The cambium layer between the bark and the wood hardens during the dormant phase, so your bark is more secure. Pine and oak are popular wood types to use for projects since the bark isn’t as likely to peel away. Avoid using hickory whose bark tends to separate from the wood.
If you’re preserving a really big piece of wood, get creative with the container—you could use a plastic kids pool, for instance. Can’t treat the wood right away? No problem! Spray the surface and bark with water. Then, wrap it loosely in plastic wrap and store it at room temperature for up to 1 week. If you store it longer than this, it can start to grow mold.
The amount of solution you need depends on the size, thickness, and type of wood you’re preserving. For example, if you’re preserving soft, open-grained wood with bark, you might need 1 cup (240 ml) of preservative for every 12 inches (30 cm) of wood. If the wood you’re preserving is too big to fit into your container, stick 1 end of it into the solution. Soak the wood for a few days and then flip it around to submerge the opposite end. The wood wicks up the solution, so the center of the piece will become soaked over time.
Give the wood a day to dry before you flip it over and brush preservative on the other side. You can tell if the wood’s stopped absorbing the product if you see the preservative sitting on top of the wood.
Don’t have plastic wrap handy? Use a plastic trash bag instead. You may need to lay several bags or a large plastic tarp over the wood if you’re using a giant container. If you brushed preservative on the wood, lay plastic wrap directly onto the wood.
You won’t damage the wood by soaking it for longer, so leave it in as long as you can.
Save the wood preservative to use for another project! Pour it through a fine-mesh strainer to catch bits of wood or bark before you store it for later. If your wood is too large to set on a wire rack, just remove it from the container and wrap it completely in plain paper to help it dry.
If your wood or log doesn’t fit in a cardboard box, wrap it completely in plain paper and store it somewhere warm. Put the wood away from direct heat and sunlight. You don’t want the wood to dry out too quickly or it may split.
Drying time depends on the size, thickness, and type of wood as well as your drying conditions. Check your wood every few days to see if it’s dry. If you’re making wooden bark decorations for an event, factor in a long drying time so you’ll have them ready in time.
Keep in mind that you don’t want to sand the bark or it could flake off.
If you want extra protection, apply another layer of polyurethane after the first one dries.
