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In this lesson I add a water-based colour to the textured background and finish off with linseed oil. Danish or similar will do.
Colour can 'bleed' into the end grain of a carving; whether it does and to what extent will depend on the openness of your wood fibres. I had a little of that problem in this regard, where I cut the 'frame' line. With hindsight I could have carefully sealed the end grain with acrylic or other varnish at these places before adding the colour.
| 18 November 2017 17:34
Karen - Once sealed, the stain or whatever can't penetrate... I always paint before sealing, with incised letters too.
| 17 November 2017 20:14
Chris why didn't you seal the wood before you painted the background for this house number project? Say you wanted to recess the number into the wood rather than raising it by taking the background down. Would you seal the whole piece after carving in the number and then paint it? If so would you use the same product or something different?
Thanks for the previous info. I had hoped I didn't have to coat the Green Man twice but as you say it will keep for a long time.
| 17 November 2017 17:36
Karen - Yes, sorry. I think we add an audio problem filming this lesson. But I hope it doesn't distract too much.
Linseed oil is a good finish for outdoor woods. It's hard to say what the impact of the weather is on wood left outside - it is an organic material after all. The rule I adopt is to re-oil a carving in the spring and autumn. So twice a year. I know carvings that have had this treatment for 35 years and still look good!
| 16 November 2017 14:00
Chris just letting you know I found the volume on this video lower than normal. The sealed surface with linseed oil for this outside project. Could I use this same sealing process for a Green Man I want to hang on my gate? Do you have to re-seal the surface every year? My gate area receives direct sun during summer and gets very warm, will this make a difference to a house number or Green Man as for as cracking?
