what to do to prepare slice of tree for table project
-
John P on Apr 02, 2012seal the end grain with a good sealer and let the pc air dry or send it to be kiln dried down to about 7% moisture then it will be ready for planing and finishing also make sure it is stored flat and level and wieghing it down can help alsoHelpful Reply
-
-
KMS Woodworks on Apr 02, 2012End grain slabs tend to check or split more so than vertical "slabs" I would seal it up with some Anchor Seal...let it dry for a good long spell (normal air dry times are 1 year per inch of thickness) once dry some good sanding and a number of finish coats. end grain will absorb much more finish and it will take some time to get a "finish build" going. With a product like Minwax's wiping poly about 7-8 coats http://www.uccoatings.com/products/anchorseal2Helpful Reply
-
-
Elinor A on Apr 02, 2012Thank you for the suggestions but this doesn't answer my question because the entire piece is end grain this is a horizontal slice thru the main stem close to the bottom of the tree. and when you say seal what is considered a good sealer thanks for all your helpHelpful Reply
-
-
John P on Apr 02, 2012band it with a good wide ratchet strap and let it dry i would say approx 9 months to a year you want it to be under 8% moisture for best results then sand stain and seal it will take a few coats of sealer a good poly resin works well alsoHelpful Reply
-
-
KMS Woodworks on Apr 03, 2012Elinor...the Anchor Seal I Mention above has been the "industry" standard for sealing end grain on lumber for 30 years or so. When I purchase lumber for turning projects nearly every piece is sealed on all six sides with anchor seal. I have seen anchor seal for sale on ebay and amazon as well as many woodworking supply sites. John's idea above about a ratchet strap is a great idea...the log slice should be stored on its side so the seal ends are open to the air and not resting on some surface. I have worked with smaller sized "slices" for various projects. My girls call the really small 2" dia ones "tree cookies" The largest end grain round I have worked with was about 14". Bigger than that and it will not fit my lathe. Some of the longitudinal slabs I have worked with were 6 to 8 feet long and up to 2' wideHelpful Reply
-
Related Discussions
Can I decoupage my toilet seat what is needed to do this?
I rent but I hate the carpet in my master bedroom what can I do?
The carpet is stained and gross I have lived here for 6 years. Should I rip it out and change it without asking my landlord or can I suggest that I will pay for putti... See more
Can I hang a dresser mirror on my bedroom wall?
How to use a mirror from a old dresser can it be hung on a bedroom wall?
I'm trying to hang a curtain rod over a sliding glass door, but keep hitting something that I can't drill through.
The house is built of cement blocks, but there is drywall on the walls. I had another house that was the same type, but never had a problem with hanging curtain rods.... See more
Can I use my hot glue gun to stick crystals to mirrors?
I have a set of round frameless mirrors and I would like to create a pattern across them with crystals, I'm just not sure which glue is best, thank you.
How can I darken the color of painted furniture using varnish?
Hi, I just paint my outdoor dining set, but the color is a little lighter than what I want. I am planning to apply varnish on them and I was thinking to take advantag... See more
Can a water based varnish be used on chalk paint?
Is it possible to use a water based clear varnish instead of the finishing wax on chalk painted furniture? I love the look of distressed chalk paint but I'd like a sa... See more