[Woodcarver] Outdoor carvings

[Joe Dillett]

Hey gang,
Need some advice --- I have carved an eagle (full size) out of a dead spruce tree which will be kept outside. It will be painted when complete.  What should I use, if anything, as a sealer under the paint?
I have some ideas, like diluted varnish, or boiled linseed oil. Any other ideas out there? Also, should I "bondo" the existing cracks?  Thanks for any ideas you may reply.

Cheers,
Merryl Bustin
Nova Scotia
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Hi Merryl

You have the right idea about painting spruce, because spruce is not a good outdoor wood and the paint will fully block UV and moisture, making the spruce last longer.

I would never use boiled linseed oil as a base sealer coat under any paint because oil is unstable. By unstable I mean it moves/reflows when warmed in the sun even after it is dry. If you paint over an unstable base your paint will be unstable. I would not seal with varnish either because you will lose some of the mechanical hold between the paint and the varnish, causing potential pealing problems. 

Bugs like spruce, so try to raise it off the ground. Use a good outdoor paint. Latex wears by chalking, oil base paints wear by pealing. For this reason I would choose the latex. Follow manufactures directions. Make sure the surface is dry. Use a good primer, recommended for the top coat. I would tint the primer close to the same color as the topcoat. Apply about 3 heavy coats of paint.

I wouldn't fill the cracks, especially not with bondo (or anything harder then the wood). Those cracks need to expand and contract with the seasons and conditions. If you don't allow the cracks to close this will cause more stress and more cracking. If the cracks must be filled, an exterior grade silicon (paintable) calk might be your best bet. 

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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