Carving care
Sealant:
I seal all my carvings with oil based Spar Urethane. It may be necessary to apply more coats every year or every few years as the sun, weather and time can erode the finish. I prefer to use a brush. Spar Urethane can also be found in a spray can for smaller projects. A new coat will get the carving looking like new!
Location:
Outdoors carvings are exposed to all sorts of pressure. Keeping carvings sealed is important to their longevity. When possible keep carvings out of direct sunlight. Carvings can soak up moisture from the ground in wet areas. This will degrade the wood at the base more quickly. If you place the carving in a wet area consider raising it off of the ground with stones, wood or cement.
Indoors the wood could leave a small stain on the carpet or floor. I would also recommend placing a barrier between the floor and the carving.
"Wood Cracks"
I asked a friend who works at a local saw mill how to keep my carvings from cracking. I had tried multiple types of sealant and various relief cuts to try to prevent cracks. He looked at me and simply said, "wood cracks".
When a living tree or branch is cut it is full of water, and as it dries the wood shrinks and compresses. Cracks develop to relieve the stress of compression. As a general rule, the faster wood dries the larger and more abundant the cracks. To slow down the release of water from the wood I coat my carvings with Spar Urethane. However, as my friend noted, wood cracks and there is really no way to prevent it.
Sealant:
I seal all my carvings with oil based Spar Urethane. It may be necessary to apply more coats every year or every few years as the sun, weather and time can erode the finish. I prefer to use a brush. Spar Urethane can also be found in a spray can for smaller projects. A new coat will get the carving looking like new!
Location:
Outdoors carvings are exposed to all sorts of pressure. Keeping carvings sealed is important to their longevity. When possible keep carvings out of direct sunlight. Carvings can soak up moisture from the ground in wet areas. This will degrade the wood at the base more quickly. If you place the carving in a wet area consider raising it off of the ground with stones, wood or cement.
Indoors the wood could leave a small stain on the carpet or floor. I would also recommend placing a barrier between the floor and the carving.
"Wood Cracks"
I asked a friend who works at a local saw mill how to keep my carvings from cracking. I had tried multiple types of sealant and various relief cuts to try to prevent cracks. He looked at me and simply said, "wood cracks".
When a living tree or branch is cut it is full of water, and as it dries the wood shrinks and compresses. Cracks develop to relieve the stress of compression. As a general rule, the faster wood dries the larger and more abundant the cracks. To slow down the release of water from the wood I coat my carvings with Spar Urethane. However, as my friend noted, wood cracks and there is really no way to prevent it.