smoking meat and fish. Wonder if peach would work as well?

 

[Bama_Steve]

Some fruit wood (i.e. apple) works great for smoking meat and fish. Wonder if peach would work as well?

Do not smoke foods using any fruit that has a pit in it.
Peach wood is mildly poisonous for wood smoking and gives off an acrid smoke.

Beware!

Use only fruit woods which contain seeds in the fruit.

I use crab apple, apple and pear wood with great results.

HTH,

Steve . . .

 

[SageMother]

How fragrant is the wood?

I ask because I found this armoire made from peach wood, and wondered if a "peachy" scent would cling to any clothing stored in it!

 

[Laughingmouse]

Do not smoke foods using any fruit that has a pit in it.
Peach wood is mildly poisonous for wood smoking and gives off an acrid smoke.

Beware!

Use only fruit woods which contain seeds in the fruit.

I use crab apple, apple and pear wood with great results.

HTH,

Steve . . .

OH, now this is news to me!

Luckily, smoking barbecued foods isn't popular where I live, because I don't think most people know that woods associated with "pitted" fruits are dangerous!

Thanks for the tip!