All wood WILL crack & check. To possibly prevent some of the cracking & checking as well as preserve & prolong the life of your carving you will want to apply some sort of sealant. If your carving does experience unwanted cracking & checking there are several YouTube videos on “how to fix a cracked carving”.

Recommendations to Prolong the Life of Your Carving

#1) Do Not Set your carving directly on the dirt. Put some sort of rock or paver under it or it will rot out from the bottom over time. If inside it is recommended you place it on a towel so the sap doesn’t leach into the carpet/ flooring or mold on the bottom.

#2) If an outdoor carving, .. either bring it in for the winter or extreme heat OR tarp it.

#3) Apply a sealant spring & fall if it is an outdoor carving. If your carving is kept under a porch or inside it will probably not need to be resealed as often. * To seal your carving semi-annually, just dust it off or blow off with an air hose & then apply your choice of sealant.

Recommended Sealants

Below are various sealants recommended & the benefits of each as well:

1)FLOOD (*Clear Natural or Cedar color)
● Has a great UV protective coat that enhances the color of the wood & has a dull/matte finish (not shiny).
● Doesn’t yellow or get flakey over time.
● Easy to apply with a cheap chip brush, simply brush on & back brush until completely dry to avoid drips & pooling.
2)Helmsman Spar Urethane- (Oil Based) (or really Any oil based Urethane)
● Protective clear coat that nourishes the wood & will enhance/darken the color a bit, & potentially yellow over time
● great protection from severe weather conditions, sunlight & moisture.
● You can either brush this on or use a sprayer/spray can to apply it.
● Apply liberally.
3)Helmsman Spar Urethane- (Water Based)
● Protective clear coat that nourishes the wood & will NOT change the color of the wood, keeping the blueing & other variations in color & wood grain,
● great protection from severe weather conditions, sunlight & moisture.
● You can either brush this on or use a sprayer/spray can to apply it;
● apply several thin coats.