driftwood sculture

fieldman · #1 07-15-2004, 07:58 AM

Good morning fellow carvers;
I would like to find how to clean, polish, varnish old driftwood, can you help me ...Thanks.

AlArchie · #2 07-15-2004, 08:37 AM

There are probably a few other ways of doing this, but here's what I've done. Â*First, wash the driftowood well with either a strong spray from a hose or high pressure washer. This will get MOST of the sand and grit. Â*If you plan on carving the driftwood, bear in mind that it is still impregnated with a lot of sand and other abrasive particles. Â*Even cutting these pieces on a bandsaw will yield a variety of sparks as the blade eats through the abrasives. Â*Driftwood just isn't conducive to keeping your tools sharp.

Once it is cleaned and dried, you can finish it either in it's naural coloration, or add stain or color washes to achieve the specific shades you want. Â*I usually soak it thouroughly with a volatile sanding sealer (Cabot's or similar) Â*for three or more coats, letting it dry thoroughly between coats. Â*This not only seals the wood surface, but binds all the loose wood fibers that are inherent in most driftwood. Â*I then finish with several coats of spray varish; Â*either matt, satin, semi gloss or gloss depending on how dry or wet you want it to look. Â*

To simulate a piece sticking up through the water, on a fish habitat display, I once stained the portion 'below waterline' a little darker than the top part, letting the stain run up the grain, just as actual water would on a partially submerged stump. Came out pretty good, and I'll probably try this again.

One more thing, regarding the collection of driftwood.....in some areas it is now illegal to collect driftwood from shores of waterways for personal use. Â*Kinda stupid, as you can still collect it for firewood and burn it at beach-side bonfires. Â*I'd check with the local authorities just to be on the safe side!

Al

#3 07-15-2004, 10:25 AM

Having carved driftwood I agree completly with Al it is very hard on the tools. I might also add it may be a good idea to put it into the micro wave if it is small enough. Now I wouldnt advocate doing it with the one the wife has in the kitchen but you can pick one up cheap at a yard sale for $10 or 15 and this will kill all of the wild life that is usually found inside of the driftwood. I have also used a mild mixture of bleach and water and wash it make sure you use rubber gloves though. This can produce a really white effect on some driftwood.
Colin

fieldman · #4 07-23-2004, 11:15 AM

Gee thanks Al and Colin ...
I started working on a piece of drifwood, boy you are right about the sand bit ..I will try the bleach wash next time to see what happened. any books on the subject?

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #5 07-23-2004, 02:26 PM

I put a desicant bag in with my carving knives and laid it on top of a piece of bark and found wood (small stuff) and they both turned white where the desicant was? New way to get wood white? lol

AlArchie · #6 07-23-2004, 04:23 PM

Check this site's BUY BOOKS section, and you'll find one called 'Carving Found Wood' I think that will cover a lot of your questions.

Al

fieldman · #7 07-25-2004, 07:51 AM

Thanks again guys; what do you think about sand blasting the wood to clean it up?

AlArchie · #8 07-25-2004, 08:09 AM

Can't help much here with the sandblasting idea....never done it! However, there is an outfit here that makes signs by sandblasting their wood glue-ups, and the work is quite remarkable. I have no idea what they use for the resist, though. Maybe you could contact them directly and get some information about the technique.

Alf Craft
E-5340 Jackson Rd.
Ironwood, MI 49928
906-032-1907

Al

Kenny_S · #9 07-25-2004, 09:42 AM

There is a hobbist here that makes signs out of big rocks and sandblast them. Uses some form of rubber cement on the letterings to keep the letters from being blasted away.
I use a 1/4' and 1/2' metal chisels and take the background down. Easy does it with stone.

Hi_Ho_Sliver · #10 07-25-2004, 10:27 AM

a very small sandblaster, like the ones used for glass engraving will clean up the wood and give some interesting designs, however..it will cut up the wood if you don't keep it moving and watch what you are doing! Be also aware of siliconosis.....wear breathing protection and eye protection, a hood over that would not hurt! A glass engraving orifice on a small blaster only uses about 2 lbs of pressure, so is very controllable...to repeat.....be careful with your health using them!!! :-[