Ahhh good question! Buckeyes fresh from the nut shell or fresh off the tree will mold if not dried completely. I have use the oven...low setting 250 and let em sit on a rack for 4 hours. However, sun drying is the best. Lay buckeyes out on some type of cloth, single layer, in the sun for at least 5 to 7 days. (thats full sun days, not cloudy overcast days) Your biggest enemy at this time is squirrels. They can and will rob you blind if nuts are accessible. I tend to lay them out in the morning and gather them up and take in the house at night. A fresh buckeye will be somewhat "oily" to the look and feel. Some even sweat a bit. A good dried buckeye will not have that "oily" feel.
Once dried, you may want to spray them with a clear coat finish of some kind. This will prevent them from dulling and looking worn if makeing jewerly. Hope this helps.
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