Uploaded January 2022 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
I found this ambrosia-maple round several years ago at the lawn-debris landfill when I was dumping a truckload of branches. One man's trash is another man's treasure. It originally measured 20" in diameter and 10" tall, and I sliced it in half with the chainsaw to make two 5" cookies (final height will be around 3.5 ").
I wanted to dry them without cracking, but since they were free, I decided to take a risk and try something different. I put each cookie inside of a black trash bag and left them in the hot sun every day for a month. I'd remove the cookies each night, shake the water out of the bags, and put the cookies back in for another day. This process drew moisture out of the wood during the day, but the sealed bag prevented the wood from drying unevenly and cracking.
I have no idea what I'm going to build with these other than a couple of end tables, but I had my slab flattening jig out for another project and decided to do some work on the ambrosia maple cookies at the same time. This isn't something I do frequently, so my jig has a small footprint and is easy to stick up on a shelf between uses. The next version will probably have an adjustable height, but for now, I just stack up shims underneath to get the wood to the correct height.
This video would have been a lot more boring if my son hadn't popped his head into the garage to interrupt an otherwise good take of disassembling the jig. I could have filmed it again, but he inspired me retrieve some deleted clips from the recycle bin instead. And that's woodworking in a nutshell: There are very few mistakes that can't be fixed or turned into features with a little creativity, so enjoy the interruptions when you can.
You can find pictures of some of my other work on Instagram:
instagram.com/thesnekkershow
I published a similar video almost two years ago when I started flattening the other cookie: youtu.be/NtvUmSURmGc.
These are some of the tools and accessories shown in the video:
DeWalt DW618 2 1/4 HP Router: amzn.to/39HZYqz
Whiteside surfacing bit: amzn.to/38WEqam
Rockler 4” x 4' stretch hose: amzn.to/38VGuQ5
RZ Mask M2.5 Bundle: amzn.to/3omb61j
Johnson Paste Wax: amzn.to/3HpE4IJ
Dust hose on router: rockler.com/dust-right-flexiport-power-tool-hose-kit-12-fixed-length
This video is not sponsored. I paid for everything and used my own time. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission if you use the Amazon links to make a purchase.
I found this ambrosia-maple round several years ago at the lawn-debris landfill when I was dumping a truckload of branches. One man's trash is another man's treasure. It originally measured 20" in diameter and 10" tall, and I sliced it in half with the chainsaw to make two 5" cookies (final height will be around 3.5 ").
I wanted to dry them without cracking, but since they were free, I decided to take a risk and try something different. I put each cookie inside of a black trash bag and left them in the hot sun every day for a month. I'd remove the cookies each night, shake the water out of the bags, and put the cookies back in for another day. This process drew moisture out of the wood during the day, but the sealed bag prevented the wood from drying unevenly and cracking.
I have no idea what I'm going to build with these other than a couple of end tables, but I had my slab flattening jig out for another project and decided to do some work on the ambrosia maple cookies at the same time. This isn't something I do frequently, so my jig has a small footprint and is easy to stick up on a shelf between uses. The next version will probably have an adjustable height, but for now, I just stack up shims underneath to get the wood to the correct height.
This video would have been a lot more boring if my son hadn't popped his head into the garage to interrupt an otherwise good take of disassembling the jig. I could have filmed it again, but he inspired me retrieve some deleted clips from the recycle bin instead. And that's woodworking in a nutshell: There are very few mistakes that can't be fixed or turned into features with a little creativity, so enjoy the interruptions when you can.
You can find pictures of some of my other work on Instagram:
instagram.com/thesnekkershow
I published a similar video almost two years ago when I started flattening the other cookie: youtu.be/NtvUmSURmGc.
These are some of the tools and accessories shown in the video:
DeWalt DW618 2 1/4 HP Router: amzn.to/39HZYqz
Whiteside surfacing bit: amzn.to/38WEqam
Rockler 4” x 4' stretch hose: amzn.to/38VGuQ5
RZ Mask M2.5 Bundle: amzn.to/3omb61j
Johnson Paste Wax: amzn.to/3HpE4IJ
Dust hose on router: rockler.com/dust-right-flexiport-power-tool-hose-kit-12-fixed-length
This video is not sponsored. I paid for everything and used my own time. As an Amazon Associate, I may earn a small commission if you use the Amazon links to make a purchase.
