OK, I wasn't aware that my shop attic would be warm enough. It gets really hot up there. Always very dry so that would work. I can do long pieces up to 12 ft. if necessary. I carve decoys from a lot of different wood. Sycamore is hard but cracks when it dries out. The maple and Ausie pine have been the best so far. Now I have a plan for some home treated hardwood. Thanks, I'll let you know the outcome. 

I dry the smaller pieces of wood, usually 4/4 or 6/4 thickness by 4-5 feet in the attic of our house. It is dry and hot in the summer and dry and cold in the winter. I sticker the wood and seal the ends. Larger pieces go in above the rafters in my garage. I have a few logs that are drying in the garage that are short (about 3 1/2 feet) and thin (4-5 inches in diameter). I have apple, birch, and white pine. I won't be making dulcimers from those.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ken, That's a cool story too. It sounds like you and I are  on the same page with DIY interests. All the history wood on my instruments may not sound better because it's special wood , it just makes the instrument more special. 

Did you have a special way to dry the wood out? I have a few maple trees on my property I could use. I also have several Australian Pine trees. The wood is much different from pine. No sap. good hardwood and great for burning in fireplace. I want to try it for some Dulcimer building but could use some drying help. The oven sounds like an option. Not sure the wife would appreciate the oven full of wood :)

That's a good story about the Strum Stick. I made a guitar with wood from a neighbor's walnut tree and some local maple left over from a kitchen cabinet remake a friend of mine did. I used the walnut for the next and trim. The maple is the back and sides. I don't have a photo of it on my computer. I'll have to see if can find the photos and scan some in.

Ken

"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Ha! Ken, I was wondering what that sloshing noise was. I looked back on some past comments a while back on this site but didn't find anyone nearby. I get jealous when I read all the comments about groups people are part of. That must be a great way to improve the picking skills. 

The Strum Stick has some real family history. I repurposed a bed frame that my wife slept in when she was 5 years old. I had some pieces of solid maple and that became the neck and side panels. The tail block.is part of the fireplace mantle when we lived on the beach. My dad sent the mantle for my fireplace back in the 80's. It came from a house built in the late 1800's. I had to make some changes to fit my fireplace. The fret board is teak from the gunnel of one of our old duck hunting boats. All beautiful hardwood with some history and adds to the beauty of the instrument. 

You have a nice collection of instruments. I particularly like the canjo. It's a great way to keep the lacquer thinner handy. Does the sound of instrument change as you empty the can? We have lots of folks in Florida, so if you ask around you might find some near you.

Ken
"The dulcimer sings a sweet song."

Thanks Strumelia. The small fish tail antique is the one I own. The man in the pic is the owner of a Dulcimer shop in Tenn. I took it up for him to give me some advise on old worn out instruments. Consequently he said it is known as a "wall-hanger". I have since restored it with new fret slot and frets. I changed to sound holes (they look like a rat ate them) and now the sound is amazing. It does hang on the wall as do my other ones. I just finished building my 5th Dulcimer. Two of them are fun instruments and the others are serious learning tools. My latest is the CanJo. It's hard to believe the sound that comes from an old lacquer thinner can :).

I get a lot of positive information from some great folks at FOTMD group. I wish there was a group near central Florida I could get acquainted with. 

OH, yes, the photo shows my fossil collection. I'm also a fossil guide for Creation Studies Institute. It all keeps this old man moving.

Nice 'herd' you have going there, ShopDad.