We have carved many types of wood, including oak, maple, cedar, ash, elm, poplar, and basswood, but mainly we carve white pine as it carves quite easily and is lighter to handle than most hardwoods.
We do not cut live trees to create our chainsawed carvings. We try to use only logs that have dried for at least a year or from standing dead trees
Q
Will these carvings check (crack)?
A
Checks or cracks are a natural part of the drying process in wood. Look at log houses or log furniture. It is caused by the outer layers of the log drying faster than the interior. Small checks give the piece character and a rustic beauty. Larger cracks can be more undesirable especially if they are in the front of the carving. For that reason wherever possible we make a relief kerf (sawcut) down the back side to the heart of the log. This acts as a pressure reliever to minimize any cracking on the front. We also make many of our creations from 1/2 or 1/4 logs (cut in half lengthwise) as they do not tend to check as much as full logs. By not using green logs and utilizing relief cuts or half logs we have done everything we can to eliminate problems proactively. If any undesirable checks do appear you can brush colored stain into them and they are much less noticable.
Q
Can these carvings be placed outdoors?
A
Our carvings are first given two coats of an anti-fungal UV resistant penetrating oil then 5 coats of Outdoor Marine Spar Varnish. They love the outdoors, but we do recommend that if possible, avoid placing them in direct sunlight, as the sun is the enemy of any finish, whether it's on a house, car, or carving. The same advice goes for placing them indoors in front of a sunny window or by a heat source.
Q
How often should I have to refinish my carving?
A
We recommend that to be on the safe side, you should give your carving a fresh coat of varnish annually. You will know it's time when it starts to dull.
Q
Can I place my carving directly on the gound?
A
All of our carvings come with furniture glides on the bottom for air circulation. This is fine for placement on concrete or any floor. If you are placing it on the ground, we recommend putting bricks,rocks, or better yet a couple of treated 2X4s beneath it so that air can circulate.
