Carving Care
Tips for your wood sculpture
The above steps will help reduce the likelihood of large cracks but does not exclude.
Wood Checking (cracking) is a natural tendency of wood, whether seasoned or green, once you cut it, it will begin to check. It occurs because of moisture coming and going; the log breathes. This is due to humidity changes and is in no way considered a defect. If the wood sculpture is kept in a stable environment and is treated well with urethane, it can reduce the likelihood of checking but does not exclude. Logs are a natural element, we can not guarantee their future properties once sold.
When your carving checks, you have numerous options. Enjoy the beauty of the wood sculpture as a natural element and leave the check. Or, choose from the options below.
Repairing a check
Enjoy your wooden sculpture! It is one of a kind!
- After purchasing your carving, we suggest you go with our 1, 1, 1 plan! Coat the carving in one week, one month, and at one year and every year after as needed! It is best to get 3-4 coats on within the first 6 weeks and 2 coats each year.
- Don't forget to coat the base but NOT underneath the base.
- Direct Sunlight and dry places (next to a heater) are not good for a wooden sculpture.
- Keep your sculpture at least one half inch off of any surface (ground/floor). Bricks, rocks, coasters etc can be used for this purpose.
The above steps will help reduce the likelihood of large cracks but does not exclude.
Wood Checking (cracking) is a natural tendency of wood, whether seasoned or green, once you cut it, it will begin to check. It occurs because of moisture coming and going; the log breathes. This is due to humidity changes and is in no way considered a defect. If the wood sculpture is kept in a stable environment and is treated well with urethane, it can reduce the likelihood of checking but does not exclude. Logs are a natural element, we can not guarantee their future properties once sold.
When your carving checks, you have numerous options. Enjoy the beauty of the wood sculpture as a natural element and leave the check. Or, choose from the options below.
Repairing a check
- If your carving is painted a solid color, you can use indoor/outdoor caulking to fill the check and easily paint over it to match the existing color paint. More specifically, 99 cent spray paint from Lowes or Wal-mart can be used, along with Alex Plus Brilliant White, brown, or black caulking from Lowes for $1.28. I'm sure other brands will also work.
- If your carving is natural wood color,
- Wood Putty or Epoxy can be placed in the check and refinished with Stain or Spar Urethane (water-based)
- Wood Shims, paintsticks or shavings can be placed in the check, sanded smooth, and refinished with Stain/paint or Spar Urethane.
- Quick fix; reapply stain/color or paint/Spar Urethane in the crack so that it blends in with the rest of the sculpture.
- You may also contact us to repair your wooden sculpture for a fee.
Enjoy your wooden sculpture! It is one of a kind!
Here is a small bear with a few checks in it. I just wanted to post this as an example of a nicely dried out log. We believe this adds character to the sculpture!
RLH Wood Sculptures
Altoona, Pennsylvania
814-215-6223