Greenwood and dry wood each have their advantages and disadvantages in carving. Dry wood is a popular choice for many woodcarvers due to its reduced risk of cracking, owing to its lower moisture content. On the other hand, green wood is more beginner-friendly and preferred when working with hardwoods like apple or alder.
However, one significant drawback of carving greenwood is the tendency to develop cracks or splits as the carving dries. Whether you're working on a spoon, bowl, or other greenwood projects, they are susceptible to cracking during the drying process. So, how can you prevent green wood carvings from splitting? Several methods can be employed, such as using a plastic bag, pentacryl, dishwasher water detergent, or boiled linseed oil. These techniques are effective in slowing down the drying process of wood carvings, preventing them from developing cracks over time.
Preventing Splitting and Cracking in Freshly Cut Wood Carvings
1. Utilizing Plastic Bags
The practice of employing plastic bags to decelerate the drying process of wood carvings has a historical basis in various traditions. This method excels at precisely regulating the drying of a wood carving by restricting air contact and limiting moisture loss.To employ this technique, procure a transparent plastic bag of sufficient size to accommodate your wood carving project. This transparency will allow you to monitor the process by observing condensation forming on the bag's surface.Place your greenwood carving inside the plastic bag, ensuring a tight seal at the bag's opening. The air within the bag will absorb some of the moisture present in your carving, manifesting as condensation on the bag. Every 24 hours, reverse the bag and reinsert the carving. After a few weeks, if there is minimal condensation in the bag, remove the carving from the bag and let it rest in a dark area for another couple of weeks.Upon completion, your greenwood carving should have sufficiently reduced its moisture content without developing cracks. At this stage, it's appropriate to introduce it to a drier environment as the final step toward achieving equilibrium.
2. Employ Pentacryl
Pentacryl stands out as the ultimate wood stabilizer, with a well-established reputation to support its effectiveness. Woodworkers have relied on Pentacryl for an extended duration to safeguard green wood from the perils of cracking, checking, or splitting during the drying process. The magic of Pentacryl lies in its capacity to displace water within greenwood, thereby averting shrinkage and minimizing the risk of wood cracks and splits.Pentacryl is a game-changer when it comes to expediting the drying of green wood, reducing the timeline by up to 30% due to its water-displacing properties. This accelerates and equalizes the drying of your greenwood carvings without the unpleasant side effects of cracking. Furthermore, it doubles as a lubricant during carving, leaving no stains on the wood or interfering with the finishing of your woodcarving project.For the optimal application of pentacryl, immerse your wood carving or project entirely in a container filled with pentacryl. The choice of container should align with the size of your wood carving project, ensuring complete submersion. Alternatively, you can apply pentacryl through brushing or spraying.If your intention is to carve green wood gradually, brushing proves to be the more suitable approach. After each day of carving:
- Apply multiple coats of pentacryl until the wood reaches saturation.
- Wrap the wood carving project with a damp cloth and place it within a plastic bag.
- Repeat this process daily after carving, and once your carving is finished, periodically apply pentacryl until the wood can no longer absorb it.
3. Employ Boiled Linseed Oil (BLO)
Linseed oil, also known as Flax oil, is an oil with a yellowish to colorless hue, extracted by pressing dried, mature flax seeds. This oil has a rich history as a wood finish. Boiled linseed oil (BLO) is favored over regular linseed oil for its quicker absorption. While standard linseed oil requires two to three days to dry and necessitates about five coats for carving protection, boiled linseed oil dries in just a day, effectively seeping into the carving.The application of boiled linseed oil is among the simplest techniques employed by woodcarvers to shield greenwood from cracking. The remarkable attribute of BLO lies in its penetrating prowess. When administered to a greenwood surface, it infiltrates deeply, safeguarding the wood from within as well as on the surface.To begin, ensure the wood is smooth before applying BLO. Subsequently, use a soft, clean cloth or steel wool to apply the BLO. Apply it in a circular motion following the wood grain, saturating the wood to facilitate deep penetration. Once the surface feels dry, sand it and apply additional coats of BLO. On the final coat, refrain from sanding the carving.
What Causes Splitting and Cracking in Green Wood?
Green wood, freshly cut and full of moisture, is inherently susceptible to developing splits and cracks as it dries. This occurrence is a result of the wood's natural tendency to shrink during the drying process.The wood experiences a twofold rate of shrinkage along the growth rings (radially) compared to its rate across the rings (tangentially). This uneven shrinkage is the root cause of the wood splitting as it dries. To prevent these cracks, it's essential to either slow down the drying process or employ a wood stabilizer like Pentacryl to displace the water and mitigate the risk of cracking over time.
In Conclusion
Working with green wood is straightforward and welcoming practice, especially for beginners. Nevertheless, it's regrettable that the issue of cracking often arises as a drawback. Fortunately, you can mitigate cracking by applying the techniques I described earlier. Additionally, choosing softer green woods such as poplar or exotic, oily woods like Teak can further diminish the risk of developing cracks.
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