stabilizing wood grain

[Saud]

I am carving details on the rump of a carousel horse and since the body is made from glued up cedar 2x 10's this makes it necessary to carve a flower design in the end grain. Since cedar is quite open grained and a soft wood, the grain when carved often breaks off. Does any of you carvers out there have an idea to prevent this. such as brushing on a penatrating liquid. Maybe shellac. Next time I will use a different wood, but the price was right, free. Thanks for any feed back. Saud.

[Goody]

I have used super glue to harden up a soft or thin area in a small carving. Not sure if it would wick in far enough for what you are doing. Maybe rough carve then harden the area you are working on. Try it on a scrap piece of end grain to see how it works for the wood you are using.
Goody

[Saud]

Thanks Decoy, I'll try it on the small parts Saud

[AlArchie]

Minwax makes a liquid "Wood Hardener" that would probably work to solve your problem, as long as you don't plan on staining the finished product. It comes in a pint sized can for around 8 bucks in the paint departments of hardware stores that carry Minwax stuff

Al

[Saud]

Thanks Al, sounds good.

[Ashbys]

Been playing a bit with cedar, this might sound odd , but I put on a thin coat of urethene and strengthen the fibers enough to keep the splintering down. Found it by acident while working with the rest of the dragon. Nice thing about it was didn't seal deep and sanded off easy to stain the wood when I was done. Might give you enough strength to get what you need .

It will also allow you to recoat sections if you need to .

Ash