Treatment for Chainsaw Sculpture ?

bigdog · 02-28-2022, 10:57 AM

I have a small (3ft) bear figure that was cut from a chainsaw by a local artisan. It is kept outside year-round, and I want to put a protective treatment on the entire piece.

I don't want the surface to appear shiny, but maybe a satin finish.
Thinking maybe using Minwax Helmsman Satin Clear Oil-Based Spar Urethane, or should I brush it on with Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Indoor/Outdoor Wood Finish ?

If folks have other ideas, I'm open to other suggestions ?

Thanks !

billy · 02-28-2022, 11:32 AM

Use a Sikkens PPG product like they use for log homes. Oil base preferred so you never have to strip off a coating of finish. You can find this at Gilford True Value

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.

fatlazyless · 02-28-2022, 12:40 PM

If the wood surface has never been sealed and will absorb an oil product, the Great Value $1.56 8-oz spray can of Canola Oil Non-Stick Cooking Spray at Walmart will work fabulous!

Also works good for spraying the inside chute and augers on your snowblower, or in the fry pan for frying eggs and bacon.

upthesaukee · 02-28-2022, 01:00 PM

My first place to ask would be the local artisan from who you got the bear.

Dave

John Mercier · 02-28-2022, 06:33 PM

Billy would be correct.
But the product being proposed is not log home siding stain. Sikkens - now Proluxe in the US - comes in several different formulations. SRD means Siding, Railing, Decking. They also have a Log & Siding formula that is a two coat process that leaves a luster.

Not sure how to stop checking... as the wood dries, it shrinks. Oil will replace some of that water loss... but probably not all.

I have seen certain wood fillers used to repair checking, but I think it would be tricky to do and have the repair go unnoticed.

Flyfisha · 02-28-2022, 06:59 PM

Oil based products intended for wood are fabulous!! As a woodworker all my life you cannot use canola oils on wood!!

It is NOT a finishing material. Canola oil, otherwise known as low eurcic acid rapeseed oil, if exposed to air will oxidize and turn rancid.

Don’t ruin your piece over this!! Talk to an expert in what oil based products to preserve your piece.

John Mercier · 02-28-2022, 07:13 PM

Other than brands... the OP's options are rather limited.
Oil-based with UV protection in a matte finish really demands a product like the Proluxe.

The Helmsman Spar is a polyurethane with UV protection so the poly doesn't yellow and peel. I highly suggest its use on wood doors, but I cannot get it in a matte finish.
ZAR makes an exterior oil-based matte polyurethane.

TheProfessor · 02-28-2022, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flyfisha

Oil based products intended for wood are fabulous!! .

Have a cedar fence. Post and 2 cross bars. Left natural with no finish for years.

Started to get green tiny moss on some sections.

Went to hardware/lumber yard and purchased the cheapest polyurethane available. Did zero prep work. Just applied with brush. Liberally.
Been 2 years now. No issues. No moss.

Flyfisha · 02-28-2022, 08:49 PM

This was taken from https://woodiswood.com/complete-guid...%2012%20months.

To preserve your chainsaw carving for as long as possible you must seal it with an oil such as the danish oil or decking oil. Apply multiple coats of the sealer with daily intervals between each coat. Reapply the sealer regularly during the first year, and only once per year after the first 12 months.

John Mercier · 02-28-2022, 09:01 PM

Proluxe is a decking oil.
If you apply multiple coats, it will get shiny.

Same thing would happen with Penofin when I used that.

Descant · 02-28-2022, 09:08 PM

What's your time worth? Regardless of what chemicals you use, the poor bear has a limited life expectancy. Wait 10-12 years and buy another one if you still need the garden decoration. Maybe you sold the house? Average house turnover is 7 years.

bigdog · 03-01-2022, 10:06 AM

Thanks for all the great feedback, much appreciated !

Woody38 · 03-01-2022, 12:39 PM

I have applied Australian Timber oil on steps and now 15 years later they are perfect and do not need another treatment.

______________________________

I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

John Mercier · 03-01-2022, 06:53 PM

3400 series... not the 19400 series.
NH has a VOC restriction, so we can only sell it as a quart.

WJT2 · 03-02-2022, 08:29 AM

Boiled Linseed Oil

02-28-2022, 10:57 AM	#1
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,410 Thanks: 307 Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts	Treatment for Chainsaw Sculpture ? I have a small (3ft) bear figure that was cut from a chainsaw by a local artisan. It is kept outside year-round, and I want to put a protective treatment on the entire piece. I don't want the surface to appear shiny, but maybe a satin finish. Thinking maybe using Minwax Helmsman Satin Clear Oil-Based Spar Urethane, or should I brush it on with Minwax Helmsman Spar Urethane Indoor/Outdoor Wood Finish ? If folks have other ideas, I'm open to other suggestions ? Thanks ! Last edited by bigdog; 02-28-2022 at 10:58 AM. Reason: spell

02-28-2022, 11:32 AM	#2
billy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 87 Thanks: 192 Thanked 38 Times in 19 Posts	Use a Sikkens PPG product like they use for log homes. Oil base preferred so you never have to strip off a coating of finish. You can find this at Gilford True Value Attached Images

02-28-2022, 11:37 AM	#3
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,030 Thanks: 1,208 Thanked 1,509 Times in 982 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.

