treating carvings

[lee74]

Hi

 

Sorry if this as been asked before but...

 

Just wondering what is the best way to treat carvings to stop them splitting, made a mushromm a few weeks ago and the top as now started to split a little.

Does anyone know how slow this process down?

 

Cheers

[wisewood]

Hi lee,

There's some useful info at the tail end of this previous thread.

 

http://arbtalk.co.uk/forum/chainsaw-carving-forum/31868-monthly-arb-talk-carving-contest.html?highlight=carvings+splitting

[EddieJ]

I would imagine that there are a lot of variables to this question. Quarter sawn wood is going to split less than say boxed heart and it also remains more stable. If the wood has shake in it begin with you are against it and in reality are just wasting time using it.

 

I have only done one chainsaw carving which happened to be this week. It was cut from green oak and I applied two coats of danish oil then after the photo below was taken, I applied exterior varnish. The varnish was only added as I want to retain the fresh look to it and seal in the moisture to slow the drying out process down. It is shame to have added any oil at all to it, as the sanding had been carried out to an almost mirror finish and I love the look of un treated oak.

 

 

With my hand carving in green oak, I apply danish oil as soon as I can, then work the timber with it already applied. It makes for harder work, but for example on this obelisk below which was carved last Easter, it was essential to stop it splitting. I did a few cuts, sanded it and then oiled again before continuing. Once again I wanted to retain the fresh look so used yacht varnish.

 

 

And this was the same piece of timber last week. Only hairline type cracks.

 

Edited February 16, 2012 by EddieJ