Driftwood?

[Dogfish]

Alright, so call me a complete idiot... But I genuinely do not know the best place to find Driftwood. I live in Alberta, near a river and a host of lakes... Can anyone give me any tips? I want to go for a walk by the riverside or drive out to a lake and look for driftwood.

Does anyone know if there's a good time to look for driftwood? Say, summer or fall or early winter? How about typical places? Are rivers a better source than lakes?

Thank you so much for your help - and no, I don't mind if you quietly laugh at me for a few seconds... Only a few seconds, though.
-Bones (aka Dogfish)

[Ashbys]

I think you will have a better chance finding it along the river. Most lakes will do two things to the wood, first your looking for a dead fall that would fall into the lake, second the wood would float before it would become waterlogged to sink. Then you would be looking for the wood to wash up on a shore area, where you could find it.

The river on the other hand because of the currents, floods , high water storms, would have a better chance to have the wood get into the water, then the current itself would pull it down to tumble it along the bottom , then it would again push it up and out of the water much the same way it got in. But changed from the way the current treated it.

I would look to areas which are normally maked as high water areas. These areas are likely to have brush piles pushed up from flooding. These piles should have excatly what your looking for , Take a saw with you and becareful of the area because they also make great places for everything from snakes to wolverines. So just be careful as you go. If the area is on a farm , just ask the famer what you need most are more than happy to let you clear these.

Ash

[Dogfish]

Thank you, thank you, thank you, Ash... I'll do that right away. And thank you for the heads up on the dangers.
Um, would you have any tips on treating driftwood? I'm a new carver, and I've been reading some other articles on driftwood and the sand and insects that sometimes reside in it.
Do you know how I can get rid of them? Also, what about drying driftwood? Is there a certain way to do it?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

lay it out on a pallet or something in the yard, up off the dirt to dry. Take a trip to the ocean, you'll find all the driftwood you want, remember if you are going to carve it, especially ocean driftwood, its full of salt and sand, hard on tools! as for bugs, doubt you will find many bugs in driftwood but if you do, I put a piece of wood in a plastic bag sealed and put it in the freezer for 3 days...no bugs! Well actually, they were termites and before the freezer I put it in a large garbage bag, held it up to the car exhaust until it ballooned up (about 3 seconds ha ha), tied it off and let it sit for a couple of days.....don't know for sure which did the trick, but suspect the freezer?Ice Cream

[Ashbys]

Bones,
I have seen many things posted on the boards about how to handle driftwood. I have not worked with any but from fishing and cleaning up the brushpiles I will tell you that there is almost always insects inside the wood. I really only know of one way to insure they are removed, as they will leave eggs in the wood as well, and that would be to kiln dry it or bake it.
That being said, the DNR says that wood after one year gives up most of the pest located inside. But termites and ants are a real possiblility inside driftwood. If they leave the driftwood they will be looking for another home.
I would think if it was me and I wanted to work the wood quickly I would get a good log home pre finish, the good ones have an insecticide to protect the wood. Our DNR also suggest that you get the wood treated by a pest control which will do the same thing. Today I would think that an ant termite insecticide from a building supply that is used for treating the house would do as well. I would look for one with long term coverage and coat the wood , put it in a plastic bag and set it aside for a week. That should clear those that are alive and then time should do the rest but the wood should be workable.

Perhaps someone with more experence with driftwood will make a better suggestion.

Ash

[Mitchell]

Dogfish, this previous thread may have some info for you.....

Driftwood carving

[artolver]

Bones,
There must be a lot of Juniper all over the prairies. When they die off , they break away from the main trunk. You can find chunks (large and small) near the tree or any where downstream, down the gulch or whatever...
It has natural gnarly sculptures and nice color.
The decay (mostly in the core) is easily chipped and scraped away.
Get off the main road and drive up in the hills where there is some trees.

Art

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Be careful using chemicals/insecticides etc if you are going to work the wood, especially if you use power, you don't want to breathe that stuff! Sad

[AlArchie]

If you live near a large lake that terminates a river, look in the spring, after the main run-off is completed. A lot of trees fall prey to the high water run-off and are washed into the lakes. ie; Lake Superior or the other large lakes in your neck of the woods. Some will be washed out by the fall rains, so check shortly after ice-out.

This is not excatly "driftwood", but if you have access to an area that has been logged off a few years back, check for stumps that have lost their bark and gained some "integrity"! The older the cuttings, the more interesting the leftovers. The hardwoods usally rot out rather fast, but cedars, pines, hemlock and tamarack weather beautifully and make excellent bases for wildlife carvings or just about anything else that suits your fancy.

I've also found that spruce and tamarack saplings that have died off and are still standing, make very nice walking stick material, and they are exceptionally light weight, very similar to bamboo in weight and strength.

Al

Al

[Kenny_S]

Soime of the prettiest walnut I found was submerge in a local lake and whenwe had heavy rains it washed up on the lake shore. I first walked over it then went back and picked it up, I did nopt use it for carving but made a real pretty coffee Table form the wood. The gain stood out more than a fresh cut walnut. Just my take. I like driftwood and Have not had any problems with insects. One thing you have to chose wisely on what you pick up. learned that the hard way on Cottonwood Bark. when I first stared to harvest CWBark, I picked up everything in site. Now, Selective in what I pick up, SAame with drift wood or found wood. Not every piece you see is good.
JMHO!