02-28-2022, 12:40 PM	#4
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,525 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	If the wood surface has never been sealed and will absorb an oil product, the Great Value $1.56 8-oz spray can of Canola Oil Non-Stick Cooking Spray at Walmart will work fabulous! Also works good for spraying the inside chute and augers on your snowblower, or in the fry pan for frying eggs and bacon. __________________ ... down and out, liv'n that Walmart side of the lake!

02-28-2022, 01:00 PM	#5
upthesaukee Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 5,547 Blog Entries: 2 Thanks: 2,397 Thanked 1,918 Times in 1,061 Posts	My first place to ask... My first place to ask would be the local artisan from who you got the bear. Dave __________________ I Live Here... I am always UPTHESAUKEE !!!!

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to billy For This Useful Post:
bigdog (03-01-2022), swnoel (02-28-2022)

02-28-2022, 06:33 PM	#6
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 2,973 Thanks: 2 Thanked 529 Times in 435 Posts	Billy would be correct. But the product being proposed is not log home siding stain. Sikkens - now Proluxe in the US - comes in several different formulations. SRD means Siding, Railing, Decking. They also have a Log & Siding formula that is a two coat process that leaves a luster. Not sure how to stop checking... as the wood dries, it shrinks. Oil will replace some of that water loss... but probably not all. I have seen certain wood fillers used to repair checking, but I think it would be tricky to do and have the repair go unnoticed. Last edited by John Mercier; 02-28-2022 at 07:13 PM.

02-28-2022, 06:59 PM	#7
Flyfisha Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Rattlesnake Island Posts: 139 Thanks: 58 Thanked 45 Times in 23 Posts	No canola!! Oil based products intended for wood are fabulous!! As a woodworker all my life you cannot use canola oils on wood!! It is NOT a finishing material. Canola oil, otherwise known as low eurcic acid rapeseed oil, if exposed to air will oxidize and turn rancid. Don’t ruin your piece over this!! Talk to an expert in what oil based products to preserve your piece.

02-28-2022, 07:13 PM	#8
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 2,973 Thanks: 2 Thanked 529 Times in 435 Posts	Other than brands... the OP's options are rather limited. Oil-based with UV protection in a matte finish really demands a product like the Proluxe. The Helmsman Spar is a polyurethane with UV protection so the poly doesn't yellow and peel. I highly suggest its use on wood doors, but I cannot get it in a matte finish. ZAR makes an exterior oil-based matte polyurethane.

02-28-2022, 08:49 PM	#10
Flyfisha Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Rattlesnake Island Posts: 139 Thanks: 58 Thanked 45 Times in 23 Posts	This was taken from https://woodiswood.com/complete-guid...%2012%20months. To preserve your chainsaw carving for as long as possible you must seal it with an oil such as the danish oil or decking oil. Apply multiple coats of the sealer with daily intervals between each coat. Reapply the sealer regularly during the first year, and only once per year after the first 12 months.

02-28-2022, 09:01 PM	#11
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 2,973 Thanks: 2 Thanked 529 Times in 435 Posts	Proluxe is a decking oil. If you apply multiple coats, it will get shiny. Same thing would happen with Penofin when I used that.

02-28-2022, 09:08 PM	#12
Descant Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Merrimack and Welch Island Posts: 4,030 Thanks: 1,208 Thanked 1,509 Times in 982 Posts	Perspective What's your time worth? Regardless of what chemicals you use, the poor bear has a limited life expectancy. Wait 10-12 years and buy another one if you still need the garden decoration. Maybe you sold the house? Average house turnover is 7 years.

03-01-2022, 10:06 AM	#13
bigdog Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Central MA-Gilford Posts: 1,410 Thanks: 307 Thanked 117 Times in 94 Posts	Thanks for all the great feedback, much appreciated !

03-01-2022, 12:39 PM	#14
Woody38 Senior Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 564 Thanks: 46 Thanked 104 Times in 75 Posts	I have applied Australian Timber oil on steps and now 15 years later they are perfect and do not need another treatment. ______________________________ I am a retired workaholic and continuing aquaholic

03-01-2022, 06:53 PM	#15
John Mercier Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2021 Posts: 2,973 Thanks: 2 Thanked 529 Times in 435 Posts	3400 series... not the 19400 series. NH has a VOC restriction, so we can only sell it as a quart.

03-02-2022, 08:29 AM	#16
WJT2 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Foxborough MA Posts: 176 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 4 Thanked 50 Times in 31 Posts	Boiled Linseed Oil

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to WJT2 For This Useful Post:
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