Carving Care

Thank you very much for your business! I hope your carving continues to bring you joy, just as I had while making it. 

Cracking/Checking
Chainsaw carvings are, for the most part, carved from whole diameter logs of which are often still green. It's nearly impossible to get a log that's fully seasoned/dry due to them taking a year for every inch of thickness. A 12" thick log will take roughly 12 years to dry out. After the wood is carved it is sealed right away with an exterior sealer that is meant to slow the escape of moisture without locking it in. I also never seal the bottom of a carving. The slower the moisture escapes, the less cracking will occur.  However, this does not eliminate cracking. It's the nature of a log to check or crack as it dries, and all carvings will crack within the first year. The checks and cracks that occur make each carving an individual, adds character to the carving, and distinguishes a real wood carving from one made of plastic or something else. 

**Relief cuts can be placed along the backside of certain carvings (while I'm making it) and this is the best way to help prevent cracks. If i haven't made your carving yet or you plan to purchase another in the future, please let me know if this is an option you'd like to discuss.
***When small cracks develop, the light color of the wood under the finish will catch your eye and make it look worse than it may be. If your carving was painted, using an exterior paint on the inside of the crack that matches the color of the carving will help to hide the appearance. Make sure to reseal the carving after. Please refer the "Maintaining the Finish" section below for how to address this. 

Displaying your carving
Your carving is wood. Wood can split, crack, rot, fade, burn and/or be attacked by insects. Putting a little thought into where and how it's displayed can help your carving to last years longer. Do not set your carving directly onto soil or grass. A pad of concrete, gravel or paving stones is better and will help protect the base from water and insect damage. It's also best to leave at least a 1/2" gap between the ground and the base of the carving to allow for air flow. Direct sun is the hardest on a carving. If possible, keep it under some source of shade. Rain is not much of a problem for a properly sealed carving. Frequent drenching with water however increases the likelihood of water damage so try to keep it beyond the reach of any sprinklers. Keeping it properly sealed is very important for any location, but more so if not an ideal one. 

If you're going to keep your carving indoors, household heat will dry the wood quickly which causes additional cracking. Keep the carving as far as possible from direct heat sources such as baseboard heaters, fireplace/wood stove, and heater vents. Avoid these when possible or be prepared to redo the finish more frequently. Do not bring your carving into the house during winter if you normally keep it outdoors, or vice versa. Sudden changes in humidity will effect the moisture in the wood and cause excess cracking. Also, carvings bought during the late fall and winter should be kept outdoors until spring unless I stated otherwise for some reason. The dry heat of a house can do a number on a fresh carving. 

Maintain the finish
If you purchased an outdoor safe carving, it was either sealed with Cabots Australian Timber Oil or Rustoleum's Marine Grade Spar Varnish. Cabots can be purchased at any hardware or paint store. The Rustoleum needs to be purchased on Amazon. You can also use any other Marine grade Spar Varnish (not Spar Urethane). Please refer to your invoice/reciept for the type of finished used. Both products can be sprayed on or brushed. Please be cautious as the colors vary on the Cabots Timber Oil between the aerosol cans and the containers. The "Natural" in aerosol definitely has a different shade than the "Natural" that comes by the gallon. When a crack develops, make sure to apply the oil so it runs into the crack to seal the newly exposed wood. Using a brush small enough to fit inside the crack does help with this. I recommend that any carving displayed outdoors be resealed 4-8 weeks after your purchase, then once a year afterwards. Both the Cabots and the Rustoleum say its good for 2-3 years but its best to play it safe! Keep an eye on the finish. Sometimes the carving will need to be coated more (or less) often depending on its location. More often, if it's exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of the day, or in soggy areas. Less often if it's under a protected area such a covered porch, patio or indoors. Above all, inspect the carving every few months. If you see new cracks, pealing in the finish or discoloration, the finish has been compromised and should be resealed. Spring and Fall are the best times of year to reapply the finish since the humidity is usually lower at these times. Be sure to follow the manufactures directions when applying the finish/sealer.

Bugs and Mold/Mildew
The best way to control pests is to keep the carving from becoming water logged. If the wood is not moist, most pests cannot survive and will not be a problem. If you do develop a problem, spot treatments for the specific type of pest will usually work just fine. If it does become an outgoing problem, search the internet for log home care as there may be different types of treatments/sprays that can be applied to the whole carving.