Scrollsaw wood

[jerryd]

Hi and happy newyear! My wife purchased a band saw for me. Have some various tree trunks i would like to cut slices out of to scrollsaw wildlife scenes. Am wondering if anyone knows how i should prepare and or preserve the wood so the bark on outside will not fall off later. I am thinking i should let them dry a little and then apply thompsons water seal before cutting. I really do like your website. It has been very helpfull. Any info would greatly appreceiated.

[qlty]

I can't help too much but I have heard of slow drying wood in a container of wood shavings or saw dust before working with it.

[Travis]

I'm just guessing here, but I would make sure to dry it slowly. Paint the ends of the log with some latex paint. That forces all moisture to escape through the bark, which is a slow process. I think it takes a year or so to dry this way. I'd Google drying techniques that wood turners use since they often like to retain the bark for natural edge bowls.

 

I think some species shed their bark easier than others, so that might make a difference too.