[tkrutzer]

Hi all, I have a question about finishing myrtlewood for anyone who might have an answer. I am currently working on a relief carving on a large piece of myrtlewood, this is my first time carving on this particular medium, the carving is going fine but i'm a little stumped about finishing it. The wood has a few sections that have some rot to it, I could carve it out, but it would give an interseting element to the carving if I leave it in. Does anyone have recommendations for finishing these spots so that they look decent and don't get damaged?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

you can do a number of things, put a stabilizer in the punky area, or you can dig it out and put something like "inlace" in it in about any color you want...I filled some holes in an ocotillo walking stick using "epoxie" and mixing it with acrylic paint..it turned out great.... after you are finished with carving if you don't want to do the above you might put some cyanoacrylate on it to hold it....imho

[tkrutzer]

thanks, thats a good starting point to taking care of the punky areas

[rgbonehead]

Do a web search for A and T myrtle wood shop.
The owner of the shop is John Austin in sixes Or.
He showed me how he repaires cracks and other defects
in myryle wood.He used green bondo with some colored powder to get the color he wanted.You can email him and ask for his advice.He has been carving myrtle wood for almost fifty years.He is always willing to help......Ron
My avitar is myrtle wood