[bill ramage]

what to do with fresh cut wood to stop splitting etc. have carved a indian head in a living poplar tree last sept. what should i do come spring. the tree was damaged in a snow storm and had to be cut off five feet above ground but roots are still alive.need some advice!

[Just Carving]

Sounds like you need to get a sealer like Anchor-Seal on that wood asap. Check the directions as far as whether you can do it now. If you can't, check here for other solutions. There might be an alternative to use like wax or paint if you can.

Here's a link that might help you:
How to deal with fresh cherry logs

Bob L

[Irishman]

Bill, I have had good luck with very few of my log carvings splitting. Most of mine are carved green and then I seal them with an oil and a sealer. My last 10-15 log carvings have been first treated with double boiled linseed oil, deft lacquer sealer, and then treated with Watco dark satin wax. You'll also notice that most of my log carvings allow 6 inches to a foot of wood above the carving and at the bottom. I also treat the top part with a log sealer...but not always. I try to seal all my carvings right after I finish carving them which might help preventing the grains from splitting in the carvings. I carve mostly poplar and birch but I have a number of raw basswood logs being carved now.
Patrick

[Mottles]

Hi bill, looks like your getting some help, so I'll just say welcome.
Kathy