Asked on Aug 31, 2017

How to treat tree bark for use in an indoor craft project?

April.north
by April.north
Hi,
I want to use tree bark for a craft project for indoors. I looked around but all the information in about tree branches and stumps and removing the bark to discard. I am looking for suggestions about cleaning bark sections after removing it from the dead tree.

Thank you.
April

  10 answers
  • April.north April.north on Aug 31, 2017

    Janet,

    Thank you for your response. I read through the post and it reference scraping bark off of the limb and then preserving the limb. I actually want to use the bark. Did I miss something in the article? I am going to go back and read it again. I appreciate your help.

    • See 1 previous
    • PameLa DeDah PameLa DeDah on Aug 07, 2020

      After cleaning & curing I generally put a clear coat of waterbased poly on both sides. This will help prevent the bark from swelling, shrinking and cracking.

  • April.north April.north on Aug 31, 2017

    Thank you Fix It Jen!

  • Sonal Sonal on May 11, 2018

    Hi April,

    I have been looking for the same thing, something diy to work with the bark. I have teak bark and I intend to use it as cladding for faux beams to give it that aged natural rustic look, provided I figure out how to clean and preserve the bark. Did you manage to crack it? Any suggestions / tips would be most helpful!

    Thanks much

    D


  • David Sudmeier David Sudmeier on Oct 16, 2020

    I use a wood hardener, available at any hardware store.

    First, clean the bark as well as possible without beating it to death. Get all insects 🐜 out. Put the bark on a well ventilated shelf and allow to dry.

    When dry, cut to size and shape desired.

    Next, take it outside and brush on wood hardener until the bark is thoroughly soaked. Allow to dry thoroughly.


    A second treatment is sometimes needed. You’ll notice a plasticity to the bark when it is fully cured.

    You can seal the bark in varnish, epoxy, or any clear coat paint you like—as long as the bark is fully cured before you do so.


    Have fun!

  • Deb K Deb K on Jan 11, 2021

    Hi April, I used tung oil to make my bark project, make sure the bark is clean and loose debris is removed, I put 3 coats on it letting it dry fully between applications, I used a soft paint brush to gently apply it to the bark.


  • Mary May Mary May on Mar 29, 2021

    hi April - I also have a project with tree bark and am wondering if you have used any of the methods and which worked best to preserve the natural colour and shape of the bark before it starts to curl too much.

  • Cheryl shollack Cheryl shollack on Jan 25, 2022

    I had a terrible time trying to get an answer to this as well.

    I wanted to use huge tree limbs indoors. Lay out a tarp on lawn or cement. It will stain bright orange.

    Use Borax and hot water in a sprayer and soak the bark or wood thoroughly wetting it. Like a 5 gallon sprayer for gardening. That sprays continually.

    Let dry in sun for a week or two. I never had any more insects after this. It was invested with carpenter ants and other bugs i could see them. They were gone after this!👍🙂

  • Keith Keith on Mar 17, 2022

    Im not to sure how to go about it myself. My wife loves working with old drift bark. Nit the wood just the bark frim the trees. It has to be drifted though. She runs into a lot of breakage and cracks as she works with it. Maybe we will both get an answer to our questions. What should my wife do to the bark before she starts a project?