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Descant · 02-28-2022, 11:37 AM

I had a bear and cub for many years, painted black by the sculptor. I don't know what he used, but it held up well without any care by me for more than 10 years. The first few years, I kept stones under the feet to keep them off the ground/moisture. As they moved around, the stones got omitted and eventually the feet rotted. As the wood dried, there was some checking over the years. I don't know that there is a cure for this. I think I'd be more inclined to treat with something like Thompson's Water Seal than any sort of varnish. This is just raw pine, so not much longevity should be expected. hibernating in a garden shed or garage in the winter will probably help as much as chemical treatment.

02-28-2022, 11:37 AM	#3
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,078 Thanks: 1,232 Thanked 1,534 Times in 992 Posts	My experience I had a bear and cub for many years, painted black by the sculptor. I don't know what he used, but it held up well without any care by me for more than 10 years. The first few years, I kept stones under the feet to keep them off the ground/moisture. As they moved around, the stones got omitted and eventually the feet rotted. As the wood dried, there was some checking over the years. I don't know that there is a cure for this. I think I'd be more inclined to treat with something like Thompson's Water Seal than any sort of varnish. This is just raw pine, so not much longevity should be expected. hibernating in a garden shed or garage in the winter will probably help as much as chemical treatment.