Preserving depth of color in wood?

[myxpykalix]

I have to let some of this wood dry out for a few months before we stick it in the kiln and i'd like to preserve the richness of the colors in the grain if i could. I have coated this with some anchorseal, it is the butt side of the tree (bark on the underside) and i thought if i stored it level and turned the face so it is not exposed to the sun and covered it with a shed roof type covering to let air get to it that would help but thought others might have better ideas.

7979

[mzettl]

Jack,

Classic air drying of lumber involves storing horizontally with wood stickers placed every 18-24 inches underneath the first board, and then between layers of boards. This will allow good air circulation. Cover the boards with something as you described to prevent them from getting wet with rain. I'm assuming that you have coated the end grain well with Anchorseal.

Matt

[blackhawk]

Jack - You do not want to coat the flat surface of the lumber with Anchorseal. Only coat the ends of the lumber with Anchorseal. Anchorseal greatly slows the loss of water from the ends to prevent checking and cracking. Applying it to the face will only make it take much longer to dry your lumber. It will not help preserve the colors.

[myxpykalix]

NOW YOU TELL ME!!...let me get my scraper out.lol

I did coat the surface with anchorseal but mainly to keep the rain from soaking into it. You can't tell from the picture but it is too heavy to pick up myself and i had to wait till i had help to move it and didn't want it soaked in the meantime.
When i do get it moved i will scrape the face and hopefully it won't crack. Thanks Brad.

[harryball]

Paraffin wax on the ends, nothing on the faces and a few years of drying. That's how I remember my Grandfather doing it.

/RB