Cottonwood bark

[Tom H]

A little accident down on the corner. A beer truck backed into an old Cottonwood tree and knocked off several pieces of bark that was just hanging there. It happened right in front of me, so I naturally helped clean up. The pieces were small. I have only tried to carve Cottonwood bark once, and the results were not all that good. Free wood! so I thought I would try again. I only spent about 15 minutes on each piece. That's about the limit of my attention span. The finish I used was a mixture of amber shellac, BLO, and WATCO liquid wax. The finish turned out a lot better than the carvings. What do the bark carvers do with the pieces next, mount them in some way? The photo is my YAHOO album, under Toms carving and whittling, titled FOUR BARKS (but there's 5). Tried but cannot get it posted...thanks Tom H

[Claude]

Not there, Tom... I also checked in your Noah's Ark album and your other album...

Claude

[Tom H]

Yesh! The "ol-timers" must have me in it's grip. The photo is listed under the title "small bark". I think. I just gotta start writin stuff down. Sorry, but thanks for tryin..Tom H

[Claude]

Tom:
Still don't see anything that looks like a bark carving, or by that title. I just noticed your 3" cowboy cook - hadn't seen that one before, but it looks great

Claude

[barkguy]

Hi Tom, I know A lot about cottonwood bark, been doing it over 30 yrs , and I have been using Meltonian boot and shoe cream. You can find it at western wear stores. I use a soft toothbrush or medium other type brush to apply.
that is first coat........After you put on a good coat over the part you have carved, use a dry toothbrush to smooth and clean up the cuts in corners and crannies. The neutral cream is white in the jar but comes out clear. When it dries just get out a clean or new shoe brush and make it shine the more the better. Get an artist paintbrush and any shade of brown same kind of of boot cream and brush all over in the cuts. buff fast with a soft rag... the brown should stay in the cuts

oh did you get any beer?

[Tom H]

Rather than start a new thread I'll ask a bark question here. I have noticed at carving shows that a lot of the carved cottonwood bark is "creamy, velvety" looking when finished. I have only recently began to carve cottonwood bark. I can achieve this look, but only on the ends where the knife has incised across the grain. The areas "with the grain" does not finish up as well. Of course I realize that different pieces of bark carve and finish differently. I carve almost exclusively with a knife. After making my cuts I go over the bark with a "3-M" Sanding pad, prior to applying finish. My question is: How do you all prepare the carved bark for the finish? Thanks from a novice. Tom H

[watercarving]

For my woodspirits I use cottonwood bark almost exclusively. To finish:

1) dust off the carving with a hand broom and make sure it's nice and clean.
2) I spray on a few coats of Deft (blue can) letting it dry between
3) I then apply Watco Stain Wax, either neutral, dark, or a 50/50 mix.
4) once the wax is dry I buff it with a horse hair brush

I then drill a hole in the back for hanging. I worry the bark won't support screws long term.