[Coldwood]

I've got a small piece of bark about the size of two fists and I would like to carve it. I don't believe it's the type of bark others carve, this stuff is kind of soft and punky. It comes from a hard wood lot in northern New York. Is there some way I can treat this, something I can soak it in, to make the bark hard and carveable? Or should I just toss it? I may find more of this in the future and would like to know if it can be saved. Thanks....

[AlArchie]

Don, there are several different product out there that you can use. One is Minwax Wood Hardener...comes in a pint sized can for around 10 bucks or less. This is a one part hardner that you either brush on or dip the wood in. It soaks into the fibers and dries to a harder than wood consistancy. I don't know exactly what the terminology is, but I call it a "plasticiser", because that is what it seems to do...impart a plastic like feeling to the wood.

There are also some two part, thin epoxy type hardeners...more of a reapir for rotted or deteriorating wood. I think the brand names are Git-Rot ( a marine product), Stop Rot and Sill Stop. These will definitely harden things up. They set up just like epoxy paste glue so you can judge the hardness you will get by testing some cured epoxy glue. These products are all workable with standard wood working tools, but would be rather difficult to carve. They also produce a lot of heat and fumes while curing......DON"T get this stuff on your hands while working with it.

Do you know what type of tree that bark came from? Some of the cottonwood and similar barks are actually rather soft, and that seems to be the appeal for carvers. I don't care for it, but that could be that I'm just a clutz and tend to overpower my carving.

Someone who is experienced at working with these barks could give you some good tips on carving.

Al

[Coldwood]

Thanks Al, it's not cottonwood, we don't have those here in my neck of the woods. Maybe what I'll do is carve this soft and if I get something that looks like it's worth saving, I'll dip it in hardener

[Kenny_S]

Try Super Glue to stablize the bark. Cheap way of harding the bark. let it penetrate in to the bark. Works on Cottonwood bark. Should do the same to your bark.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

The only way I could stabilize my bark was to lower it...to say a woooof, instead of an Arrrf! Sorry, couldn't help myself

[Kenny_S]

So Dave, your bark is worse than your Bite eh?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

yep, my bite is around here somewhere? oh over there on the table ha ha

[Mark Gargac]

Don, Toss that soft, punky, stuff,.... and let me send you a fine piece of Colorado cottonwood bark. Carving in poor quality ,bark, wood, or whatever, just leads to frustration. Send me a P.M. with your address.

[Coldwood]

Thanks for the offer Mark, PM sent. And thanks guys for all the tips...and humor ...I knew this would be a good forum. Lately I've been carving wood spirits on hiking sticks, but I can't seem to get any life into them, their expressions are kind of wooden.

Don