[AlArchie]

Today my neighbor stopped over with a question I couldn't answer, but I thought maybe someone here could. Â*Two years back, on a trip to Alaska, Ron came back with several of those burled spruce trunks. Â*They are peeled and probably have been drying for at least the two years he has had them. Â*They have cracked and checked, which is not the current problem.

He wants to cut them into about 20 inch lengths and make some pedestals out of them for lawn ornaments and flower pots, and wants to know if the cracking will contiue, or after this lenght of time has the wood stabilized, and what kind of sealer to put on them for outdoor preservation. Â*Between the two of us we have several gallos of Thompsons Water Seal.
He does not want to stain them or keep them from getting that nice gray patina of old weathered spruce.

any suggestions?

Al

[macktruck]

al , up there in michigan two years should be enough drying time and thompson should do just fine. down here in the swamps of coastal georgia things never really dry out.
macktruck

Al,
It is my experience with wood that has dried for some time that as soon as I start to carve it, it checks more. Seems as soon as you relieve the pressure it checks. Now that is carving it I dont know if the same would happen if cut. Thompsons will definatly do the trick but you would probably have to apply it twice a year once in the spring and again in the fall. The Thompsons will change the color of the burl slightly if will darken it a little.
Hope this has helped
Colin

[AlArchie]

Thanks, guys, I'll pass that info along to Ron. I think he'll go with the thompsons when he's done. One more question. He was worried about water getting in through the top exposed end grain, and I suggested tracing the outline of the top surface onto a piece of exterior grade plywood, then cutting that out on a bandsaw, and securing the plywood to the top to cover the exposed end. Think it's worth a try, or just fluff?

Al

Might as well put in my two cents worth. Boiled linseed oil, will definitely do the job you want. Put on several coats , and don't spare it. It stabalizes the wood, and it seasons nicely. I take an old tree stump, carve out four or five shore birds or whatever, soak the stump and birds (not painted) with the Boiled Linseed oil. I turn the stump over and mount the birds on the roots, and use the flat of the stump for the base. One lady that has one, keeps it in her garden, and leaves it there year round. Hope this helps.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

outside, I would put on a piece of copper sheet versus plywood, will last indefinitely and will turn a green color that will go with the natural wood.....also..I wonder what would happen if you turn the wood over and on the bottom side drill some holes, maybe 1/2 inch diameter to relieve the stress??

Just a thought when I do a stump carving I seal the top of the carving (end grain) with body filler the same stuff they use for cars I put a little stain in it so it is the same color as the stump and then cover the whole top of the stump. It works great for doing stumps nothing gets thru body filler.
Colin