[Donna_T]

Here's a new one for me. I have a really interesting piece of river driftwood, but it's rough and icky. I've not used this kind of wood for a habitat before, so can someone tell me what they do to clean up wood like this so it will enhance my carving, not detract from it. Sand it? Use a "flapper" sanding wheel? Steel brush? It looks like it may be cedar, but it's hard to tell--it's just a quirky piece of wood that would look good with a bird sitting on it.

Help! Hugh, do you use found wood for your bird carvings? Any one else?

Donna T

[Smokey]

If you like the color and character of the wood as it is, then I dont believe that you want to sand or steel brush it. If you have a pressure washer or know someone that does, then that will clean the piece to perfection, Heck I have taken a few pieces to the car wash and spent a buck to high pressure clean it. You dont have to worry about the water ruining it---It is driftwood, and a day will dry it fine. This process will remove the grit, dirt, mud, loose bark, grass, and most of the critters.

[GILLY]

I second Smokey's advice. I found a huge elk rack in the bush this fall that was under a dead fall, looks like the elk was in the wrong place at the wrong time during a windstorm, anyway, it was covered with moss, and the green stain moss leaves as well as dirt stains. I power washed it and blasted off all of the stains leaving a very white rack with all of its contours in tact.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I agree with both posts, remember if you put sandpaper or sand as in sandblasting, you are gonna play havoc with your knives and chisels! I was thinking power wash too, but the idea of the car was is terrific!

[AlArchie]

Yep, that pressure washer is probably the best to clean that piece of all the grit and debris. But if you are going to use that wood ONLY for a base and will not be carving it, you may want to leave all the debris intact, and have the piece look like it was actually found.

What I've done for this is to take a soft 3" paint brush and lightly clean the really loose stuff of the surface. Then I brush on several very heavy coats of sanding sealer, making sure it soaks into all the nooks and crannies, and thorougly permeates any mosses, grasses, and other "funny stuff" adhereing to the wood. Then after letting it dry for several days, finishing it with either a matte or satin finish. This lets the whole thing look like a real piece of river or driftwood.

Gonna carve on that thing? PRESSURE WASH IT!

Al

[Donna_T]

Thanks, Guys!
The car wash sounds like a good answer. It's a small piece of wood, so I'll go ahead and mount it on a piece of lumber to see if that will hold it securely enough to hose it down. I'm not planning to cut on it or carve it, just want to clean it up and make it natural but pretty (and easy to dust off periodically!)

Donna T