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Treating a tree

Started by stumpy, June 18, 2009, 02:36:13 PM

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stumpy

I have a customer who had me cut a tree, cut a notch in the back so he could mount it to the corner of his rec room in the basement.  It is a balsum about 8" in diam.  I left the bark on and put it in the solar kiln for about a month.  Temps peaked at 130 degrees.  As you can imagingin, the notch dried, but under the bark, the MC is still very high.  My question is,  what type of sealer should he put on exposed area.  I know it will continue to dry, but I'd like to try to slow it down so the bark stays on and doesn't split.  He also would like a sealer so that it will hold it's appearance.  Any thoughts?
Woodmizer LT30, NHL785 skidsteer, IH 444 tractor

beenthere

Is this for an outside corner, so there is a 90° notch out?

If so, drying will open that a few degrees as the wood shrinks.

If me, I would leave it natural and not bother trying to put on a finish.

If the bark loosens, then have him tack it back down with very small nails with dark heads.

Otherwise, I think you will just be jumping through a lot of hoops that will not, in the end, accomplish anything more than leaving it natural.

A light vacuum with brush will take the dust off.
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

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