Replies

1. 
   MichaelPB | Nov 12, 2005 08:14pm | #1

   I once overheard a guy talking about a friend who had read a post on the internet about how to do it.  It has been a long time so I am not sure if I am remembering correctly what the guy said the other dude had read so bear with me.  Taking normal rip cut hand saw and sand down the blade really thin.  Then turn a large disk on a lathe with the same curvature as the tree.  Drill holes in the now thinned hands saw blade and screw it to half the disk.  Now use it like a giant hole saw and cut the bark away from the wood.  Then...

    

    

1. 
   Jimma | Nov 12, 2005 09:45pm | #2

   Yikes! A hand saw! Well, that does give me an idea but, infortunately, part of the given prroblem is there is a 4-inch socket from a limb that sticks out the back of the piece and they want to keep that. However, one way to save the rest of the bark would be to slice it top-to-bottom into segments (it's already pretty much loose on the trunk) which clould then be glued back onto the trunk, and maybe that's what the guy was talking about doing. Sure beats trying to make up for the trunk's shrinkage. I'll take a look at doing that. Thanks.

2. 
   sapwood | Nov 12, 2005 11:29pm | #3

   I haven't dealt with bark to the extent you want but I have been successful in keeping a bark edge on boards. I mostly use super glues (cyanoacrylate). Get it at your local hobby shop. It comes in thin, thick, and thicker, any brand will work. Get some spray accelerator too. I saturate the bark wherever it looks like it might fall apart. The thickest glue will adhere it to the wood. If your gaps are big, then 5-min. epoxy will also work well. I think I'd stay away from the urethanes, the foaming action may get out of control.

1. 
   Jimma | Nov 13, 2005 02:16am | #4

   Yep, that might work. This piece is over a foot high, though, and the bark is kind of randomly pulling away from the trunk. I think the previous idea of cutting th bark into strips first would make it a lot more manageable, enough so that the CA might work with some strap clamps to bring it into conatct with the trunk. I've used CA for turnings and am familiar with it, so I'll see how practical the strip cuts work first. Thanks for the idea. Hadn't thought of it myself.

1. 
   IdahoDon | Nov 13, 2005 07:01am | #5

   Polyurethane glues and/or epoxy is what we've used for exterior projects stabilizing dead trees that are cool looking.

   The poly glue expands, which is good in your case since there is a gap to be filled.

   Remember, you don't need to 100% fill the voids between bark and wood in one setting!  If you add a little poly glue over a number of days you'll be much better off.  Try a big needle and syringe from a farm & ranch store to pinpoint your glue.

   Keep your bark on,

   Don

1. 
   IdahoDon | Nov 13, 2005 08:00am | #6

   Speaking of speculation...  

   ...have you ever cut bark from a tree and tried to join it together with a seamless joint?   Bark doesn't cut all that well, and it's texture is hard to touch up.

   Cheers,

   Don