Sealing wood ends to prevent cracking.

[DewragDave]

Hi, Check out my Blog Carving Country for a post on Sealing wood. I use Anchor Seal liquid wax, it works the best for me.

[Claude]

Interesting. I did a little search and found this:

https://www.uccoatings.com/Home/WebStore This is apparently the company that produces the stuff.

Claude

[Mudbone]

Question- Would'nt a latex paint do the same thing? It seems that the idea is to just seal moisture in from escaping through the ends of fresh cut logs. It just may not come off as easy. I Thought about this after I ordered a gallon of the clear to try because I use primarily Cypress and get so mad seeing my work crack.
Thanks, Tom

[DewragDave]

I've tried just about everything possible to keep the ends of my wood from cracking. Several different types of paints, (latex, oil, poly urethane, shellac), wax, Anchor Seal, Pentacryl wood stabilizer, glycerin, steam pressure, boiling water, micro waving, and fire charring. But, for me the wax and Anchor Seal work the best. The problem with the latex paint is that it just does not dry thick enough and you have to put on several coats especially if the wood is of any size. It does work better on small walking stick ends though. I never tried clear latex only poly. I buy the Anchor Seal in 5 gallon pails from a distributor near me for about $12 per gallon and it goes a long way. It also cleans up with water and is non toxic. I think Woodworkers Supply has it for about $16 by the gallon. A good can of Latex paint will cost you at least that much or more.

[Mudbone]

Dang, I just paid 32 bucks for a gallon.... Appreciate your advice though!

[Kaledrub]

In my country we use white glue and newspaper to seal boards ends...

[Mudbone]

Does that really work? And will it work on fesh cut log ends? Going by what DewragDave said, he's tried just about everything. Dave- any comments?

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I use parafin wax....

[DewragDave]

I've never heard of newspapers and glue but I have used yellow wood glue and it worked pretty well, it is a little harder to get off than wax. Kaledrub - Does the newspaper ink bleed into the wood at all?

[Kaledrub]

I have no idea if you have this white glue I'm talking about in USA. Anyway it's a waterbased glue that becomes transparent once it dries.

I've never noticed any ink bleeding you mentioned.