Thread: Custom Barn Wood Scales Epoxied

So I got the first 20 pound log cut up.

The grain is a beauty. So straight you could lay a ruler to it.

It will look sexy once polyed. Still not sure of the type of wood. Smells sweet, yellow flesh, dead straight grain. Does not smell like pine. Could be yellow cedar? Is there such a thing?

Sounds lovely...pics please!

Originally Posted by JimR

Sounds lovely...pics please!

+1

I know I forgot the camera. I'll get some tonight. There is such a thing as Yellow Cedar, aka Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Very rare from what I read. Characteristics seem to be the same.

I am going to take a piece to Rockler or Woodcraft and see if they can help ID the species.

If it is AYC I am going to offer pieces to turners and carvers, cause this stuff is rare and very spendy if purchased elsewhere.

I might burst your bubble... truely sorry.. but..

I have heard of barn board as being heavily contaminated and being unfit for food
tool useage (spoon making) and I am unsure about its use on the skin where nicks may occur and have the possibility of getting infected...
my brother who is a photographer also won't use it because it "bleeds" through the photo paper and can ruin the print
A truely beautiful weathered wood... but not without its problems...
perhaps others have more info...

Originally Posted by tpoof

I might burst your bubble... truely sorry.. but..

I have heard of barn board as being heavily contaminated and being unfit for food
tool useage (spoon making) and I am unsure about its use on the skin where nicks may occur and have the possibility of getting infected...
my brother who is a photographer also won't use it because it "bleeds" through the photo paper and can ruin the print
A truely beautiful weathered wood... but not without its problems...
perhaps others have more info...

There are people that do wood stabilizing where the wood is basically pressure filled with some kind of acrylic/plastic resin. I think that might fix the bleeding/ etc. These guys offer a test stabilization that would probably cover the amount used for a set of scales... barely charge for it. It might be worth a try, then you wouldn't have to finish them with poly either. There are others out there that do this service as well... prices are almost the same wherever you go.

If the wood is Alaskan Yellow Cedar, google it, then it has excellent resistance to rot and other diseases.

When I epoxy the wood, if it will put everyone at ease. I'll put 5 coats on the thing. I just cannot believe or imagine that someone would get an infection off of the scales.

I never hold the scales that close to the face. YMMV

I would never proffer anything that would knowingly harm someone.

Please, if anyone thinks that this is a problem let me know. I was planning 3 coats of epoxy and 3 of Poly for the straight grain stuff or just tung oil.

Prepping it is not going to be easy, hand sanded and knocked down and then cut by hand because I do not want to risk a blow out with a jig saw.

It is a wonderful silver color. We will see.