Hi all,
Hopefully someone can answer my question …. which is …. How do you keep the bark on birch logs? My father has some birch logs he would like to display in his fireplace and he wants to know how the logs should be treated so they maintain their appearance as long as possible.
Did a web search and found plenty of places that sell birch logs for the purpose of decoration … but can’t find any info on how they preserve the logs or if they do anything to insure the logs maintain their bark for years to come.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Dan
Replies
Dan,
If the logs (I'm assuming white or paper birch) are just going to sit in the fireplace I wouldn't think you'd have to do anything as far as the bark is concerned. Just for grins I went out to the woodshed and several birch logs had all their bark in tact, although the bark did fall off rather easily from handling it.
However, the ends of the logs had turned black as I expected. Exposed bare birch wood will turn from gray to nearly black over time anyway. I suppose you could treat the ends to minimize this but then they wouldn't look like real birch logs.
If it were me I'd just set the logs in the fireplace and in time if I didn't like the looks of them I'd burn 'em and get some new ones.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Thanks for the info .... I'll let my dad know.
Dan
I have some that have been indoors as summer fireplace ornaments for about 15 years. No problem. I also have birch waste baskets containers, and even an authentic birch-bark canoe. the main thing to remember is that if people fool with the bark, the nice white outer layer will peel off like tissue leaving you with light tan and pinko-grey colors that are not bad but not as nice.
J
Thanks Joe for the info. I'll let my dad know.
Dan
Dan,
Whether the bark stays on or not may depend on what season the tree was cut in. I can't say for sure, or when it should be cut to preserve the bark.
and www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com)
- Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Bark for a spring tree will peel easily cause it's growing =weak cambium layer.
Tree cut in winter hard to peel as bark as tightened up for winter AKA late wood.I was away from DW for 4 months before we got married. I peeled off some bark and wrote her a love letter on it. She still has it 28 years later. Canadian thing but romantic as all get out. Grey owl would have approved.
I infer from your original question that you are referring to what might happen to birch logs that are intact, i.e., unsplit. In this situation, I would expect the bark would remain intact around the circumference of the log.However, if the log is spli in any way, based on my own experience with birch as firewood, after a year or two, the bark would separate from the log and fall off. This is what would happen with the firewood we cut (in the depths of winter). It would split very well, with the bark completely attached to the wood, but after a year of seasoning, the bark would begin to peel away from the wood underneath.In the woods, we would frequently find dead birch trees which had completely rotted away from the inside, but the tree would look remarkably like a birch tree because the bark itself had not rotted and was holding the remains in place!I don't know if this is any help to you, but it is offered for what it might be worth....Good luck.Ted
Dan,
If you're worried about the bark falling off the logs, just drive a few brads into it in several places. They're so small that they won't be noticed...
Zolton
If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Z,
Better yet, glue a couple layers of bending plywood up around cylindrical forms- two or three different diameters. Plug their ends with "cookies" sliced from the ends of real birch logs. Then cover the cylinder faces with some of this:
http://www.barkcanoe.com/materials.htm
If you have a good glue bond, no worries about delamination.
Ray
Ray,
Sounds like you've given a lot of thought to what amounts to a great business plan. I'd suggest you contact a bank to get a loan to get started manufacturing these things (try down at the New Wave Banking and Trust). I see a very profitable future for you...
ZoltonIf you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Zolton,
Do I smell brake fluid?
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Bob,
Brake fluid makes a real stench. This is just straight-out, old fashioned BS. Surely you must be able to tell the difference by now?
Zolton
If you see a possum running around in here, kill it. It's not a pet. - Jackie Moon
Z,
I'll leave the execution to someone else. I'm just the idea guy. Could be a good use of Federal stimulus dollars though. When it comes to b.s. factor, this one is shovel ready.
Ray
Ray
The logs need to be cut at the height of the dormant season for maximum bark retention as several have pointed out.
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